This article will cover the common mistakes I see power-lifters or those interested in increasing strength in the squat bench press and deadlift make. There will be a cross-over of issues between points. Going Too Heavy and Training too Close to Failure Intuitively, lifting heavy makes sense and there are periods when lifting heavy may be required to maximise strength adaptations. Based on the principle of training specificity, if you want to get good at lifting heavy things, you should probably practice lifting heavy. However, there does come a cost with lifting heavy. As one lifts loads closer to their 1RM, there is generally increased fatigue per repetition. Likewise, as you lift closer to failure, there will also be an increased cost of fatigue as approaching failure. Between 10 to 5 reps shy of failure, fatigue will be minimal within a set. Between 5 reps to 3 reps shy of failure, fatigue will be moderate Between 3-2 reps shy of failure, fatigue will be significant From 1 rep...
If you want to get the best results in the gym, there are a few basic skills that you need to master. This includes learning how to breathe the right way. Though this might sound basic, here are some things you need to keep in mind to master your breathing and boost your performance. Why Is Breathing Important During Exercise? You will need to use oxygen to fuel your body during an intensive exercise session. The more intensive your workout becomes, the more oxygen your body will require, allowing you to deliver a strong performance. Furthermore, oxygen will be used to help you recover after an intensive exercise session. How To Breathe During Strength Training There is a simple procedure to follow when breathing during strength training exercises. First, you will need to breathe in through your nose, allowing the air to reach deeply into your lungs. This should be done at the start of the movement. For example, let’s imagine that you are doing squats. You would inhale...