Am I lifting too much weight?

[Bingogym]

I feel that I am lifting too much weight when I go to the gym for excercises like DB Bench press, DB Incline Bench press, EZ Bar curls and DB rows. The reason I feel this is because I get tired out really easily after, sometimes, only the first set. I also feel really weak and tired, sometimes, when I am preparing for the next set, especially when it comes to the Incline Bench press. I think I even lost strength as recently, after my flat bench, I go to do Incline and for every set I drop 5 pounds of the weight. I know maybe I should drop more weight.

The reason I question this is because I can still manage to get a good rep range (6-10) and good ROM for these excercises even though I feel this way. But sometimes, I can only get in like 3-5 reps. Its confusing. I know most of you would say "its your diet" and it might be, but what else? Maybe rest? Also, today when I went to do my Incline, I hoisted up the weight and my left arm wouldn't bring it up and trying to bring it up I hurt myself. My left arm is ridicoulously weaker then my right, and it is one of the main reasons sometimes I get like 3 reps in when my left arm can continue for about another 3. I know everyone has a weaker arm, but my left arm is so weak that it affects my workout.

any advice on what these problems might be due to and what can help them? I think part of might be my diet and rest....but what about my left arm??? thanks, peace.

[Ironager]

Just keep at it, you'll get better, We all started out weak...

[Bingogym]

Just keep at it, you'll get better, We all started out weak...

lol...

that's why sometimes I hesitate to post questions and concerns...people assume your a newbie!! I have been at this for 17 months....I am not a newbie, not a veteran, but not a newbie....I have just been feeling this way for a while now and dont know why. I am not starting "out" nor do I consider myself "weak"

[$AJ]

sounds like something is wonkey.

could be a rest issue, diet, i don't know, but it's not normal to do something for 10reps, then the next time drop down to 3 or not even be able to do it.

[youi09]

sounds like overtraining or not enough food.

[brokenchair]

how often are you training?

[Flipexed]

I told you to stop masturbating to the gay porn before working out bro... thats not really condusive to building muscle. Maybe switch hands? You are seriously ignoring your left hand, that leads to an imbalance. You should also stop eating all that come, all the calories that it takes to produce it is not worth it. Its an inferior source of protein. You should go back to picking up the soap like you used to do back in the day when you had that killer lower back and hamstrings in highschool, work those hammies little man!

[Meta]

lol...

that's why sometimes I hesitate to post questions and concerns...people assume your a newbie!! I have been at this for 17 months....I am not a newbie, not a veteran, but not a newbie....I have just been feeling this way for a while now and dont know why. I am not starting "out" nor do I consider myself "weak"

Why sometimes people answer you is beyond me then. You say you have a problem but you leave out a **** load of details.

[Bingogym]

Meta...I think I explained pretty clearly what my problem is, everyone else seems to understand. What details do you need?

To everyone else who responded, I do think its my rest and diet. Its just weird though because sometimes I have a great workout, but recently they have sucked ass.

[JustBrowsin]

How long have you been at it? It could be that your fitness level isn't up to par yet.

[Flipexed]

Meta...I think I explained pretty clearly what my problem is, everyone else seems to understand. What details do you need?

To everyone else who responded, I do think its my rest and diet. Its just weird though because sometimes I have a great workout, but recently they have sucked ass.

see he admits to sucking ass... admitting your problem is the first step to recovery. let go of the dick little man ... just let go

[$AJ]

Meta...I think I explained pretty clearly what my problem is, everyone else seems to understand. What details do you need?

To everyone else who responded, I do think its my rest and diet. Its just weird though because sometimes I have a great workout, but recently they have sucked ass.

which points to diet or rest/recovery as you've said.

[Defiant1]

I feel that I am lifting too much weight when I go to the gym for excercises like DB Bench press, DB Incline Bench press, EZ Bar curls and DB rows. The reason I feel this is because I get tired out really easily after, sometimes, only the first set. I also feel really weak and tired, sometimes, when I am preparing for the next set, especially when it comes to the Incline Bench press. I think I even lost strength as recently, after my flat bench, I go to do Incline and for every set I drop 5 pounds of the weight. I know maybe I should drop more weight.

