Tip #10 – Don’t train through an injury

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I know this sounds like common sense but I see a lot of people at the gym training through an injury. Don’t get mistaken by my words. We could train AROUND  an injury, but not the injured part itself. I see guys complaining about shoulder pain but then  their buddies would still urge them to work in. In all honesty, I think this is really stupid because you can’t hold your friend accountable for it. Especially if it gets worse. Injuries cause by pushing are the worst as guys really like displaying their strength on the bench press and shoulder press. So heed my words. If it hurts, don’t train the injured body part. Have it checked by the doctor, do your own research and fire your buddy.

Breaking Personal Records

Either for our own personal satisfaction or bragging rights, I believe we can always benefit from taking note of our personal best. Not only does it show that we still have what it takes to perform,but it can also shock our body into growth. There’s are a myriad ways to do this but the simplest way is to standardize your own procedure. Be it a one rep max with a bench press or a 4 rep personal best with a squat, the important thing is to set a goal and take small steps towards it.

Tip #9: Vary your rep range

I still find it baffling to this day that people like working within the 12-15 rep range. I assume its because this information has been passed on from lifters of old that more reps would provide muscle definition and less reps will make you big. Well, believe me…this isn’t true. Why not do yourself a favor this weekend and work within the lower end of the spectrum. Try working within the 6 to 8 rep range because not only will it allow you to lift more weight, but it will also provide you that pumped feeling that will carry on for the rest of the weekend.

Having Muscle Imbalances Suck

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We all have a dominant side. I for one am right handed. But since I love playing basketball and wanted to get better, I worked hard at training my left arm to handle the basketball as well. I believe this should be the mind-set when it comes to strength training. If you look around the gym , you’ll notice people having their own favorites. For the guys its the chest press and for the women …its the inner and outer thigh machine.

To tell you honestly, having favorites only create muscle imbalances. This is not good because muscle imbalances cause our body to compensate in its own way and is detrimental to proper muscle growth. What’s even worse is that it could lead to back problems, knee problems and shoulder problems. Remember, training should be individualized because we are all unique. When was the last time you evaluated your program or have someone evaluate your program? Maybe its high time for you to do some more research or consult an expert in this field to come up with a program most appropriate for you.