50 reps question

[jixsumo]

Right now, I am doing 50 rep sets. I am a big man, 6'2, and about 370. I was 427 when I started this so I am doing ok. Body fat is going down, I was at 55 percent, and I am approaching 40 percent. I am building muscle. A LOT OF IT.

My trainer has me doing 50 rep sets. Ita full body workout. The lifts vary. Usually start with EITHER dead lifts or leg press, and go from there. We do six different lifts. Its a good full body workout. Its definetly increasing my over all muscularity.

I can either bust out 50 reps straight. OR do 35 reps, rest for 30 seconds, and do the final 15. When I do the 50 straight reps, the last 10 or so are a bit off - poor form, swinging the bar, WEAK. When I stop at 35 and catch my breath, I can get those last 15 with proper strong form.

I like doing 300's. I liked the bi-sets and tri-cets we would do too. But the 300's fit me. I get this done in under 30 minutes. So its an intense no nonesense session. I get in, get done, and get out.

When I bust through the 50 and all the reps are strong, we raise the weight. When I know I have gone to exhaustion, should I stop, and catch my breath and finish the set.

Is getting those last reps helping or hurting - when catching my breath I can do the last reps a lot better?

[Marius_Ursus]

Form is everything, brother. If your form is off, not only are you risking serious injury, you're not using your body's strength to perform the exercise, so you're cheating yourself. Take the pause and complete the set.

[atoybbacs]

Catch your breath and finish it out.

[oldsuperman]

Originally Posted by jixsumo

Right now, I am doing 50 rep sets. I am a big man, 6'2, and about 370. I was 427 when I started this so I am doing ok. Body fat is going down, I was at 55 percent, and I am approaching 40 percent. I am building muscle. A LOT OF IT.

My trainer has me doing 50 rep sets. Ita full body workout. The lifts vary. Usually start with EITHER dead lifts or leg press, and go from there. We do six different lifts. Its a good full body workout. Its definetly increasing my over all muscularity.

I can either bust out 50 reps straight. OR do 35 reps, rest for 30 seconds, and do the final 15. When I do the 50 straight reps, the last 10 or so are a bit off - poor form, swinging the bar, WEAK. When I stop at 35 and catch my breath, I can get those last 15 with proper strong form.

I like doing 300's. I liked the bi-sets and tri-cets we would do too. But the 300's fit me. I get this done in under 30 minutes. So its an intense no nonesense session. I get in, get done, and get out.

When I bust through the 50 and all the reps are strong, we raise the weight. When I know I have gone to exhaustion, should I stop, and catch my breath and finish the set.

Is getting those last reps helping or hurting - when catching my breath I can do the last reps a lot better?

You're doing just fine.

[ironwill2008]

It sounds like you're making good progress; stick with it! Don't sacrifice good form, just to get a few extra reps. Catch a breath if you have to, then complete the set with good form. Keep working! Good luck!

[bamaborn67]

Like Old Superman said you are doing fine. After that many reps who wouldn't sacrafice a little form as long as it's not excessive. Your trainer should be watching you on those sets to determine if it is excessive.

Good Luck and keep at it.

[GreenWave1]

Excellent progress! It sounds like you found something that is giving you the results that you desire.

I'm with the others, take a moment to catch your breath and then finish your set.

[shuriwud]

Sounds to me like you've made some awesome progress so far. Personally, I'm a form guy and work out alone, so I'm really big on taking the small rest and continue. Although, another option would be to have your trainer 'help' with the push, and you focus on the 'negative' portion of the rep. Either way, my sincere congratz on your progress.

[BillyBatts]

I think that you're doing fine. Your trainer obviously has you doing 50 reps as a combination muscle development and fat loss regiment. Sounds like he knows what he's doing as you are making great progress.

Keep up the great work!!!!

[boathead]

i love that idea...50 reps.

can you post the exercises you are doing?

[Iron Barbarian]

Sounds like you are kicking ass and taking names. Keep up the good work.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

I remember in college one of the Grad Students was messing around with doing a single set of 100 on a single exercise each workout.

Squat, Bench, Dead and an Ab movement.

He claimed that over 3 months of doing it his max went up in all 3 lifts. I always thought he was a blow hard though.........

The guy went on to be a trainer for an NFL team though, so what do I know.

[Fifty+]

Originally Posted by jixsumo

Right now, I am doing 50 rep sets. I am a big man, 6'2, and about 370. I was 427 when I started this so I am doing ok. Body fat is going down, I was at 55 percent, and I am approaching 40 percent. I am building muscle. A LOT OF IT.