The reason I question this is because I can still manage to get a good rep range (6-10) and good ROM for these excercises even though I feel this way. But sometimes, I can only get in like 3-5 reps. Its confusing. I know most of you would say "its your diet" and it might be, but what else? Maybe rest? Also, today when I went to do my Incline, I hoisted up the weight and my left arm wouldn't bring it up and trying to bring it up I hurt myself. My left arm is ridicoulously weaker then my right, and it is one of the main reasons sometimes I get like 3 reps in when my left arm can continue for about another 3. I know everyone has a weaker arm, but my left arm is so weak that it affects my workout.

any advice on what these problems might be due to and what can help them? I think part of might be my diet and rest....but what about my left arm??? thanks, peace.

How much time do you spend between bodyparts, how "hard" do you train, and how many sets do you do per bodypart?

[Bingogym]

How much time do you spend between bodyparts, how "hard" do you train, and how many sets do you do per bodypart?

I spend no more than 20 minutes for each body part. I don't think I train "hard" but I definetely don't train at real low intensity either. I usually spend about 40-45 minutes in the gym and do about two excercise per body part except for hamstrings and quads in which I only do one excercise each for them (Squats and Deadlifts).

For chest, I do between 6-8 sets.
For bi's I do between 4-7 sets
For tri's between 5-8
For back 8
For quads 4-5
For hamstrings 3-4

And I train approx 3-4 times a week, depending. See, you can tell I am def not overtraining.

[Jef_El]

could be alot of things.

whats your cardio look like? do you smoke at all? whats your bf%

do you lift on an empty stomach, in the morning, after work etc..

any supplements?

[Bingogym]

could be alot of things.

whats your cardio look like? do you smoke at all? whats your bf%

do you lift on an empty stomach, in the morning, after work etc..

any supplements?

I do Cardio at most, 2x a week. Lately, actually, for about the last two weeks I haven't done any, today was my first time in a couple of weeks. I don't smoke at all. My BF% is 9% and I am 158lb. AGAIN, I know the problem is not that I am not in good shape, I am! I have a good amount of muscle. I am not tall, 5'6 at 158 and 9% bodyfat...that should speak on its own I think. I have just been feeling this way recently and I think its due to my recent diet and rest which I am currently improving on.

however, what I really need help in is my lagging left arm. Look at the first post if you dont know what I am talking about.

[Boridi]

more sets for bis/tris than for quads/hams? o.O

[Retardo-pex]

sounds like something is wonkey.

could be a rest issue, diet, i don't know, but it's not normal to do something for 10reps, then the next time drop down to 3 or not even be able to do it.

My biceps are always like that. I'll do bar curls with 100 for 8-10 for my first set, then on my next set I probably get like 5-7, After my first set for biceps its always a big drop or much more difficult than I would expect.

[2pounds]

take in some caffeine before, are you going late at night? or the morning? your immune system could be down. it could be your diet is too low.

[Lumiere]

5. Not enough variety
Too many people find a routine or physical activity they like -- and then never change it. Unchanging workouts can lead to boredom, plateaus and, worse case, can lead to injury or burnout.

Taken from http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=373771

You said your rep range was 6-10. After the first set your rep range dropped to 3-5, if you did your first set for 6 rep, its normal if its only 3-5 rep for subsequent sets because you are lifting heavy weights, else if its 10 rep for the first set and that you could only manage 3-5 rep for the second set, i would suggest resting longer to see if it helps.

If its nothing like what I said above then maybe you should consider taking a break from lifting, and get your sleeping and eating back on track.

Cos seriously fellow, you sounded unmotivated to me.

[Nainoa]

Sounds like it's a mixture of things... Though without more info, there's a pretty broad field to comment on... Here are some thoughts that popped into my head, and/or some questions that might lead to pinpointing it more.

-How often do you take a rest week?
-When was your last rest week?
-Are you lifting more than 4 times per week?
-Do you give yourself at least 2 consecutive rest days in a given week?
-What exercises are you seeing the most decrease in endurance & strength?
-Are you on a cut or a bulk or other?
-Do you do a Split or Fullbody? Changing from one to the other may "Mix things up" enough to get you through the issue.

-I think there's definitely a nutrition issue.
-I think the lack of Cardio is an issue.
-I think there's a "Possibility" that you've overworked your shoulders... Shoulders are one of the first things you can over train, as they get used in nearly all upper body exercises... If you've been constantly over training shoulders for say 17 months... They'll start lagging... You are only as strong as your weakest link.