Workout advice.

Author
Discussion

Sunglasses Ron

Original Poster:

540 posts

172 months

Monday 27th September 2010
quotequote all
Hello all.

I was thinking about abandoning reps from my workout plan and just doing one super set for each exercise where I physically can't do anymore, has this got any benefits/advantages or is it not recommended?

Thanks.

Meoricin

2,880 posts

176 months

Monday 27th September 2010
quotequote all
Sunglasses Ron said:
Hello all.

I was thinking about abandoning reps from my workout plan and just doing one super set for each exercise where I physically can't do anymore, has this got any benefits/advantages or is it not recommended?

Thanks.
You mean abandoning sets? Reps are the repetitions, abandoning them would mean you were doing each exercise once.

To superset, you switch between sets of different exercises without breaks, rather than the usual set 1 > break > set 2 etc.

Are you suggesting supersetting all of your exercises, and only performing one set of each? I think you'll struggle to exhaust yourself properly if you only do one set. I think you'll find that you've recovered well enough to do it all again 10-15mins later.

ShadownINja

77,472 posts

289 months

Monday 27th September 2010
quotequote all
In my experience, from climbing until exhaustion, it can build up the relevant muscles - I know lots of climbers with good physique who never lift weights or do reps... they just climb 2-3 times a week.

Halb

53,012 posts

190 months

Monday 27th September 2010
quotequote all
As with everything, depends what your goal is.

ShadownINja

77,472 posts

289 months

Monday 27th September 2010
quotequote all
Halb said:
As with everything, depends what your goal is.
Definitely! There's a saying in climbing: the best way to train for climbing is by climbing. (It's not strictly true but it will help immensely if you climb regularly vs climbing less often and just doing pull ups.)

Morba

621 posts

184 months

Monday 27th September 2010
quotequote all
I might have missed it in another thread, but Ron, what is your goal here?

Sunglasses Ron

Original Poster:

540 posts

172 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
Morba said:
I might have missed it in another thread, but Ron, what is your goal here?
Right, well my aim is to lose weight and gain muscle(I've already lost a stone!). I want to lose one more stone really, but not much of my size (if that makes sense). My main exercises at the moment are resistance (press-ups, squats, sit-ups, leg raises).

I have limited time and money and work nights so the gym isn't an option. However I do have a pair of 7kg dumbells, a Swiss ball and a lot of dedication. I have a mountain bike on the way and I will be buying a chin-up bar and some resistance bands in the very near future.

I hope that sums up my situation.

Thanks. cool

pbirkett

18,514 posts

279 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
What you're doing sounds similar to what I've started doing, but I think just doing one set of each exercise probably won't be enough, as for me at least, I end up out of breath before my muscles are actually tired. You may have to repeat the exercise doing as many reps as possible as many times as possible for this to work, or at least maybe 3 sets of as many reps as possible.

You might want to google the "100 push up", "200 squat" or "20 pull up" challenge for more ideas.

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

250 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
I understand about the lack of funds and time Ron.

My advice would to be to get a kettlebell. This is an amazing bit of kit and you can do a massive amound of body conditioning and strength exercises with it. I'd recommend a relatively heavy one otherwise after a month or two of using it you'll find it too easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59q8GA1Fy_g

There's a reason many militaries of the world use these for conditioning and exercise. I've used them in the military and the workouts can be immense.

I personally don't think any one piece of equipment can do as much as a well used kettlebell and Pavel Tsatsouline is an absolute legend!

This isn't no fad, it's been done for in excess or 300 years and is incredibly effective.


pbirkett

18,514 posts

279 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
What would be a good weight to go for with a kettle ball?

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

250 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
pbirkett said:
What would be a good weight to go for with a kettle ball?
It's quite hard to say. I'm 5'11 and about 13 1/2 stone, I've got a 12kg kettlebell that can tires me out pretty quickly.

Ideally you'd have 2-3 but one is good enough to start with.

Brilliant bits of kit.

Halb

53,012 posts

190 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
Pavel advises a normal starts with 16kg.

edit. I bought a hollow 16kg, and fill it with shot.

Edited by Halb on Tuesday 28th September 09:57

ShadownINja

77,472 posts

289 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
Sunglasses Ron said:
I have a mountain bike on the way and I will be buying a chin-up bar and some resistance bands in the very near future.
Get a gym bike for the home and keep using it. You will shift the fat and have no excuses like "it's raining" or "I'm tired" as whenever you watch TV, you could be cycling. You can even cycle half asleep. Or cycle while reading a boring legal document (I may be the only person ever to have read a house sales contract in its entirety outside of the legal profession.) Also, eat less.

As for the chin-up bar, get a Powerbar if you can't fit a permanent walled solution. The Argos jobbie is crap.

Resistance bands are great... for rehab work... crap for anything else (unless you're a petite female). Perhaps get heavier dumbells.

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 28th September 10:49

LordGrover

33,693 posts

219 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
Ordinary_Chap said:
I understand about the lack of funds and time Ron.

My advice would to be to get a kettlebell. This is an amazing bit of kit and you can do a massive amound of body conditioning and strength exercises with it. I'd recommend a relatively heavy one otherwise after a month or two of using it you'll find it too easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59q8GA1Fy_g

There's a reason many militaries of the world use these for conditioning and exercise. I've used them in the military and the workouts can be immense.

I personally don't think any one piece of equipment can do as much as a well used kettlebell and Pavel Tsatsouline is an absolute legend!

This isn't no fad, it's been done for in excess or 300 years and is incredibly effective.
Wasn't impressed by that video but it lead me to this one: click.
I may give this a go after my normal weights sessions once or twice a week. It all looks a bit uncontrolled and dangerous to me though so I think starting light and getting my form right before progressing I think.

Halb

53,012 posts

190 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
I follow this book currently.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Enter-Kettlebell-Strength-...
I also got the DVD with the KB when I bought it, most useful. A push and a pull exercise three times a week. I usually do it after a run.

Morba

621 posts

184 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
ShadownINja said:
Sunglasses Ron said:
I have a mountain bike on the way and I will be buying a chin-up bar and some resistance bands in the very near future.
Get a gym bike for the home and keep using it. You will shift the fat and have no excuses like "it's raining" or "I'm tired" as whenever you watch TV, you could be cycling. You can even cycle half asleep. Or cycle while reading a boring legal document (I may be the only person ever to have read a house sales contract in its entirety outside of the legal profession.) Also, eat less.

As for the chin-up bar, get a Powerbar if you can't fit a permanent walled solution. The Argos jobbie is crap.

Resistance bands are great... for rehab work... crap for anything else (unless you're a petite female). Perhaps get heavier dumbells.

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 28th September 10:49
If you thing bands are for women only then you are using the wrong bands wink
There are some heavy duty ones out there, also plenty for benching and squatting.

Halb

53,012 posts

190 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all

ShadownINja

77,472 posts

289 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
Oh, ok. Only seen the ones in normal sports shops (and hospitals).

Morba

621 posts

184 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
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Yeah for sure. Pullem do some good gear, not cheap though!

Halb

53,012 posts

190 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
quotequote all
I know. I have bought some good gear off PS. But cannae afford it at the mobiggrin