getting the most out of my workout

[ck2006]

My trainer said that I should get a spotter because I won't be able to build more muscle without one???? true or untrue, by the end I can't seem to do the weight amount I used to on my own but I am doing 3 extra exercises for each muscle group. I really want to compete, but can't afford a trainer 3 times a week. Will I be able to?

 

[Sassy69]

well that's not true to the extent that you "can't" build more muscle. But a spotter allows you to go a couple extra reps with a "bail-out" if you can't hold them for complete reps -- pushign that extra a little each workout gets you to the next level. There are a couple ways to get around having to hire someone to be your spotter or friggen count your reps (like most trainers end up doing). You can usually just ask someone else in the gym to spot your last couple reps on some exercises. You can also do things like drop your weights just a bit & push out higher reps or increase the weight & drop yoru reps.

You can also add in different ways of liftinig like adding in resistance bands to increase the resistence on your presses for example - I guess I dont want to confuse you by adding in different ways to increase your resistance to get aroudn just simply not being able to lift a certain weight. But I think that's crap to expect someone to have to hire a spotter. There are always people willign to help you push thru the last couple reps. They aren't going to stand there & sacrifice their gym time to help you on ever set but they will always be there to help on the ones you are trying to push thru. Otherwise you can also substitute other machines or assisted equipment like a smith or hack squat, a cable machine or a machine lift instead of trying to push thru something where the bar may drop on your face or pin you at the neck!

 

[ck2006]

excellent, I will actually try all those suggestions, so not all hope is lost. I became really frustrated today thinking that it wasn't going to be possible, and I really want to compete in November.
thanks!