john557
11-21-2002, 05:36 PM
I have been weight training for 2 years now, but the first 6 months was great, i doubled in body size, but now theres little change. Do i need to change my workout around, or does your body growth just slow down because ur used to the weights
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Endorphin Junky
11-21-2002, 07:05 PM
Sounds like you've hit a platueau. After a while of following the same routine, your body gets used to the work you're doing. You need to change your routine every so often so you're body doesn't know what to expect and doesn't have time to adapt.
Makinmschf
11-21-2002, 11:20 PM
Does this theory apply to cardio as well as weight training? I can understand how ones body could become accustomed to say maybe the same amount of weight being lifted but I don't understand this same theory behind cardio..how can ones body become so accustomed to cardio that it wouldn't do your body any good?
Endorphin Junky
11-22-2002, 05:42 AM
No, it doesn't apply to cardio in quite the same way since cardio is about getting your heart rate up. However, the more you do one form of cardio, the easier it will get as you body gets used to the movement and learns to use energy more efficiently to perform it. This means you'll have to work harder to achieve the same result and get your heart rate as high.
fanatico
11-29-2002, 02:57 AM
I am afraid this theory applies in cardio as well. Let me ask you this, Does your body ever feel that the exercise is getting easier after while and you wont burn fat as much? It;s because your body got used to the way your running or what ever.
Try this for yourself, next time when you are in the gym, get on a bike machine and set for one routine, then change from one program to another after 8-10 min. See if you get a better workout or not. Also, when you are on the bike, keep changing your focus on one part of the legs to another.
Good luck
J
Try this for yourself, next time when you are in the gym, get on a bike machine and set for one routine, then change from one program to another after 8-10 min. See if you get a better workout or not. Also, when you are on the bike, keep changing your focus on one part of the legs to another.
Good luck
J
Endorphin Junky
11-29-2002, 05:52 AM
Erm, I thought that's what I said. But hitting a plateau with cardio is not the same as hitting one with resistance training. With cardio, your body adapts to the work because it wants to preserve calories, and you only need to up the intensity, or change the type of cardio you're doing to get your heart rate back up in order to burn the same amount of calories as you were before. This is just a part of getting fitter. When it comes to resistance training, your body actually doesn't want to grow and prefers to be in a state of homeostasis. It trys to get to this state as soon as possible which is when your muscles stop developing. To get over this, simply carrying on lifting heavier weights is not enough (and you probably won't be able to since you won't be growing). You need to force them your body into growth by shocking the muscles. However, you don't need to wait until you reach homeostasis to do this and doing it before will ensure you don't plateau.
[This message has been edited by Endorphin Junky (edited 11-29-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Endorphin Junky (edited 11-29-2002).]