Green_Manelishi
Contributor
I did not know where else to post this so I posted it here in the "general section". First, I work out several times per week with weights and an eliptical trainer. Due to a neck injury in 2004 my max lifts have been dramatically reduced but with the aid of a DC the injury and associated mess are being cleaned up. The prognosis is good for an eventual, and gradual, buildup of bench press and squats. Now, with all that said.
It's been said that you can work out hard or for a long time, but not both unless you want to overtrain. Whether that is true or not I don't know. I do know that my greatest gains in muscle mass and endurance have been made when I worked out hard at least once per week and gave my body sufficient time to "over compensate". "Non Max" workouts were still taxing, but they were not anywhere near as exhausting as the "push it days".
I've seen too many people not make any gains, or make very slow gains, because they fear pain. Therefore, when the going gets tough, they quit. Cripes.
Anyway, I read this weekend that "new wisdom" says it's the duration of the workout, not the intensity that is the real benefit. That seems to make no sense; I could walk "forever" if I did not walk fast. I could lift weight "forever" if I did not use a weight that taxes my muscle strength. When I underwent a stress test I was told it was due to my fitness level that it took "so long" to raise my heart rate to the target zone. I achieved that level by busting my butt so often that it cracked
So, what say the resident experts?
It's been said that you can work out hard or for a long time, but not both unless you want to overtrain. Whether that is true or not I don't know. I do know that my greatest gains in muscle mass and endurance have been made when I worked out hard at least once per week and gave my body sufficient time to "over compensate". "Non Max" workouts were still taxing, but they were not anywhere near as exhausting as the "push it days".
I've seen too many people not make any gains, or make very slow gains, because they fear pain. Therefore, when the going gets tough, they quit. Cripes.
Anyway, I read this weekend that "new wisdom" says it's the duration of the workout, not the intensity that is the real benefit. That seems to make no sense; I could walk "forever" if I did not walk fast. I could lift weight "forever" if I did not use a weight that taxes my muscle strength. When I underwent a stress test I was told it was due to my fitness level that it took "so long" to raise my heart rate to the target zone. I achieved that level by busting my butt so often that it cracked
So, what say the resident experts?