Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below I mean do you think too much is made out of exercise selection. I believe that too many people are too concerned with exercise selection and should be focused on other aspects of the sport. For instance instead of looking for that magic lift thats going to somehow drastically change your physique, people should focus on their CONSISTENCY to lift to their limits, eat well, and get enough rest. I'm always changing my exercise selections and rarely have the same exact workout and things are looking pretty good. What do you guys think??
Do You Believe Exercise Selection Is Overated?
- Thread starter tzan
- Start date
I think that you have a very good point...
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WannaBPowerful
New member
I think it is important, but not as important as rest and eating. Tearing the muscle apart is easy, its rebuilding it thats the hard part. Its easier for me to lift hardcore for an hour than it is to get all my protein in and calories in while eating healthy.
From a powerlifter's perspective...I believe that exercise selection is one of the most important aspects of training. In our training we use different exercises to bring up the strength of the three main lifts...therefore exercise selection make a huge difference in your progress.
Hannibal said:
But you change those exercises often. When it comes down to training for strength on a particular exercise...I think that it does make a difference... If I want a big log press, I don't use the olympic bar, I use the log.
If I want big shoulders...it is really going to make that big of a difference if I use dbells or the bar this week? I could just as easy do one a week...and probably grow just the same or more...
Variation is key, even in powerlifting. If it weren't...they wouldn't put so much stress on the fact that there are a million ways to do every exercise...especially on ME days...
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I agree with what you are saying...and variation is key. However, my point was that you have to be rotating the right exercises. You also have to learn what exercises build your strength, and what exercises test your strength...this is a personal thing. Like for my bench....board presses and reverse band presses build the bench....floor presses test the bench.
Another aspect of exercise selection is the amount of sets you do. Meaning...that I dont want to spend all my time on delt raises...my shoulders dont need work...I NEED TRICEPS. So from a powerlifting point of view...variation is key...you just have to make sure you are using the right exercises to rotate.
Another aspect of exercise selection is the amount of sets you do. Meaning...that I dont want to spend all my time on delt raises...my shoulders dont need work...I NEED TRICEPS. So from a powerlifting point of view...variation is key...you just have to make sure you are using the right exercises to rotate.
argent
New member
For some muscles I would say yes, and other no. Back for instance, needs to be worked form a variety of angles. That is what it is designed to do: it can pull down, up, back, or combinations of both. This is b/c the basis for the back is the shoulder joint ( a ball and socket joint). A BASJ delivers the greatest ROM of all the joints, so for full development you must incorporate different angles of pull in the workout.
The biceps though are much simpler. They cross a hinge joint whose only job is elbow flexion. That is what the bicep does; produce elbow flexion (and assist in supination). So aside for changing hand position (pronated, supinated, etc.) most bicep movemnts are redundant in typical bicep routines. For example, lets look at dumbell and barbell curls. They both produce elbow flexion. Your bicep doesn't know if it is curling a 50 lb. dumbell or taking 1/2 the load on a 100 lb. barbell (still 50 lbs. in each arm). It just cares about the resistance put on it.
The biceps though are much simpler. They cross a hinge joint whose only job is elbow flexion. That is what the bicep does; produce elbow flexion (and assist in supination). So aside for changing hand position (pronated, supinated, etc.) most bicep movemnts are redundant in typical bicep routines. For example, lets look at dumbell and barbell curls. They both produce elbow flexion. Your bicep doesn't know if it is curling a 50 lb. dumbell or taking 1/2 the load on a 100 lb. barbell (still 50 lbs. in each arm). It just cares about the resistance put on it.
Arioch
New member
I would also like to add that in addition to being goal specific as both Hannibal and B-fold mentioned, the level of the athlete plays a significant part. A novice will gain strength on just about anything, whereas someone who has been training for 20 - 30 years needs to make very careful choices, as they are, or should be, closer to the limits of what they can achieve.
Lots of good info on this thread...
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The Shadow
Guest
Exercise selection does not matter form the standpoint that the body will adapt to any stress as long as :
Stress is sufficient
Recoverability is sufficient.
Stress is sufficient
Recoverability is sufficient.
Hannibal said:
I'll trade you for some hamstrings!
From the perspective of someone who's just doing this to look and feel better, I'd say it's pretty important to choose things that you enjoy. If that means picking silly isolation machines, then so be it - if that's what gets you to the gym. It may not be the most productive routine, but if it's something you're serious about, you might look into the more traditional lifts later on.
I love just about anything involving free weights, and currently have one machine (excluding calf presses) in my routine right now - and I loathe Tuesdays because of it. But it's only for three more weeks!
I especially love silly looking ones. Cuban Press? Check! Russian Shoulder Press? Check! Floor Press? Check! All are in my next split, and I'm looking forward to starting it.
Obviously this doesn't really apply to the resident powerlifters and strongmen, or anyone else with very specific goals. But if 1/4 leg presses with eight plates to a side gets you to the gym, good on you. People might think you're a fool, but good on you..
( Yup, that guy was at my gym yesterday.
)
louden_swain
New member
Exercise selection is important!! You must stick with what makes your body grow. This will vary with each individual. My body responds best to basic heavy compound movements.
i think for me, selection is important, however sticking to the exact same routine everytime you work chest or whatever bodypart you happen to be working that day isn't. My routine changes everytime I walk into the gym, depending on how I feel. Sometimes I even switch up the order or number of sets for lifts. Of course I have my favorites that I use consistently, but I often switch up and try different movements.
Now, I don't have the same goals as a powerlifter or a competitive bodybuilder. But I do target certain areas of my body depending on what I have determined needs work.
As long as I leave the gym feeling that I pushed it, and had an intense workout, I'm happy. And I can see the results I want.
Now, I don't have the same goals as a powerlifter or a competitive bodybuilder. But I do target certain areas of my body depending on what I have determined needs work.
As long as I leave the gym feeling that I pushed it, and had an intense workout, I'm happy. And I can see the results I want.
