Brykon wrote:
Thanks for all the useful info. I've been eating pretty healthy for the past year. Last summer, I ate on an extreme strict diet. I had sugar foods probably twice all summer. I've stuck to eating healthy, and will do so. I've got a few more questions too if you don't mind.
When and what are protein shakes used for? When do you want to have them and why do you want to have them? Would I even want or need them for just doing cardio and weights and such at the gym?
How often do you want to maintain one specific machine? Not counting cardio, but say dumbbells. How many do you want to try and do before you "overdue" it and to make sure you don't gain anything from it. Same with other machines like leg presses. I don't know if 5 minutes per machine is way to little, or you want to push yourself per machine to the point of barley able to continue.
Seeing what you said though krunkz, I'm not sure if that last one fits into the categories you said about each person is different and such. Just more wondering on the average time spent per machinery, or if it is just a personal issue you have to find out.
Protein shakes when used properly are a good way to gain extra calories. I would drink one in the morning. Usually blended with a banana or some strawberries. This gave me some carbs in the morning along with protein to get me started. I would then drink one about an hour before I worked out, with out the fruit this time. IF you are looking to gain some muscle mass protein shakes are probably a good idea. I used them solely to supplement two of my 7 small meals for the day.
My specific workout routine consisted of Biceps/Back on monday, chest/triceps on wednesday and legs on fridays. The last thing in your 2nd paragraph is what i am used to calling lifting to failure. Which is a technique I employed when lifting. But let me get back to your first question about over doing a workout. If you are wanting to build muscle mass, you will need to make gain in weight. In my opinion, if you can do any certain lift more then 12 times per set ( i am basing this on a 3 set per lift routine) then you need to increase the weight. This is of course something you will need to test for yourself. Don't be afraid to start at a weight lower then what you can do. Start about 20% lighter at first until you get the technique for each lift down(free weights especially to avoid injury from fumbling a weight or losing grip etc). Once you feel comfortable with what you are working with start adding weight. Starting out this way the first few workouts you should feel slightly sore the next day. Once you move into the realm of weight gains beyond what your used to the soreness should be a little more pronounced. But this is why we start out slow. So you can learn the recovery times of your muscles. For me, my legs can take a hell of a beating and be fine in a day, but my arms will be a little sore 2-3 days after a good lift.
SO i guess I should answer the direct question of time per lift/machine/exercise. My answer is, as long as it takes to finish a full set. I do 3 sets of each lift. My reps vary as I do them to failure. Also figure warm up time on the machine. Basically starting out with about 60% of your normal working weight to do a few reps to warm up the muscles. I wouldn't worry about doing each set to failure(if that even sounds like something you would want to do) until you are well into lifting weights and are very comfortable with it.
I hope most of this doesn't sound like rambling. It is just something I love to talk about. lol
[13:56:01] [W From] [Slimecrack]: I just wanted to tell your brown that when I look into its one brown eye, I see joy and love, thank god for your ass, PRAISE JESUS!
