A Startling Admission...

[Belial]

Easy. Valsalva maneuver. During every rep.

Also, don't drink any water before you go.

 

[Blood&Iron]

Easy. Valsalva maneuver. During every rep.

Also, don't drink any water before you go.

Uhh...no.
I'm very good about breathing. When I first started lifting I accidentally did the Valsalva maneuver while doing leg-presses. It didn't make me nauseous, but did give me horrible throbbing pain in the back of my skull due to the astronomic rise in blood pressure. And I am always quite well hydrated, though I'm not aware how merely not drinking water before lifting could cause nausea. Severe dehydration might do it though.

DaCyper-
I really think intensity is a mindset. When I first started doing HIT, I had only been training about 3-4 months. I was doing laughably high volume: 2-hour full body workouts 3X a week, and running 3 miles and doing push-ups and sit-ups on my off days. When I first read about HIT on Cyberpump I didn't understand how it differed from normal lifting. 1-3 sets. Full body workouts. What the hell makes this "high-intensity", I wondered. It really is the mindset with which you approach each set. Approach each set as if you're life depended on it. I'm not sure I can explain any better than that. I still focus 110% on each set; the biggest difference in how I currently train is that I rest much longer between sets, waiting until I feel fully recovered before performing any work set. I used to race between machines only pausing to load and unload bars, maybe giving myself 20-30 seconds to catch my breath, and then doing the next exercise(1 set each) I remember once doing leg-presses for 20, rushing to do lat-pulldowns, and BAM it was over. I had to lie down, I physically couldn't complete the rest of my workout--well, I could have but it would have resulted in the gym floor being covered in vomit. Before squatting I would always read Sean Toohey's "The Battle for 20" about 20 rep squatting, which I had printed out and kept in my workout log book. Read the accounts on Cyberpump. Everytime I went into the gym I would compare myself with those guys, and I realized I cut a pretty poor figure. When your just sort of flinging the weights around(and I even call 2-4 cadences flinging) your mind isn't totally on the current set. The easiest way I know to achieve absolute intensity is to use SuperSlow(Though they've amended the cadence to 10-10 I still use 10-4. 10-10 only works on very high quality machines that have very low friction.) Do leg-presses at a 10-4 cadence (Squats are near impossible at this speed due to considerations of balance.) and aim for a 6-8 reps. When your body starts to shutdown and the pain becomes unbearable just focus on contracting the muscle, keep moving. For me thought ceases at this point, there is no longer I, only the weight. Breath. Focus. Contract the muscle. Only stop when you've been pushing for a good 15 seconds without budging the weight stack. If you can stand after this you did something wrong. You most likely will also feel nauseous, although maybe not. Approach EVERY set like this, and you will achieve the sort of intensity of which I spoke about above. Of course, I only ever had the severe nausea occur with full body workouts, which I used to do exclusively, or on leg days. I don't personally agree with the Jones quote about arm curls I posted above. You really have to be stimulating quite a large quantity of muscle mass to get the pukey feeling--or as I like to call it the "God, let me die" feeling.
If you try any of this, tell me what happens.

 

[DaCypher]

Valsalva maneuver? What is that?

I always figured if you drink enough water and breathe properly you shouldn't feel the need to vomit/pass out.

 

[Blood&Iron]

The Valsalva maneuver is when you hold your breath during exertion, or exhale against a closed epiglottis(Usually this happens when grunting.) This results in elevated pressure in the abdominal and thoracic cavities and interferes with blood returning to the heart. This in turn can deprive the brain of blood and cause one to loose consciousness.

 

[Belial]

It was a joke, B&I.

 

[Blood&Iron]

It was a joke, B&I.

This has been a problem with some other posts too. My sense of humor comes and goes. Mostly goes though.

 

[Grizzly]

I guess that would explain why our workout philosophies seem so similar despite the fact that I don't do HIT, eh Blood&Iron? And all along you were telling me that I was doing HIT. Sheesh! The short rest is the real kicker in the crotch for me. When I'm going heavy I like to have my 2 1/2 minutes.

Well, dudes, I can tell you that, even with higher volume, you can still faint and puke. I've only come close to passing out, but I think that's becaue I forgot to breath while doing heavy ass deads. As for puking, I've done that a couple of times. Usually on leg day, but occasionally, I've felt like I was going to puke on arm day.

Oh, let me add one thing. Perhaps, it's trivial, but I've been wanting to say something since I noticed it and I just haven't found the right thread. The title of the book is "Thus Spake Zarathustra." Just so you know.

 

[DaCypher]

Blood&Iron,
That seems incredibly hardcore. I don't think I'm ready for that kind of workout. Seems more than necessary really. I've always rested a few minutes between sets. I figure if I'm still fatigued from the last set I'm not going to be able to push myself as hard on the next set and I'll be cutting myself short. I've been wanting to do 20 rep squat sets, but I fear reaching failure and hurting myself because of my bad knee. Might be something to look forward to if I can ever reach the level of intensity you talk about.

 

[DaCypher]

Wow, I reply and theres already 3 replies before mine. I can't type fast enough to keep up with the conversation.

And yes, its difficult to accurately express sarcasm without a tone of voice. Although, smilies do come in handy.

 

[Blood&Iron]

Oh, let me add one thing. Perhaps, it's trivial, but I've been wanting to say something since I noticed it and I just haven't found the right thread. The title of the book is "Thus Spake Zarathustra." Just so you know.

Trivial and wrong. Frankly I get annoyed when people correct me and don't actually know what they're talking about. Nietzsche was German. His books must therefore be translated. The German title is "Also Sprach Zarathustra." Early translators in a misguided attempt to approximate the King James Bible used archaisms not really present in the original text. I am reading the Walter Kaufmann translation which dispenses with these, and is thus titled "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" Just so you know.

Good to know you're busting ass in the gym though. I'm impressed.