Heavy Weights!!!!

[dbx]

Well spoken just want to make sure I don't forget about anybody

[Roger035]

Go HEAVY or GO HOME !!

[reamade]

Go HEAVY or GO HOME !!

You tell em Roger. Good to see you back on a regular basis.

http://reamade.wordpress.com/

[Karl_Hungus]

I agree with what you've said, but keep some perspective; Fifty+ is 17yrs older than you. You'll just have to hope your joints feel as good at 53 as they do now at 36 . Some of us are fortunate down the road, and some of us aren't. It's a unique path for each of us.

Oh, I agree ... I was only speaking for myself which is why I said "personally" (although I should have been more clear about that). Right now, my joints feel great, but if I start having joint problems, I will certainly have to modify my routine somewhat. Also, fifty+ lifts heavy, he simply periodizes (if I understood his post correctly), which I think is a good idea regardless of your age.

[dbx]

he simply periodizes ..... which I think is a good idea regardless of your age.

Agreed . My CNS can't take lifting heavy week in and week out. But I guess I should clarify what I mean by that; I'm talking 3-6 rep range heavy...intensity cycle. I've found that I can't do it more than about 5 to 6 wks straight before needing a couple days down time. Other than that, I'm always mixing it up with different rep schemes. It's a must.

[Karl_Hungus]

Agreed . My CNS can't take lifting heavy week in and week out. But I guess I should clarify what I mean by that; I'm talking 3-6 rep range heavy...intensity cycle. I've found that I can't do it more than about 5 to 6 wks straight before needing a couple days down time. Other than that, I'm always mixing it up with different rep schemes. It's a must.

Right on man, I'm the same way -- I can only do about two weeks of 3-6 rep range before I hit a wall. I have to mix up the set and rep ranges to keep progressing.

[Bando]

I dunno what will happen in the future. But when I look at blondeamazon's workouts I can see where lifting lighter isn't something to be feared. I'd rather switch permanently to that workout than be all beat up. When/if the time comes.

That's what I got from reading Ole Supe's transformation article. Some day I'll have to go with lighter weights, today is not that day.

[Fifty+]

Personally, I can't see any reason at all not to go heavy.

I've always lifted with specific goals in mind. At some point your body will require rest. At some point you'll need to take a week or so off. Do you come back the first day and hit the same weight you maxed out at prior to taking a break? I don't. I start a little lighter and work with a little more volume. As the weight goes up the volume reduces. My goal was always to lift a little heavier to build larger muscle fiber. So yes, I guess I lift to break through plateaus and move beyond yesterday.

I lift heavy alot, and my joints feel great. In fact, the last time I got injured was when I was going light with incline DB press.

Actually I've never been injuried while lifting. No joint problems, knock wood.

take care
oldfart

[rpaul11]

Wasn't old superman saying he does moderate weights with extremely high reps? I wouldn't mind lookin like him of course I lift heavy right now....well, heavy for me

[ALBPM]

darn !!! I was doing heavy squats and taking Muscletech 6 times a day....

Is this normal.......

[dbx]

darn !!! I was doing heavy squats and taking Muscletech 6 times a day....

Is this normal.......

Well, they're not 19" calves, but they'll do.

[ntrllftr]

I`M running into more and more guys who are telling me they don`t lift heavy anymore.

Time to STOP running into people.


.

[GuyJin]

When I was just starting out years ago, a guy who was older and more experienced told me I should set my goals on being a "2/3/4" man: 200-plus on the bench, 300-plus on the squat, 400-plus on the deadlift. After that, become a "3/4/5" guy. Well, I managed to become that guy, but time and inuries have forced me to re-evaluate my goals. And while I DEFINITELY lift less than I used to do, I still lift heavy--for me, and in the long run, that's all that counts.

From what I've read on this thread and in other forums, I see a lot of older dudes and dudettes lifting heavy, and if they don't suffer from any injuries or joint problems, more power to 'em. In my case, since I want to be walking normally when I'm 60, I've had to cycle my lifting: One session heavy and another session a few days later with about half the weight and more reps and really good form. Since I'm in this to look semi-decent for myself and my wife, as well as preserve my joint integrity, I've adopted a somewhat less cavalier approach to the weights. I still like to go heavy, just not as often.

Hope everyone finds their way as well.

[Fifty+]

When I was just starting out years ago, a guy who was older and more experienced told me I should set my goals on being a "2/3/4" man: 200-plus on the bench, 300-plus on the squat, 400-plus on the deadlift. After that, become a "3/4/5" guy. Well, I managed to become that guy, but time and inuries have forced me to re-evaluate my goals. And while I DEFINITELY lift less than I used to do, I still lift heavy--for me, and in the long run, that's all that counts.

From what I've read on this thread and in other forums, I see a lot of older dudes and dudettes lifting heavy, and if they don't suffer from any injuries or joint problems, more power to 'em. In my case, since I want to be walking normally when I'm 60, I've had to cycle my lifting: One session heavy and another session a few days later with about half the weight and more reps and really good form. Since I'm in this to look semi-decent for myself and my wife, as well as preserve my joint integrity, I've adopted a somewhat less cavalier approach to the weights. I still like to go heavy, just not as often.

Hope everyone finds their way as well.

Nice post!

