Do you always have goals with training?

[specter]

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

i have hammered these even direct into the inflammed tissue same with GKH-cu, believe me i have tried everything..

 

[bjjgear]

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

Constant struggle for sure. I have found that same 80/20 attitude only impedes my goals by a hair. It's like a total win for mental health and almost breakeven for objectives. But may just be my goals aren't all that lofty.

 

[Josefein421]

i have hammered these even direct into the inflammed tissue same with GKH-cu, believe me i have tried everything..

Damn man. That really sucks. I wish I had an idea for you.

Constant struggle for sure. I have found that same 80/20 attitude only impedes my goals by a hair. It's like a total win for mental health and almost breakeven for objectives. But may just be my goals aren't all that lofty.

I think youre spot on with the first part. I dont know your goals but I wouldnt say they arent lofty. Maybe for a guy that competes and wants to hit 265lbs on stage. But for a "lifestyle" bodybuilder the mental health win has got to be huge. Thank you.

 

[qbkilla]

Have my chest enter a room before my belly does.

I think this is a goal alot should have. I assume your referring to reduction in distention /improve digestion rather than reducing bf?

 

[buck]

I think this is a goal alot should have. I assume your referring to reduction in distention /improve digestion rather than reducing bf?

Mostly talking about BF. I have ate healthy and worked out all my life so distention and digestion is what it is. At my age burning as many calories as i used to when i was a kid in my 40's and 50's becomes a real challenge at the least.

 

[specter]

Damn man. That really sucks. I wish I had an idea for you.

I think youre spot on with the first part. I dont know your goals but I wouldnt say they arent lofty. Maybe for a guy that competes and wants to hit 265lbs on stage. But for a "lifestyle" bodybuilder the mental health win has got to be huge. Thank you.

Its cool man, im the kinda guy who never stops so ill get back to the gym some way.. my entire life has been me living on my terms no matter the cost, sometimes the cost is high.. but in the end we all die no matter what..

 

[hulksmash36]

Usually have a shortish (months) goal but sometime just pushing to stay hard.

 

[artie farkalarty]

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.

I feel the same way. I did the beat the logbook thing for awhile and, while it was nice and comforting to have something quantifiable to aim for, for me I would sometimes lose the execution/ tension/ mind-muscle connection. Interestingly though it seemed like certain muscle groups definitely didn’t respond to that but others did. Could be genetics, execution, other…who knows.

 

[01dragonslayer]

I just like to keep it simple....progressive overload.

 

[PissedPajamas]

If I’m not all in and completely bought into what I’m doing I’ll see less than stellar results. Some people can operate with bodybuilding as background noise but when I get intentional I just feel like I see more progress.

 

[KyleSmith1985]

Yup. I've always got mini goals im chasing and block my training accordingly. I also like to learn new things rope flow, jump rope footwork tricks, new KB swing variant etc.... Training would get so boring without something to chase or learning new things.

 

[Flocci]

I feel the same way. I did the beat the logbook thing for awhile and, while it was nice and comforting to have something quantifiable to aim for, for me I would sometimes lose the execution/ tension/ mind-muscle connection. Interestingly though it seemed like certain muscle groups definitely didn’t respond to that but others did. Could be genetics, execution, other…who knows.

i dont see why you cant have both though, but the logbook should never be emphasized over execution/form and whatever your standardized execution is like. The best approach would be to combine them both in my opinion.

 

[bjjgear]

Usually have a shortish (months) goal but sometime just pushing to stay hard.

At the age of 50, getting hard is a huge accomplishment unto itself

 

[R3aper7]

I use the same training plan as long as I can continue to progress, usually 4-6 months. I do the same exercises weekly, and my goal is to either add reps, weight, or slow tempo on every exercise every session.

In reality, at this stage, progress is much slower then every session however that’s generally the goal.

 

[traininsane11]

Should a bodybuilder get stronger?
Of course.

Building muscle increases your potential for strength, and over time that potential will be expressed as increased load on the bar. But that’s something that unfolds over months and years — not session to session.

I don’t believe numbers need to increase every workout.

I train with a target rep range where I want the set to fail. I then use whatever load is required at that moment to reach that failure point with the highest possible level of effort. That’s it.

I don’t worry about what I lifted in the past.
I don’t chase personal bests.
I don’t care if today’s load is lighter than last time.

All I care about is maximum effort, clean execution, and hitting the desired rep range

If you do that consistently, something inevitable happens:
eventually, you’ll need more load to reach the same reps.

That’s how strength should increase — as a by-product, not a target.
A side effect of hard, well-structured training.

I see too many bodybuilders stall their progress by obsessing over log book numbers and forcing load or reps from one session to the next.

I became a far better bodybuilder — and built far more muscle — when PRs stopped being the goal.

As always, these are just my observations and how I train.
The aim here isn’t to tell you what to do — just to encourage some critical thinking about your own approach



Credit to Matt Tofton

 

[Big A]

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

This.

 

[Big A]

Should a bodybuilder get stronger?
Of course.

Building muscle increases your potential for strength, and over time that potential will be expressed as increased load on the bar. But that’s something that unfolds over months and years — not session to session.

I don’t believe numbers need to increase every workout.

I train with a target rep range where I want the set to fail. I then use whatever load is required at that moment to reach that failure point with the highest possible level of effort. That’s it.

I don’t worry about what I lifted in the past.
I don’t chase personal bests.
I don’t care if today’s load is lighter than last time.

All I care about is maximum effort, clean execution, and hitting the desired rep range

If you do that consistently, something inevitable happens:
eventually, you’ll need more load to reach the same reps.

That’s how strength should increase — as a by-product, not a target.
A side effect of hard, well-structured training.

I see too many bodybuilders stall their progress by obsessing over log book numbers and forcing load or reps from one session to the next.

I became a far better bodybuilder — and built far more muscle — when PRs stopped being the goal.

As always, these are just my observations and how I train.
The aim here isn’t to tell you what to do — just to encourage some critical thinking about your own approach

View attachment 244871

Credit to Matt Tofton

And my view is the exact opposite. Everything else happens as a consequence of progressive overload.

 

[hawkmoon]

I have two trend cycles if not targeting competitions.
Adding size or getting leaner. Speed is not important.

I need some kind of longer term target or goal which I can advance toward on a weekly basis.
I can't just stay in place, even if it means just oscillating in the longer term, there must be movement.

 

[lmbfgd22]

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.

Not sure what the issue is with your elbow, but if it's tendinitis related look for a theraband flex bar. They have movements specifically for elbow pain and tendinitis. I could not grip a 2.5 pound weight and lift it. I was able to use tb500 to help as well but the theraband was a huge factor in recovery.

I get slight flare ups still but I can train around them, before there wasn't many upperbody lifts I could do without excruciating pain.

 

[specter]

Not sure what the issue is with your elbow, but if it's tendinitis related look for a theraband flex bar. They have movements specifically for elbow pain and tendinitis. I could not grip a 2.5 pound weight and lift it. I was able to use tb500 to help as well but the theraband was a huge factor in recovery.

I get slight flare ups still but I can train around them, before there wasn't many upperbody lifts I could do without excruciating pain.

my elbows was a several prong issue, but ill deff look into that flex bar thing, thx.