personal trainer for bulking???

[ck2006]

One question I have for my new program which will start tomorrow is the fact that the PT will try sell me on extra sessions for this phase, last phase she wanted me to work with her but I couldn't afford it and this phase she said I will definitly need somebody with me???? Is there another way or is what she saying true for the bulking phase?

thanks

 

[nelmsjer]

I'd say the ladies here can guide you through a bulking phase quite well.

 

[caligirl]

If you have an understanding of how the lifts/exercises are performed, you will be more than taken care of here.

 

[ck2006]

If you have an understanding of how the lifts/exercises are performed, you will be more than taken care of here.

She said it was more for spotting? Do I need to lift that extreme to bulk?

 

[caligirl]

Thats a big question, but in a nutshell, and IMHO, depends upon you, your body type and the program you are on. But I believe that you can get bigger, with out lifting so heavy that you would need a spotter, yes. You can lift heavey, lower reps, and keep the weight in CONTROL, and increase when you are physically able to handle it by yourself. Intensity is important.
Some people like to have a spotter, so they can squeeze out the last drop, or go to failure but I really believe this is a flase sense of security because if your technique goes to crap, you risk injury and usually when your attempting to get every last ounce out of yourself, your technique goes first, and other non targeted muscle groups take over or something gives out, like your back, knee, shoulder etc. A spotter will not always catch you/it in time for that not to happen. You REALLLYYYYYY have to trust your spotter. Changing to a bulking diet is going to have a huge impact as well.

 

[nikkita]

I think that for some exercises you can do it yourself, by gradually increasing weight for the exercises you perform. However there are some others, where a spot is helpful (ie. free weight squats).
I have trained with and without spot, what really is important is that you do exercises well and push yourself to lift more and more each time.

 

[Sassy69]

Is there anyone else in your gym that you could sort of get to spot you on the big lifts? In my experience there's always some guy who looks like he knows what he's doign and is probably happy to see a girl take on a serious attitude about accomplishing something.

 

[ck2006]

Is there anyone else in your gym that you could sort of get to spot you on the big lifts? In my experience there's always some guy who looks like he knows what he's doign and is probably happy to see a girl take on a serious attitude about accomplishing something.

I am sure I can ask someone or my husband to come along on the ones that will really need spotting. When I get my program I will list it on my log, can you review it to tell me which ones I will for sure need a spotter? I'd really appreciate it! Thank you.

 

[caligirl]

Is there anyone else in your gym that you could sort of get to spot you on the big lifts? In my experience there's always some guy who looks like he knows what he's doign and is probably happy to see a girl take on a serious attitude about accomplishing something.

so true!

 

[Aries13]

I agree with everyone on here.... you dont need to spend all that money to have someone spot you when you can just get someone to come along to spot/train you! Maybe get a workout partner??? For me, the really tough days are leg days!! Oh man did I need a spot for those days! Its also nice to have someone push you and make sure you dont give up too easy

Best of luck and happy training!!!

 

[Sassy69]

I am sure I can ask someone or my husband to come along on the ones that will really need spotting. When I get my program I will list it on my log, can you review it to tell me which ones I will for sure need a spotter? I'd really appreciate it! Thank you.

There are a couple ways to deal /w "I need a spotter" -- I train by myself now, but I do know a couple people in the gym who have seen me & would very easily be able to spot. But my Plan B's include:

- Drop to a lower weight & push more reps.
- Add resistance bands to a lower weight - doesn't max out the top weight so much as add resistance on the push / pull up & return. (I have a set of bands from eltfitness.com that I used for PL - I don't lift "PL Heavy" anymore but the resistance bands will kick your ass at a lower weight and also help magnificently w/ power.)
- Use an assisted machine instead of a free weight - e.g. smith machine instead of free squat, press or dead. Or just one of the machines
- Where I'm stuck at one weight but can't go to the next w/o a spot, I'll include longer hold / contraction times, slower negative return or even short pulses at the top of the move -- anythign to add more to what I do at the weight I am stuck at.


But mostly I think you can always find someone to help w/ a spot. First work w/ yoruself on making completely sure that your form is 100% tight at the lower weights before you start stacking them on. You can get some crazy burns just by slowign down your TUT at lower weights too.

 

[ck2006]

There are a couple ways to deal /w "I need a spotter" -- I train by myself now, but I do know a couple people in the gym who have seen me & would very easily be able to spot. But my Plan B's include:

- Drop to a lower weight & push more reps.
- Add resistance bands to a lower weight - doesn't max out the top weight so much as add resistance on the push / pull up & return. (I have a set of bands from eltfitness.com that I used for PL - I don't lift "PL Heavy" anymore but the resistance bands will kick your ass at a lower weight and also help magnificently w/ power.)
- Use an assisted machine instead of a free weight - e.g. smith machine instead of free squat, press or dead. Or just one of the machines
- Where I'm stuck at one weight but can't go to the next w/o a spot, I'll include longer hold / contraction times, slower negative return or even short pulses at the top of the move -- anythign to add more to what I do at the weight I am stuck at.


But mostly I think you can always find someone to help w/ a spot. First work w/ yoruself on making completely sure that your form is 100% tight at the lower weights before you start stacking them on. You can get some crazy burns just by slowign down your TUT at lower weights too.

Thats for the suggestions, first how do you add a resistance band, second what is a TUT?

 

[nelmsjer]

Link with pic on how to add resistance band: http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=471955&highlight=bands

TUT (Shadow's Shut It post): http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=365802&highlight=tut

 

[Sassy69]

What nelms said

 

[ck2006]

Link with pic on how to add resistance band: http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=471955&highlight=bands

TUT (Shadow's Shut It post): http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=365802&highlight=tut

Very Cool, thanks to you and Sassy!

 

[Sassy69]

Sort of off topic, but damn can you imagine if all the EF girls showed up at the same gym on a regular basis. I think we'd scare away the "regulars" and title "Estrogen Gladiators" would immediately be applied to us....

 

[nelmsjer]

^ ^ ^ Coolest. Gym. Ever.

 

[ck2006]

Sort of off topic, but damn can you imagine if all the EF girls showed up at the same gym on a regular basis. I think we'd scare away the "regulars" and title "Estrogen Gladiators" would immediately be applied to us....

Actually that would be kinda cool. I just pictures all of us in a line walking in! We would own that gym!