Another Toning Question

[Dia Minha]

I started a new toning routine this morning and discovered there were two different excercise that I could not complete 12 reps in a set. I could do about 5-6 full reps or a full set of 12 reps if I did not do a complete range of motion. So my question is; is it better to do a few reps using full range of motion or more using less?

Hope that make sense.

Dia

[5ft Diva]

Do your reps require weights or no weights? That's a hard question to answer w/ such little information.

[Dia Minha]

No weights. The two excercises I had the hardest time doing were, push ups on knees and chair dips. Does that give you the information you need?

Dia

[Big_Sissy]

Less Reps, full range of motion.

If you don't do them properly, you don't tone your muscles. Think of not doing it properly as "Cheating"

It is 99.9% of the time best to do the exercise correct vs getting in your quota.

Don't worry a couple of weeks and you'll be where you need to be.

[5ft Diva]

BS said that much better than I would have.

[mxmama]

lol


That reminds me of boot camp!!

When it was time for PT test, while doing the exercises, if it wasn't done correctly it didn't count.


To give you an example, say I did 30 push ups the last PT test and this time I have to beat that...They would count out load as I did the push ups, if I got to 26 and I started slacking in form they would stay on that number "26....26....26....26...." for each push up that was wrong.

So if it isn't done correctly it just didn't count.

So really I could have done 50 or so push ups, but I only got credit for the ones that were correct.

aaaah... I don't really miss those days


Good luck with your exercises.

[Big_Sissy]

DOH! I could not have been in the armed forces. I'm sure grateful for those who are, but I couldn't / wouldn't do it.

[Dia Minha]

I guess the main problem is that trying to do these excercises made me feel really weak. I knew that my arms needed work, but wow, not that much. I'm having a hard time boosting myself back up. I know if I just keep at it, I'll get stronger. Right now I'm just discouraged. I don't mind something being hard. It was hard to get through the first week, but I did it. This just seems impossible. If I can't even do 6 push ups, how am I ever going to do 24.

Anybody got any encouragement for me?

Dia

[Big_Sissy]

Yes -- You CAN do it.

The coolest part is that when you are really lacking in any area, you will see HUGE gains in a short amount of time when you work on it.

[Dia Minha]

Are you sure?

Dia

[mxmama]

Hey... dont be so hard on your self!

I think you should look at how many you can to now and just try to top that, instead of looking at the amount you think you should be doing.

Every week or so try and be up by 2 or something. That is a more realistic goal that you can be proud of!


Keep at it before you know it you'll be doing 25!


I'm not an expert but its just my opinion.
You CAN do it!

[Dia Minha]

Thanks Mx, it makes so much sense when you say it like that.

Dia

[finnican]

Thanks all of you for your great answers and support.

I'd like to say something about that... hopefully it comes out so that you can understand it.

It really doesn't matter how many reps you complete if they are not done with the full range of motion.

The most beneficial for a muscle to grow in size and in strength is when the correct movement and the full range of motion is being used. Also have to remember that the most growth comes when the muscle is under stress as long as possible.

For an examble if I'm going to do push ups and my goal is 4 sets of 10 reps and I can accomplish 3 sets and 2 reps before I start having difficulties and I feel that possibly I wouldn't be able to finnish this last set... the only thing I would need to do is accomplish as many as I can with full range of motion and when cannot anymore, to hold for about 5 - 10 seconds until the hands just cannot hold anymore and you "fall" on the floor. This means that the muscles you used doing the push ups, experienced a "muscle failure" and now you need rest for your muscles to repair them selves and becoming stronger. That "falling" is just a protection mechanism for the muscle to not get hurt but to just "let go".

So in short, you have to do as many reps as you can and the last reps are better to do slowly so that you can get everything out of the exercise.

Hopefully this aswered your question.

Finnican

[Dia Minha]

Thanks Finnican. I actually think I get it.

Dia

[5ft Diva]

Good luck Dia! Believe in yourself!