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#1. What Is Failure? - from Michael Meadows
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Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 12:15:32 -0400 From: "Michael Meadows" <meadows@mvps.org> Subject: What Is Failure? I am learning HIT and attempting to lift to failure. But I'm not always sure when I've reached that point. With something like bicep curls there's no question about it...I hit a sticking point and can't get the weight up. When doing upright rows, I lift the bar to my chin 9 or 10 times, then the next lift stops about 1/2" short of my chin. Is that the point of failure? Doing standing lateral raises with dumbbells, I can do 7 lifts, then I start trembling at the top, although I can still get the weight to shoulder height or slightly above. I push through the trembling and lift a total of 12 times, then on the 13th lift I can't get it all the way up. Is failure when I start trembling, or when I can't lift the dumbbell all the way up? Michael Meadows
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#2. Shoulder Mobility Problem - from Michael Meadows
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Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 12:29:05 -0400 From: "Michael Meadows" <meadows@mvps.org> Subject: Shoulder Mobility Problem I'm 49 years old and just started lifting a couple of months ago. I had a terrible time with the military press, and realized it was because I can't raise my arms straight over my head. The highest I can get them is about 20 degrees off vertical. I read something by Charles Poliquin that recommended treatment with "Active Release Technique" for this kind of problem. Does anyone know about the technique, or have any other recommendations for treating this problem? I've been trying to stretch it on my own, but I'm not making any progress. There's no pain, I just can't move my arms above a certain point. Michael Meadows
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#3. Set Intervals - from Brian and Terri Williams
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Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 16:52:54 -0700 From: "Brian and Terri Williams" <windsortoyspaniels@ibm.net> Subject: Set Intervals Today as I finished up a round of hang clean presses (I know, I know..I like 'em alright?) I started wonderin' about rest time between sets again. Looking back on the ole training log I see that for the most part I've decreased by as much as half for some movements since dropping the twice a week for each muscle group bit. I used to take 2-3 minutes between bench sets and 4 or so for movements like deadlifts and front squats. At the same time I lowered my training volume I started using creatine for the first time, making it hard to pinpoint either as a cause. >From this arises 2 questions.....I've a feeling that the CM might be in part the reason for decreased set to set recovery time, and that doing muscle groups once per week instead of twice is allowing for better recovery between workouts. I've done everything from circuit work where I ran, sparred or rode a stationary bike between lifting sets while doing martial arts to long, leisurely 2 sets in 10 minutes living in the gym workouts. What I'm wondering is if there is an optimal length of rest between sets, and if longer breaks are detrimental to progress. If so, how to determine this time? "Leon does vomit a lot, even for a new employee." King of the Hill
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#4. Re: Right and wrong - from James Krieger
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Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 22:34:43 -0700 From: "James Krieger" <jkrieger@wsu.edu> Subject: Re: Right and wrong >From: JJHBowers@aol.com > > Some things are right, >some wrong. Plyometrics are wrong, Superslow is right. Who's to say that you are right? I'm not trying to change your mind here. You can believe what you want to believe, but let me present you with some situations. Let's say I try Superslow, and don't get good results from it. Is Superslow still "right"? Let's say I'm a triple jumper, and add a plyometrics to my overall training program and suddenly my performance in meets improves. Are plyometrics still "wrong"? Whatever works best for the individual is what is "right". I'm sorry, but no training philosophy is inherently right or wrong; it is only right or wrong depending upon the situation and the individual. James Krieger
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#5. 1000 people subscribed to the list? - from James Krieger
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Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 15:23:50 -0700 From: "James Krieger" <jkrieger@wsu.edu> Subject: 1000 people subscribed to the list? 1000 people subscribed to this list? HOLY HIT, BATMAN! Good thing that only one out of this 1000 is MR. INTENSITY. If we had more than one of him, we would have utter chaos on our hands. Hey, wait a sec. We already DO have utter chaos on our hands! Speaking of Batman, MR. INTENSITY sounds like a villian that you find on Batman... [I trust this was meant and will be taken as humorous. No personal insults, remember? --Rob] James Krieger
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#6. Re: Plyometrics - from Andrew M. Baye
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Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 23:29:07 -0400 From: "Andrew M. Baye" <drewbaye@gdi.net> Subject: Re: Plyometrics Yes, plyometrics are "wrong". First, they expose the body to a tremendous amount of force, and are an inefficient means of loading the muscles. Second, the stated purpose of plyometrics, to condition the stretch reflex, is impossible. You can not condition a reflex. You can become stronger. You can improve your skill in an activity. You can NOT improve on a reflex by repeatedly eliciting it. As a matter of fact, you will most likely do the opposite. Take the gag reflex, for example. Sword swallowers are capable of inserting sharp objects far down their throats without eliciting the gag reflex because they spend a long time deconditioning it, through repeatedly attempting to elicit it over time, using less dangerous objects. Eventually, the reflex barely occurs. If you keep poking at a person's eye, eventually they will not blink. The whole plyometrics thing is a mistake. I'll eventually write an article on this for Cyberpump. (Do not confuse conditioning a reflex with the proper psychological term conditioned response or reflex, as in Pavlov's dog.) Andrew M. Baye The SuperSlow Exercise Guild, Inc http://www.superslow.com
