Do you always have goals with training?

[Josefein421]

First of all... Merry Christmas!

Do you have goals all the time in your training? We have all seen those dudes that do the same exercises with the same weights and look the same year after year. Now of course competitors have goals. But for the average meathead or even the competitor taking time off... do you always have a goal?

I just cant go to the gym and train. I need SOMETHING. Bigger, leaner, stronger. I cant seem to go 2 weeks or I get bored and complacent. Same reason I guess I hate deload or cruise training. I know it has an important purpose but man it bores me to tears. And same with eating... im either need to eat big or diet hard. Maintaining my current weight forever sounds awful. What is the point of going to the gym and measuring food if I'm just gonna look the same??? I know there is a lot more nuance to it that is a broad brush thought process.

And I am not saying program hop, change goals every 3 weeks, etc. I mean take 2-6 months and hit a goal... then immediately have a plan for the next one and so forth.

 

[qbkilla]

I spent 2 years reading exercise science content and it totally fucked up my training as I constantly switched it up and had no goals.

I got away from that by running 5x5 again and had goals to increase my sbd...I had direction again. Got tired of that and switched to old school dc 2 way split so my goals are now beat the log book while keeping good form and tension on the muscle. Also have a step count goal Ed. Training days 10k, off days I have to exceed 10k. I do not have structure cardio aka 30 min 4x a week, the treadmill is a tool to get my steps.

So overall id say I have the most structure I've had in some time, daily goals for movement or beating log book...and I do feel im in a groove and happy with progress

 

[M@NU]

goal is to beat the logbook.
if this stops, rotate excersises and start again beating the logbook

 

[specter]

Merry Christmas man
I actually never had direct goals, allways just more mass, more weight, more reps.. never an actual goal like an inch on my arms, just alwayes the get bigger mentality.

 

[tommyguns2]

I've gone through time periods where I had clear goals, and many other times where I had no goals, but to be consistent with my training. For me, those times where my goals were better defined, I achieved much better results. For me, having a goal that I'm shooting for gives me motivation and focus.

 

[Josefein421]

I spent 2 years reading exercise science content and it totally fucked up my training as I constantly switched it up and had no goals.

I got away from that by running 5x5 again and had goals to increase my sbd...I had direction again. Got tired of that and switched to old school dc 2 way split so my goals are now beat the log book while keeping good form and tension on the muscle. Also have a step count goal Ed. Training days 10k, off days I have to exceed 10k. I do not have structure cardio aka 30 min 4x a week, the treadmill is a tool to get my steps.

So overall id say I have the most structure I've had in some time, daily goals for movement or beating log book...and I do feel im in a groove and happy with progress

This is kinda what I meant. Like always a goal just adapting it as things change or your priorities change. I feel this as a non-competitor.

 

[Josefein421]

I've gone through time periods where I had clear goals, and many other times where I had no goals, but to be consistent with my training. For me, those times where my goals were better defined, I achieved much better results. For me, having a goal that I'm shooting for gives me motivation and focus.

100% agree.

 

[Fleezy]

Of course not

 

[qbkilla]

This is kinda what I meant. Like always a goal just adapting it as things change or your priorities change. I feel this as a non-competitor.

I agree, I feel like a goal needs to be measurable. Saying "cardio 5x a week" or "today im going to work chest" or as the science boys say "im going to stimulate mps" isn't an actual goal. This is one reason why I do not believe rir is a valid way to train as 2,3,4 rir is not something that can actually be measured...it should simply be defined as a lifter choosing to not train to failure.

 

[alfresco]

Not to hurt myself, everything else is gravy.

 

[Flocci]

Not to sound like greg doucette but the goal is to do a bit better than last time, be it execution, progressive overload or anything else that benefits my longterm progression.

Its usually about trying to get one more rep, a pound more, the same weight and reps with better execution/tension/power etc.

 

[bjjgear]

Goal is to enjoy myself and always look forward to training. Same goes for eating. Life is too short to dread eating some bullshit cod or to perform a movement I hate doing unless someone is writing me a check to do it

 

[stackdizzy]

Yea I always have small goals. Like to do an exercise first i was dreading all day, reps, sets

Not to sound like greg doucette but the goal is to do a bit better than last time, be it execution, progressive overload or anything else that benefits my longterm progression.

