Since starting a bout 3 weeks ago, I went from 12 to a 16 and have really good, solid workouts.
Last night, I did a full, very 'fast' and quick solid 15 min. workout with a
6 lb sledge.
WOW...do I feel it today.
Especially in my hips and back of my shoulders. By feeling it...I mean, I feel great. Don't know if it's due to the muscles responding to the very quick movements....but again, it's a 'good' feel. Not a tired and 'oh my gosh....I really over did it' feel.
Anyone else change it up once in a while?
Change of pace
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Changing weights and tempos, etc is good regardless of the program you are using, imho. I'm a big advocate of cycling through and doing heavier stuff, then lighter for a few days, etc.
Gives the muscles some new stimuli and allows the nervous system a break to recover.
I'd even mess with the time too. But that's just what I am comfy with.
Gives the muscles some new stimuli and allows the nervous system a break to recover.
I'd even mess with the time too. But that's just what I am comfy with.
Fall down seven times, get up eight.
Agreed, change it up. I have a 16# and a 10#, and my wife has an 8#. My daughter even has a 4# framing hammer.... heh. I also have a set of ankle weights that I can strap on to the sledge to vary the weights some.
If I could only have one, though, it would be the 10#. That, to me, is where I get the greatest form and benefit. It almost seems like the 16# is a training device that allows me to use the 10# more effectively.
With the 10#, my form is better, and I can "choke up" the grip so that my hands are pretty close to touching. I also have much more control over the movements.
Many times I'll do 21 reps of the movements with the 16#, and then 50 reps with the 10# or whatever.
If I could only have one, though, it would be the 10#. That, to me, is where I get the greatest form and benefit. It almost seems like the 16# is a training device that allows me to use the 10# more effectively.
With the 10#, my form is better, and I can "choke up" the grip so that my hands are pretty close to touching. I also have much more control over the movements.
Many times I'll do 21 reps of the movements with the 16#, and then 50 reps with the 10# or whatever.
JWL[.|@]Freakwitch[.]net
I tend to stick with a single weight for a long time (a year or more) once I get used to it. My logic is: fewer variables make progress clearer, and when you get used to a weight you're less likely to make a dangerous move, you can go on autopilot. It's also one less decision to make. If I'm feeling profoundly beat I'll sometimes go down to a lesser weight, but mostly I just do less reps more slowly with the same weight.
But the changing weights arguments people have posted here sound good, too. Here's another: in the spirit of useful movements, the real world movements we're emulating would vary considerably in resistance, so should our emulation.
Bottom line: I don't think it matters too much. This is fine tuning. The far more important thing is to follow the hard parameters of every N day and 14 minutes (or your versions of these).
Reinhard
But the changing weights arguments people have posted here sound good, too. Here's another: in the spirit of useful movements, the real world movements we're emulating would vary considerably in resistance, so should our emulation.
Bottom line: I don't think it matters too much. This is fine tuning. The far more important thing is to follow the hard parameters of every N day and 14 minutes (or your versions of these).
Reinhard