do you goto the gym not knowing what you’re going to work out? you walk in and say, hmm the bench is open, lets do some benching… or the power rack is open, maybe ill do some deads today?
although i do follow my split training program now, i used to do total body, i still go in and do random exercises with random sets and reps for that body part.
am i the only one?
Yeah probably. Everything I have ever read, or heard about on this subject suggests that if you go into the gym without a plan, you are selling yourself short. Always go in with a plan. Whether you wrote it down in the car sitting in the parking lot, or have a strict schedule you adhere too.
I’ve “no planned” myself to a 500+ dead. You don’t always need one. Maybe guidelines that you adhere to, but you don’t have to go in with a written workout.
I sometimes wing it depending on what feels “fresh”. I usually stick to my program.
I follow a plan and stick to it every time. I write everything down in my work out journal to keep track of my progress and remember the weight I left off at.
I follow an upper/lower split…it’s loosely based on the “westside bodybuilding” concept.
I walk into the gym knowing what type of workout I will be doing (Upper ME, Lower RE), but the order of exercises, sets, reps and weights used is all improvised.
I find it keeps things interesting and I’ve been making good hypertrophy and strength gains.
[quote]ZeusNathan wrote:
do you goto the gym not knowing what you’re going to work out? you walk in and say, hmm the bench is open, lets do some benching… or the power rack is open, maybe ill do some deads today?
although i do follow my split training program now, i used to do total body, i still go in and do random exercises with random sets and reps for that body part.
am i the only one?
[/quote]
Now that I re-read your post I see that we are very similar in our approach.
Ironically I still keep a detailed training log. I find it helps me focus.
Bodybuilding is my recreation, I enjoy the tinkering mad-scientist approach.
i have my split set and while i drive to the gym i decide exactly what exercises im going to do and with what kind of rep ranges and weights based on how im feeling that day and what goals i want to work towards with that workout…
I go to the gym knowing what muscle groups I want to target and with what intensity. For example, today I knew I was going to train legs and train them heavy. Further than that, I don’t have a specific plan written out or anything. As for the number of sets/reps, my workouts alternate between either “heavy” or “light.”
I go in knowing what core exercises I’m going to do, squats, bench, or deads right now, and I know what split I’m working that day. After my core exercise I usually choose another 5-6 exercises using the same rep scheme but they change every week.
I go in with my “foundation” on paper. I dont like using a set “program”. I might go in and it says do front squats and Im just not into it then why put my self through it? So Ill do lunges or hack squat. But I always go in with a foundation of what im going to do so I dont get off track or even on my unmotavated days just say fuck it and walk out.
I go in knowing what bodyparts i’m training that day and usually (but not all the time) what set/rep schemes i will use. But as far as workouts, “sometimes” i just wing it by workout as long as it’s hitting the target muscle. Most of the time I have a thought out plan tho. I usually keep a training log so most of the time i have the exercises I plan on doing written down already.
Gerdy
i used to do that for almost a year made great gains in my opinion, just work whatever wasnt tired, go in monday wedsnesday and friday
i’d do 4-5 compound exercises then depending how i was feeling id throw some curls in there and maybe tricep pushdowns
basically just a guideline nothing strict, I can do either more or less depending on how I feel.
[quote]ZeusNathan wrote:
do you goto the gym not knowing what you’re going to work out? you walk in and say, hmm the bench is open, lets do some benching… or the power rack is open, maybe ill do some deads today?
although i do follow my split training program now, i used to do total body, i still go in and do random exercises with random sets and reps for that body part.
am i the only one?
[/quote]
I do it occasionally, every 6-12 months for a macrocycle. I use it as a “technique” or whatever the fuck…
Joe
i go in know what im doing, in what order, how many reps and what weight. i may use a different movement or variation if i want to mix things up and then when i finish whatever i planned to do i go and hit a bodypart that is fresh so like ill do my legs, then a few sets of bi/tris or i do shoulders then a few sets of bench or incline, etc.
i tried going in yesterday without my logbook because i figured itd be a good way to further get in tune with my body but i felt completely naked. its definately something you need to get used to. im not sure if thats why i felt i wasnt myself and left early or not but it was also hotter than usual that day and i did a lot of walking…alright getting off topic.
I generally go in with it all written out. Gives me something to aim for. If I didn’t have it written in stone and I felt tired or lazy, I could just call it a day when it’s convenient. It also makes me do exercises I don’t enjoy so much but that are essential.
I go in with a plan, and if I still have a little something left in the tank, I might throw in an extra exercise (usually isolation) for a few sets.
If I’m going to the gym, I have a plan. I’ve already gotten written out in an ever-changing work document the Core Exercise of the day and the Assistance Exercises of the day. I also write down the exercises I’m going to do in my log before I leave. I even write down how I’m going to warm up to my work set in the Core Exercise and I usually write in the margins the goal weight and reps for my assistance exercises. I don’t care if this is too much because I really enjoy planning everything out.
The only thing I really let deviate from my plans is what kind of curl I might do depending on what’s being used. I also might change the Ab exercise I do at the end of Squat/DL workouts just based on how much energy I have. If I’m feeling good it’ll be something hard like weighted crunches or if I’m feeling gassed I’ll do Hanging Leg Raises or just leave.
If I can’t go to the gym and I’m stuck with my dumbbells at home, I’ll just dick around and get my blood moving. I usually end up doing some 1-Arm Snatches and calling it quits.
I typically go in with a written out plan consisting of exercises, sets, and reps, but I never plan out exactly what weight I am “supposed” to be doing. I start up where I left off from the last session and try to improve.
Occasionally, like today, I had some “total body” stuff planned out, but my mind and body just didn’t feel up to it, so I just did random stuff until I felt like I accomplished something.
I love making progress, and I love seeing the progress I’m making, and I feel if I didn’t have a solid plan I would be taking a lot of shots in the dark.
I try new things once in a while, but I would never really want to go to the gym and “just do whatever”