Could that be right?
With regards to my new training regimen it is. It was a comment from Mark (my trainer). Actually, his exact words were as follows as he described my new weight training routine:
"With good form and control your goal is to fail with every set, with one exception the first set-make sure you are warmed up.You mantra - FAILURE IS KING!!!!"
Today I "failed". Although conceptually, I did know what that meant, I had never truly experienced it, I don't think. That changed this morning, no question about it. While in my routine, being sure to follow my instructions (number of reps, increases in weight and so on), I hit a wall. It's quite a feeling. One minute you are going along just fine, or at least making it through your reps with decent form, then BOOM . . . can't move that bar even another half of a rep. . .
As I have mentioned, Mark will become a contributor to the Agent of Change Blog. He and I will be discussing "training/nutrition" topics to address from his professional perspective, as well as answer my own questions/concerns publicly as I progress with my training. As mentioned, he has "shook" up my routine quite a bit. But, I am listening carefully and learning a lot.
So, here are 3 questions which I will provide my perspective on, and Mark can respond from his professional point of view.
1. Mark has me drinking at least a gallon of water each day (he calls this properly hydrating). I do know that there are many great benefits including how it relates to metabolism, muscle, etc. There is the obvious downside . . . every time you have to "go", it's an emergency! I can accomplish the gallon daily, usually even another 32-oz, but here is my question . . .
Now that I am drinking so much more water, how can I be thirsty all of the time? Perhaps it is because I have gotten used to drinking this much water?
2. Mark has taken my daily calorie intake up about 1,000 calories and my daily protein intake up about 100-120 grams. I understand that with my new goals and training routine, the goal is to build more muscle. I also understand the importance of muscle development and the role protein plays in that process. I also am eating 5-7 balanced meals a day, as opposed to 3 as I did previously. The question . . .
Mark, how did you determine the appropriate caloric/protein goals for my new program? And, how will we determine if that amount is working well (i.e. gaining muscle weight).
Note: Mark and I did many measurements, photographs, Heart Rate calculations, etc prior to beginning this program.
3. We are working on increasing my aerobic base so I can accomplish more "endurance" or long distance cycling. Because of this, Mark has me doing interval training 4-days a week for 10-minutes. The goal, get into specific heart rate ranges (going back and forth between a low and high point). I am able to get my heart rate higher much more quickly on a treadmill while running than on a stationary bike. The question . . .
Although running and cycling are clearly different exercises, why does it seem much harder to get my heart rate in the "high" range on the bike as opposed to the treadmill, even with increased resistance?
We should have Mark's responses posted in the next few days.
Enjoy the weekend.
Josh - Agent of Change