Ignorant Questions I'm sure. Please help.

[jay_the_man]

Please excuse my basic and ignorant questions.

1>
Not really sure what failure is.. Using alternate dumbbell curls as an example, I use to do the big no-no, high reps(25-20reps) and felt a serious burn until I could not do another one.. about 3 sets. I felt like I was getting a "good" workout.

I have since read low reps+heavy weight=muscle, so I up'ed my poundage on each arm and about the 8-10th rep I can hardly lift it so I swing it up and do a couple negatives.. I never feel that burn although I can't hardly lift it. I do about 3 sets.

Am I getting anything out of this? I could probably re-do the entire 3sets again 20-30mins later.

It's heavy, low reps, and to the point where I can lift it about 1/2 way thats it on the last rep(s).

Is that failure and correct lifting?


2>
When working my chest and trying many differnt ways I cannot seem to feel it in my chest. Sometimes my shoulders and tri's hurt but don't feel like I am working my chest. I am one of those guys that has somewhat of a chest, not flat, but can't bench much at all.. Very weak in the benching area and always was..

Another thing.. which isn't good, but I do tend to do some more excersises on off days because I just can't seem to go a day without it. I want to lose this fat so bad I do not want to take a day off.. If the above is really doing something for me I will probably have the confidence to take a day off knowing that my body really is re-pairing itself.



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= Really nothing to do with my questions but here is my routine, =
= stats, etc for any addition comments, suggestions, slams.. =
==============================================

Routine:
M-W-F, full body, 1-3sets, 8-10reps, 1 between sets, sometimes 2

****dumbbell workout right now until I get gym membership.
****BTW, I have worked out off and on for many years, so even when I was using a gym membership and using barbells and machines I still had the same issues above.

Chest - incline, pushups, attempting to try pullovers next time..

Back - Dumbell Rows

Shoulders - Arnold press, Lateral Raise, sometime Rows

Biceps - Alternate Dumbell Curls, concentration curls

Triceps - Tricep Extension with dumbbell, kickbacks, put feet up on chair hands behind my ass, lower

Forearms - Hammer Curls, Reverse curls

myself down/up buring triceps

Quads - Dumbbell Squats

Hamstrings - sometimes stiff legged deadlift.

Calves - standing raises with about 50pounds on shoulders, sitting raises

Abs - cruches with weight, no more than 20reps, reverse crunches (seems to work the shit out of my abs.. always sore..)


Stats:
weight:185(was 197 when I started), about 17%-18% BF. Right now trying to get rid of my gut.

Daily:
200grams protein, low carbs, low fat. re-feed day every once in a while. No cardio but starting soon since I seem to be hitting a plateu. Taking Fish Oil Supps 3 times daily, multivitamin, and Extreme Lean(ephedra) for fat burning.

jay

 

[Thaibox]

Bro, if all you have is a couple DBs, and you're serious about your training, get a gym membership NOW. Then people here can help you better and you will see incredible progress. Whats holding you back from the membership?

 

[casualbb]

There are a lot of different schools of thought on failure.

Here's mine: If you're trying to gain muscle/lose fat, don't do it. Going to failure messes with your nervous system and prevents you from lifting with your full strength for longer that two days. What you can do, is simply lift with the same weights, but don't push yourself to failure. Stop the set when the speed of your reps slows down.

Other than that, your routine looks fine. Fullbody stuff is better for fat loss because the overall calories used during and after training is higher. Also, each muscle gets hit frequently, which results in more muscle growth. How long have you been lifting continuously? If it's longer than 2 months or so, you could probably use 1-2 weeks off.

-casualbb

 

[R CRUSHER]

2) if your doing barbell exercises & pusups for chest your problem is most likely your a delt/tri bencher.

try a wider grip with lighter weight with a slight pause on the bottom to get your pecs in the movement. same goes for pushups.

 

[satchboogie]

at the end of the concentric and you know that if it comes down it ain't going back up without a spotter.... you reached failure.

that's about the only times when failure is actually an accomplishment.

 

[jay_the_man]

Great. Thanks for the replies!

 

[michaelcoutts]

feeling the burn means absolute shit when it comes to putting on muscle.

That burning sensation u feel....thats call lactic acid and it has absolutely nothing to do with how ripped your muscle is.

 

[hittman]

concentric is shit, go the eccentric

 

[jay_the_man]

Going good with your suggestions..

On another note concerning chest development.... I tried pullovers and they really fucked my chest up!

I have never felt so much soreness in my chest ever.

hoping it's all good.