Its usually about trying to get one more rep, a pound more, the same weight and reps with better execution/tension/power etc.

Well put!

 

[Josefein421]

Goal is to enjoy myself and always look forward to training. Same goes for eating. Life is too short to dread eating some bullshit cod or to perform a movement I hate doing unless someone is writing me a check to do it

Super underrated and something I struggle with knowing that 80/20 approach slows or impedes whatever else I am doing. Perhaps it is because I just an extremist by nature. But good point. You know who I think balances this well... our old friend Slesh

 

[pesty4077]

At this age, my goal is to be healthy and try to maintain muscle. Very hard to maintain the muscle of my youth.

 

[buck]

For decades i had 1 of 2 goals. Get bigger or get leaner.
These years i have 3 goals.
It it to shrink as slowly as i can.
Not injure myself.
Have my chest enter a room before my belly does.
Some goals are easier than others.

 

[WeakFNG]

Short answer, yes.

Long answer, depending on the type of training or phase I was in, it was not always necessarily to set PR's and such.

Training safely, consistently, and being healthier are my current goals and an dont see that changing. I still hit a new PR here and there which is nice and somethjng to quantify what im doing. But not always the goal, just more incidental to what im working on.

I think with all things in life, we should have a goal (even small ones, no matterwhat they are) in mind. It keeps you focused and we all can use thise little wins here and there.

 

[Josefein421]

A lot of great replies. I think it also it shows that age and current large picture goal in life effects our training goals. I am 42 but after just tearing a hamstring and the worst tendonitis I have experienced I am realizing that "not being in pain" and "stay healthy" are becoming bigger and bigger goals.

And I didnt mean goals daily in each training session although I guess micro goals add up to macro goals. I was referring to my own need to have a big picture goal and really a target time frame. A powerlifting meet, a photoshoot, vacation, etc since I am not a competitive bodybuilder. I just cannot train without a target whether that is an aesthetic goal like "get to 8% dexa" or "weight 245 with visible abs" or "deadlift 650". Just going with the ONLY goal to stay healthy or train hard that individual day doesnt do it for me personally.

I do think the great thing about bodybuilding over my beloved powerlifting is the ability to ALWAYS have a goal and progress no matter what age does to us. Young or old we can always train hard, diet hard, get leaner, get stronger (bodybuilding wise) etc. I think there is a reason (along with the "stay healthy and uninjured" many have mentioned) we see far more master's bodybuilders than powerflifters. It is just a sport that allows continued progression despite age in a pretty safe manner.

Thanks for the insight.

 

[specter]

A lot of great replies. I think it also it shows that age and current large picture goal in life effects our training goals. I am 42 but after just tearing a hamstring and the worst tendonitis I have experienced I am realizing that "not being in pain" and "stay healthy" are becoming bigger and bigger goals.

And I didnt mean goals daily in each training session although I guess micro goals add up to macro goals. I was referring to my own need to have a big picture goal and really a target time frame. A powerlifting meet, a photoshoot, vacation, etc since I am not a competitive bodybuilder. I just cannot train without a target whether that is an aesthetic goal like "get to 8% dexa" or "weight 245 with visible abs" or "deadlift 650". Just going with the ONLY goal to stay healthy or train hard that individual day doesnt do it for me personally.

I do think the great thing about bodybuilding over my beloved powerlifting is the ability to ALWAYS have a goal and progress no matter what age does to us. Young or old we can always train hard, diet hard, get leaner, get stronger (bodybuilding wise) etc. I think there is a reason (along with the "stay healthy and uninjured" many have mentioned) we see far more master's bodybuilders than powerflifters. It is just a sport that allows continued progression despite age in a pretty safe manner.

Thanks for the insight.

i destroyed both my elbows to the point i couldnt wipe my own ass or unscrew a 0,5l coca cola without crying... sofar 2years out of the gym every damn treatment tried.. im 43 and im lucky if i ever get back in the gym at this point let alone rebuild any mass.. take care of your body man.

 

[Josefein421]

i destroyed both my elbows to the point i couldnt wipe my own ass or unscrew a 0,5l coca cola without crying... sofar 2years out of the gym every damn treatment tried.. im 43 and im lucky if i ever get back in the gym at this point let alone rebuild any mass.. take care of your body man.

See my post on BPC/TB. Just made it. Worth a try. Did magic for me