[ZBlacktt]

Well, for myself I know in my mind that one day, the weight will not be as much as it has been. I train smart and listen to my body each and every time. But, I do have a set goal and a set number I do each work out when I'm feeling good. I do notice my knee's get kinda achy nowadays after leg presses. Some days, I'll have a back ache. But it's nothing that doesn't go away after a day and a few hot showers. But when that little pain does come around. I often think to myself, is now the time this weight starts to come back down, lol. I just say like anyone would here, listen to your body. You know it better than anyone.

[ZBlacktt]

Wasn't old superman saying he does moderate weights with extremely high reps? I wouldn't mind lookin like him of course I lift heavy right now....well, heavy for me

Him and myself go to the same gym. He trains very hard with good weight and great form. I was impressed the first time we meet, for sure.

[tomdana]

unless of course I can be a pall bearer at my own funeral. LOL/ I hope to continue to lift hard for a long time. I too hear most of my age equivalent colleagues talk of the day when they lifted heavy or did squats or deads. I have pretty good arthritis and about the only time it doesn't hurt is the end of the day when I workout. I guess that's part of why I am a night owl lifter. Take care and keep it heavy.

[Gaskicker]

No way. I'm at the strongest I've ever been right now and can't imagine backing off anytime soon. With good form, rest, and diet a person can lift heavy into their 50's easily. I've seen it with my own eyes.

[NotTooLate]

Of course, when hell freezes over

[greyhair]

Do you think there should come a time when you should stop lifting heavy?
I`M running into more and more guys who are telling me they don`t lift heavy anymore.

Well, I lift heavy less than now than in years past.
However, I don't plan on stopping.
Heavy weight causes micro trauma to the muscle tissue and aids in CNS training to recruit more fibers.
I don't want to lose that.
OTOH, its the last couple of reps that cause the CNS training and that can be done at 5-7 reps as well as at 1-3 reps.
I do take much more time (weeks) to prepare for heavy lifting. A lot more high volume work leading up to the week or so of heavies.
Also, heavy weights become more important for older women to maintain bone density.

So, I think a little more care is warrented, but I'm not giving it up.

[sdnatural]

"Heavy" is a subjective word. What's heavy to some is not to others. If heavy means high intensity, then yes, I plan to lift heavy forever. I know no other means of training with weights other than for growth, so every time I pick up a weight, it's with this intent that I perform the movement.

With that said, there are some exercises that I just don't do anymore. I find substitutions for movements that have proven to be problematic for me after training for 16 years, but these substitute movements still are taken to the highest level of intensity possible.

To change a previous post, it's "go HARD or go home."

[Taichichuan]

Do you think there should come a time when you should stop lifting heavy?
I`M running into more and more guys who are telling me they don`t lift heavy anymore.

I'd say stop lift heavy when you reach 100 years old! LOL

[Brashanic]

lift heavy. live hard.

[egoatdoor]

I think it depends on what you mean by "heavy".

Real low rep sets? I stopped that several years ago because of 1) a rotator cuff injury and 2) really heavy lifting did not correlate to muscle growth and size for me, a fact it took me two years to learn.

But I still train heavy almost all of the time, except for planned recovery periods. Its a different kind of "heavy". Higher reps than 4-6 ( usually 8-10 or 12), but still very taxxing with emphasis placed on progressive resistance ( increasing the weights over time), using the targeted muscle(s) under control on the positive and negative phases to move the weight(not the joints or the secondary muscles), training to failure on targeted sets and repping out until I can do no more, even if that means doing 3, 4 or 5 reps more than the targeted rep range, and even sometimes adding static holds after that.

Squatting your bodyweight for 20 reps going to full parallel will tax your reserves, boost testoterone and build more overall body mass than a 4-6 repper with 3, 4 or 5 plates on a side.

[domineaux]

If you stay with training I don't see how over time you can fail to lift heavy.

Heavy is a relative term???

[dmangiarelli]

Do you think there should come a time when you should stop lifting heavy?

Yes. When you die!

[mikieson]

I stopped lifting heavy here the last couple months. Almost got to my goal of benching 400lbs, but ran into too many injuries to continue. Maybe in my next life..

[Reality_Check]

Do you think there should come a time when you should stop lifting heavy?
I`M running into more and more guys who are telling me they don`t lift heavy anymore.

Depends what you mean by heavy. In a way I have stopped lifting heavy in a way I haven't.

I have stopped lifting heavy in that I am no longer planning to bench 400 lb (got to 3x365 in my early 30s). I don't even mind if I don't get back to repping 315.

I am lifting heavy in that some people might consdider my 2 bench sets of 5 x 270 to be heavy. At my current age I would never be happy just repping away with 225 on the bench, i felt I had to get back to at least 275, and I'm pretty much there. Even when I'm 70 I plan to never go below benching 225.

I guess I don't push my body like i used to, I am mindfull of the potential for injury (for example in the coming months i could try to push on to 315 on the bench but i dont intend to intend to stay with 275, unless it becomes to easy, then I might raise it a bit).
At present I am content lifting heavy but without going to busting the gut tempting injury type level.

[Stevelegh]

Ask Old Supe........

[batteryrequired]

I will lift heavy for as long as i can. I am surprised at some lifts still continue to increase. Bump what someone said earlier....glucosomine for the joints. Does wonders.