My [Least] favorite training myths.

[slobberknocker]

joker, where can I find out about WSB so I can better understand what you mean by "variety"? variety meaning diff exercises every time you hit the gym?

www.elitefts.com

Read the articles, especially the ones by Louie Simmons.

 

[Debaser]

I'm not talking about switching to a different routine. The routine stays the same. All that changes is the weight; i.e. periodization.

I believe in progressive resistance, but I also believe that you will eventually plateau and weights will need to be cycled.

Let's stay I can add 5-10 lbs a week on my deadlifts. I'll do that as long as I possibly can, but at some point, my muscles and CNS just can't handle any more weight. So let's say I plateau at 735. The next week, I will drop maybe 70 lbs, and start the progressive increase over again, adding 10 lbs a week until a new plateau is reached.

665, 675, 685, 695, 705, 715, 725, 735. After 8 weeks I've reached my old PR. After that I usually have another month or so where I can continue to hit new PR's. But again, I will eventually reach a new plateau, but this one will be higher than the previous one.

20-40 lbs on your compound lifts in 3 months is nothing to sneeze at. Especially when you're already pretty strong.

No I fully agree with cycling intensity, I'm just opposed to the idea of progress stopping simply because your body is somehow "used" to the routine itself.

 

[Cuthbert]

I think there is more to it than your body needing to adapt. By changing your training program every once in a while, or using WSB principles and changing more often, it keeps you mentally in the game a LOT longer. I know that when I train with more variety... I train more consistently, and I make better gains.

The psychological aspect CANNOT be overlooked.

 

[JOKER47]

joker, where can I find out about WSB so I can better understand what you mean by "variety"? variety meaning diff exercises every time you hit the gym?

What Slobberknocker said.

 

[Zander1983]

I don't know how you could disagree with any of the myths posted by Debaser. They are the cold hard facts (which is what he always presents).

Like people have said, mentally you might have to change things up just to stay sane and motivated, but that has little to do with progress in a PURELY physical sense.

 

[BlkWS6]

So with the logic that a muscle really only "knows" tension, it follows that you could in fact change exercises every single workout and be fine so long as the amount of resistance is increased, right?

 

[b fold the truth]

Just curious if Debasser really does TRY to start heated debates here on Elite...

Debasser: Don't forget that good arguements can be made for all of your 'myths' as well as your 'facts'. There is no black and white...for either one. I can find examples which would prove both your 'facts' as well as your 'myths'.

B True

 

[d3track]

Just curious if Debasser really does TRY to start heated debates here on Elite...

Debasser: Don't forget that good arguements can be made for all of your 'myths' as well as your 'facts'. There is no black and white...for either one. I can find examples which would prove both your 'facts' as well as your 'myths'.

B True

agreed

take inclines:
not such a big deal for power lifters, they are looking to move as much weight as possible
big deal for bodybuilders, creating balance in all 3 areas of the chest make the bodypart look that much more impressive

 

[Debaser]

So with the logic that a muscle really only "knows" tension, it follows that you could in fact change exercises every single workout and be fine so long as the amount of resistance is increased, right?

Yes, in a way DC does this because it cycles 3 different exercises. But you still progress on each one when it comes around. If you just changed exercises with no rhyme or reason, it would be very difficult to ensure you're increasing the resistance.

 

[Debaser]

big deal for bodybuilders, creating balance in all 3 areas of the chest make the bodypart look that much more impressive

This is what I'm talking about. First of all, what do you mean all three areas of the chest? Seconds, the flat press works the upper chest just as hard as inclines, as I've stated. The inclines work the shoulders more, but there's always overhead presses for that.

Bfold there is nothing wrong with heated debate. It's what keeps a forum healthy. As long as people know how to argue like adults, there's no problem. I'd love to hear your arguments against my myths, because I'm curious to hear the other side. So far no one has been able to effectively counter them, so I would like to see what you have to say.