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#7. Re: MALE FUEL - from James Krieger
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Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 20:47:10 -0700 From: "James Krieger" <jkrieger@wsu.edu> Subject: Re: MALE FUEL MALE FUEL is Twinlab's supplement to supposedly boost your performance, and I ain't talkin' your performance in a 1 RM squat! It's got stuff like yohimbe bark extract, L-arginine, yadda, yadda, yadda. Sorry, Rob, but I don't have any studies on MALE FUEL to let you know if it works or not :) . James
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#8. How did that whole fiasco begin anyway? - from James Krieger
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Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 21:35:57 -0700 From: "James Krieger" <jkrieger@wsu.edu> Subject: How did that whole fiasco begin anyway? HEY MATT, UH, I MEAN ROB, UHH, WELL, SOMEONE... Where did the whole Matt/Rob alter ego fiasco come from, anyway? Care to fill us all in, guy(s)? James
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#9. Male/female fuel - from Lyle McDonald
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Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 00:20:38 -0500 (CDT) From: lylemcd@onr.com (Lyle McDonald) Subject: Male/female fuel Rob asked: >[I must be behind on the supplement scene...there's a "Male Fuel"? What's >up with that? Is there a "Female Fuel" as well? Is it fuel from a Male? >A human male? --Rob] Male Fuel supports certain, err, male functioning (mostly related to nitric oxide levels which support a certain part of the anatomy, near and dear to all males). Female fuel has DHEA and some other hormonal support stuff. Lyle McDonald, CSCS "I woke up the next morning and shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know." Groucho Marx (not to be confused with Karl) Note: I will be out of town and offline for a few days.
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#10. How to squat? - from Lyle McDonald
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Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 00:20:43 -0500 (CDT) From: lylemcd@onr.com (Lyle McDonald) Subject: How to squat? >Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 12:03:00 -0400 >From: "Michael Meadows" <meadows@mvps.org> >Subject: How To Squat? >I have read that taller people (I'm 6'2") have more of a balance problem and >need to put something under their heels. I found that if I put a 10 lb >plate under each heel, I can squat with no problem and keep my weight on my >heels. >What do the esteemed members of this list recommend? Stretch the heck out of your calves before you squat. Lyle McDonald, CSCS "I woke up the next morning and shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know." Groucho Marx (not to be confused with Karl) Note: I will be out of town and offline for a few days.
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#11. Re: Spandex bunnies - from James Krieger
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Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 23:26:58 -0700 From: "James Krieger" <jkrieger@wsu.edu> Subject: Re: Spandex bunnies Mr. Intensity, you mean I can't watch the Spandex bunnies anymore? And I thought training to failure was hard... James
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#12. HIT Digest 162 and Mr. Intensity - from Margo and Chris Walter
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Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 09:53:13 -0400 From: Margo and Chris Walter <cwalter@swva.net> Subject: HIT Digest 162 and Mr. Intensity That does it! I can't stand it any more! I have to break done and beg Mr. Intensity to write all of his posts -- past, present and future -- in a book! Man, you are hilarious and thought provoking at the same time. Sort of like Dennis Miller without the cussing. Keep it up -- I (and maybe some others) need a dose of reality sprinkles in amongst the humor. Chris Walter, cwalter@swva.net
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#13. Testosterone boosters? - from Robert Jordan
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Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 15:16:53 -0400 From: "Robert Spector" <rspector@earthlink.net> Subject: Testosterone boosters? Hi Everybody. What do people think about the so-called "testosterone boosters" you read about in the muscle rags? Is there ANY solid evidence of these things working in HUMANS (not animals)? And not people who are suffering from burns or whatever. I want to know if any of these things have been shown to have beneficial results in people who engage in weight training. I can't even remember all the names like DHEA, Tribelsomething, etc. Before I go waste my very hard earned money, I want to see what REAL people have to say here. If you got studies, that's good. If you have personal experiences that's good too. Also, I'm in my early 30s and my hairline is just starting to thin. If any of this stuff really did work, would it cause premature baldness? Sorry, I'd rather keep my hair over a few more pounds of muscle. Does Saw Palmetto really work in helping prevent hair loss? I really like this list. REAL people here and the kind of info I can't get in a muscle rag hyped with ads posing as articles and what works for guys who are juiced to the gills. Keep up the great work Rob and listites! Robert "I came here to chew bubble gum and kick ass....and I'm all outta bubble gum!" - Roddy Piper