My trainer has me doing 50 rep sets. Ita full body workout. The lifts vary. Usually start with EITHER dead lifts or leg press, and go from there. We do six different lifts. Its a good full body workout. Its definetly increasing my over all muscularity.

I can either bust out 50 reps straight. OR do 35 reps, rest for 30 seconds, and do the final 15. When I do the 50 straight reps, the last 10 or so are a bit off - poor form, swinging the bar, WEAK. When I stop at 35 and catch my breath, I can get those last 15 with proper strong form.

I like doing 300's. I liked the bi-sets and tri-cets we would do too. But the 300's fit me. I get this done in under 30 minutes. So its an intense no nonesense session. I get in, get done, and get out.

When I bust through the 50 and all the reps are strong, we raise the weight. When I know I have gone to exhaustion, should I stop, and catch my breath and finish the set.

Is getting those last reps helping or hurting - when catching my breath I can do the last reps a lot better?

Congratulations on your progress. Sounds like you're happy with the results so far and have what it takes to meet your goals. Hats off to ya. I was wondering if your trainer has structured the fullbody workouts towards Citcuit Training? It sounds like he allows you to decide whether or not you use a rest-pause technique or use a little slop and body motion. Both have benifits. If the workout is structured more towards a Circuit, the basic idea is to keep moving. So the last few reps of slop are not as important as taxing your cardio system and burning calories. On the other hand, rest-pause will allow just enough rest to attack the muscle properly. In either case you're doing very well and you should discuss the strategy with your trainer. What about your diet? Talk it up...

[Capnwilliam]

How long do you rest between exercises?

Do you do a single set of each exercise, or more than one set?

Jim

[Bando]

I just read your bodyblog and you're doing a great job. Way to stick with it. First newb I've read about who could leg press 385, but then again you've been carrying some weight around with those legs for awhile.

[jixsumo]

Originally Posted by boathead

i love that idea...50 reps.

can you post the exercises you are doing?

I have to pay attention, and try to remember this. This was Monday, Wednesday, Friday this week. Next week, this will be Tuesday and Thursday.


Dead Lifts

Incline Bench

Leg extentions - I do this lift a lot. My legs need WORK.

Lat Pull backs on a Hammer strength Machine

Ball Slams - heavy ball, slam it to the ground, repeat. This is FUN. When I am wobbly, cant walk, and need to get the blood flowing back in my arms, this is the ****.

Triceps pulls with the rope


Ok, on Tuesday and Thursday of this week, switching to Monday, Wednesday Friday, next week is

Leg Press

Lat Pull Downs

Pec Deck

Leg Extensions - we do a lot of these.

Leg Curls - we do a lot of these

Bicep Curls, with the rope

50 reps. The sets are back to back to back - stop long enough to drink some fluid and move to the next one. I keep the intensity UP. I will feel the pump all over, for the rest of the day. I used to barely get done in 30/35 minutes. Now it takes right at 25 minutes.

My trainer is adding a twist to this. Sometimes I will push to 40 instead of 35. Ok. But I still owe him 15, not 10. OUCH. He is a sadistic MF.

[jixsumo]

Originally Posted by Bando

I just read your bodyblog and you're doing a great job. Way to stick with it. First newb I've read about who could leg press 385, but then again you've been carrying some weight around with those legs for awhile.

We were trying to find a good max for me to work from and grow. But the weights kept going higher and higher. So then came the 50 rep sets to get me to exhaustion.

[jixsumo]

Originally Posted by Capnwilliam

How long do you rest between exercises?

Do you do a single set of each exercise, or more than one set?

Jim

I rest about as long as it takes for me to walk, sometimes CRAWL, to the next station and load on the plates. My trainer is either trained with someone before me, or takes a couple of minutes to get everything ready before we start. The break between sets is minimal. He keeps a stop watch on me to track how long I take to do the set.

I do a single set of each. Then I am really DONE.

[Bando]

Originally Posted by jixsumo

Right now, I am doing 50 rep sets. I am a big man, 6'2, and about 370. I was 427 when I started this so I am doing ok. Body fat is going down, I was at 55 percent, and I am approaching 40 percent. I am building muscle. A LOT OF IT.

My trainer has me doing 50 rep sets. Ita full body workout. The lifts vary. Usually start with EITHER dead lifts or leg press, and go from there. We do six different lifts. Its a good full body workout. Its definetly increasing my over all muscularity.

