I have some initial results to post from the new model I've been working on. My plan was to do a Body By Science workout infrequently, supplemented with other activities. Today I did some deadlifts, after not lifting anything heavy for the past 17 days. My original goal was to wait 21 days, but I couldn't make it; I became too impatient.
Usually, I do 3 sets of deadlifts with increasing weight, and with little rest between sets. Today after the first set, I realized the conditioning for short rests wasn't there. I have done several metabolic conditioning workouts (sprints/Tabata) in the past 17 days. However, they did not seem to maintain the metabolic fitness necessary for lifting.
I decided to take long rests between sets, and by doing this I was able to lift the same weight I did 17 days ago. Therefore, there was no loss in strength during this time, but there was a loss in conditioning. This loss of conditioning is important, because I think it affects the response you have to an exercise. Even though I was able to lift the same weight as before, it just didn't feel that great.
This was a pretty quick experiment to show that the metabolic conditioning for lifting is specific. At least for me, using different high-intensity exercise (sprints) did not maintain the conditioning for resistance training.
Based on these results, the next logical experiment is to try variable resistance training once a week. Just as it sounds, the idea is to lift different weights every weight - light, medium, heavy, or anywhere in between. I plan on doing a heavier lift every 3 weeks, but also do light or medium lifts the other 2 weeks to maintain conditioning.
I have some initial results to post from the new model I've been working on. My plan was to do a Body By Science workout infrequently, supplemented with other activities. Today I did some deadlifts, after not lifting anything heavy for the past 17 days. My original goal was to wait 21 days, but I couldn't make it; I became too impatient.
Usually, I do 3 sets of deadlifts with increasing weight, and with little rest between sets. Today after the first set, I realized the conditioning for short rests wasn't there. I have done several metabolic conditioning workouts (sprints/Tabata) in the past 17 days. However, they did not seem to maintain the metabolic fitness necessary for lifting.
I decided to take long rests between sets, and by doing this I was able to lift the same weight I did 17 days ago. Therefore, there was no loss in strength during this time, but there was a loss in conditioning. This loss of conditioning is important, because I think it affects the response you have to an exercise. Even though I was able to lift the same weight as before, it just didn't feel that great.
This was a pretty quick experiment to show that the metabolic conditioning for lifting is specific. At least for me, using different high-intensity exercise (sprints) did not maintain the conditioning for resistance training.
Based on these results, the next logical experiment is to try variable resistance training once a week. Just as it sounds, the idea is to lift different weights every weight - light, medium, heavy, or anywhere in between. I plan on doing a heavier lift every 3 weeks, but also do light or medium lifts the other 2 weeks to maintain conditioning.