Sun May 3rd, 2015 8:42 am
If you want increased muscle size (i.e. to “Tone up”) you must reach momentary fatigue. Reaching the point where you almost can’t do ONE MORE repetition is where you MUST find yourself if you want to make any physic changes!
Just like you will never learn calculus, or trigonometry if you are stuck on addition and subtraction, you will never reach “sexy summer arms” or a lifted, shapely booty if you are stuck on 5lb weights. Most people I know know this. But I really want you to KNOW this! Especially those of you who are in the later years of life, but everyone.
It is not an option to be bored in the gym. You have to be focused and attentive to what you are doing because HOW you are performing your set is of utmost importance BECAUSE you are aiming for FATIGUE. And you don’t want to reach fatigue because your shoulders are hunched, or you back is flexing when it should be extending and you’re feeling some funky pull in your glenohumeral joint.
You don’t want to spend hours in the gym, but you want to see changes? Keep your attention FOCUSED by attempting to make every rep perfect! Even more perfect than the previous one. And every next set more perfect than the one before. Give it 100%! Giving 100% is WAY more invigorating than giving 90%!
I heard an elite cyclist say something like: It’s going to hurt whether I give 80% or 100%. I may as well give 100%!
If my goal is to improve (i.e. change my physic… i.e. “tone up”) then I need to sacrifice a little comfort, reach fatigue and give it 100%!