I can either bust out 50 reps straight. OR do 35 reps, rest for 30 seconds, and do the final 15. When I do the 50 straight reps, the last 10 or so are a bit off - poor form, swinging the bar, WEAK. When I stop at 35 and catch my breath, I can get those last 15 with proper strong form.

I like doing 300's. I liked the bi-sets and tri-cets we would do too. But the 300's fit me. I get this done in under 30 minutes. So its an intense no nonesense session. I get in, get done, and get out.

When I bust through the 50 and all the reps are strong, we raise the weight. When I know I have gone to exhaustion, should I stop, and catch my breath and finish the set.

Is getting those last reps helping or hurting - when catching my breath I can do the last reps a lot better?

Originally Posted by jixsumo

I have to pay attention

Dead Lifts

Incline Bench

Leg extentions - I do this lift a lot. My legs need WORK.

Lat Pull backs on a Hammer strength Machine

Ball Slams - heavy ball, slam it to the ground, repeat. This is FUN. When I am wobbly, cant walk, and need to get the blood flowing back in my arms, this is the ****.

Triceps pulls with the rope

50 reps, back to back to back - stop long enough to drink some fluid and move to the next one. I keep the intensity UP. You will feel the pump all over, for the rest of the day. I used to barely get done in 30 minutes. Now it takes right at 25 minutes.

This sounds like a helluva workout. Does your Dr. know you're doing this? I would be a little concerned that with 55-40% bf there may be some arterial reasons why slow and steady weight loss might be preferable. Again, I think you're doing a great job, just don't wanna see them have to carry you out.

[Capnwilliam]

Originally Posted by jixsumo

I rest about as long as it takes for me to walk, sometimes CRAWL, to the next station and load on the plates. My trainer is either trained with someone before me, or takes a couple of minutes to get everything ready before we start. The break between sets is minimal. He keeps a stop watch on me to track how long I take to do the set.

I do a single set of each. Then I am really DONE.

This routine has really got my interest. I'm going to try it!

Jim

[jixsumo]

Originally Posted by Bando

This sounds like a helluva workout. Does your Dr. know you're doing this? I would be a little concerned that with 55-40% bf there may be some arterial reasons why slow and steady weight loss might be preferable. Again, I think you're doing a great job, just don't wanna see them have to carry you out.

There was another thread about embarrasing moments, and I really wanted to post when I passed out in the shower. I might do that today.

I see my general practioner every 6 weeks. I see my cardiologist every 6 months or when needed. A few years go, I survived heart failure. The meds I take for my heart are rough on my system. I have blood work done every 6 weeks to verify my blood chemistry, and my kidneys, and liver are function properly. That is interesting to do, if you can. Cause your body chemistry does change. Last time, my potasium was spot on, but my sodium was LOW. WTF. Its not a license to buy a salt lick. But I found this garlic flavored sea salt loaded grinder at the grocery. HA!

[Capnwilliam]

Originally Posted by jixsumo

I really wanted to post when I passed out in the shower. I might do that today.

Which one? :-)

I'm going to try your routine today. I'll post about it, whether or not I pass out.

Jim

[jixsumo]

Originally Posted by Capnwilliam

Which one? :-)

I'm going to try your routine today. I'll post about it, whether or not I pass out.

Jim

hmmm, I am not planning on passing out in the shower, again. So the other one.

Take something to drink - you will need WATER and a lot of it.

[Capnwilliam]

Figured I'd start it with very light weights, try 4 exercises for lower body including abs, 4 for upper:

Sit-ups, no weights, 50 reps for a warm-up

Dumbell benches, 20 lbs. in each hand: started to feel it toward the end.

Leg extension, 50 with 20 lbs. : way too easy.

Leg curl, ditto.

Calf raise, 50 x 20 lbs. : started to feel it toward the end.

Bent over dumbell row, 20 lbs. in each hand: had to stop a couple times!

Dumbell curl, 7.5 lbs. in each hand, one arm at a time: really tough, had to stop 2-3 times.

Alternating dumbell presses, 10 pounds in each hand: positively brutal! Had to stop 4 times.

I like this routine!

Jim

[jixsumo]

GOOD! Its a good routine. If you can, get your percent body fat. And then again in a month. Keep raising the weights, SLOWLY, cause remember it is a 50 rep set.

Here come the DOMS. I dont get DOMS cause of my heart meds. I got them the first couple of days I did this routine though.

[Capnwilliam]

I got 'em today! Not really that bad, though.

Jim

[sp34]

Sounds like a excellent workout. I agree with the others, take a breather and get back at it the same intensity and form. Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!!