actual program vs. going by feel

[jeremys]

whats the main difference? does being on an actual program yield better results than going in the gym with your split in mind and just going for feel for the reps?

usually i just went in the gym with almost the same split every week and hammered whatever bodypart it was that day. but now that i think about it, i may have been using the same weight for a certain lift, week after week. i still made gains though

 

[BlkWS6]

I personally think that going by feel is very important. I have been in a state of overtraining recently, mainly because I dont think I have been listening to my body. I kept training hard and heavy, following a very regimented program when warning signs began to pop up. I decided to ignore them, and suffered greatly as a result. Don't get me wrong, I think following a specific program is great, but the reps and weights used within the program should not be set in stone. If you are feeling crappy, and worn down one day, I dont see any sense in piling on the weights real heavy because your program called for it. Hope this makes sense.

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Exactly as he said, listen to your body. But I'd still sue a routine as a general guidline, then tweak it according to your body's needs.

 

[jeremys]

alrighty, another question...for mass, is it that important to increase weight/reps every week for a certain lift or is it just important to tax it enough?

 

[Legion Kreinak]

I think you're honestly gonna gain mass either way, you don't need it every week... I mean, I don't see any reason not to, but if you don't increase for that week, don't stress over it.

 

[GainingSize]

I like having a training routine when I am bulking because then I have my diet and training in order, I like following a set plan, when doing matience or cutting I will wing it and keep reps low to maintain mass.

 

[b fold the truth]

Your program must be a living, breathing, changing program to be both effective and efficient...

B True

 

[jeremys]

alright. good to hear from you, b. where've you been?

 

[b fold the truth]

Been out of town off and on this past weekend. Spent a lot of time in the docs office lately...will go back again soon also...

B True

 

[jeremys]

find anything out yet?

 

[b fold the truth]

A little...I go back early this week...