No way as way - stop being methodical...?

[Motivated]

Man, I don't know what it is...

I haven't posted here, but I've been working out often 2-3 times a week, and I just do whatever I want at the gym -- just have fun... squat, dead, bench, lat pulldowns... do them heavy, do them light -- just have fun with it...

it was getting hard for me to be as methodical as i used to be (with school and all)...so once I begun this, I've noticed I look leaner, and my cardiovascular endurance has gone up...

perhaps the rule "everything works for everyone differently" is true....?

i eat when I'm hungry, but I still eat a lot better than those around me (no fast food)...

its quite interesting I think. perhaps it is the whole 'not caring' part that does it. i don't really count weights, or reps. i just move along and now I'm almost maxing out hte lat pull down machine.

only thing thats gone down (and I think that was due to a short hiatus) is Bench.... I can't hit 205 like I used to...but I'm doing 185x4-5...so I guess I'll be back on track soon?

Anyways -- excuse the drifting, but I haven't posted here in a while and I miss all you bastards! I see Welch has changed his name, and that maverick is back.



So whats you guy's opinions on this? I'm sure its because I'm 18 going on 19.

I have trained "catch-as-catch-can" like you are currently doing and actually was probably fitter then than I am now following a more structured training approach.

Catch-as-catch-can training is more free-spirited and playful and perhaps results in greater training intensity with a perceived freedom from structure.

It is all good.

And, by the way, you are over the hill when you are 19.

[.V.]

Could it be just because you are enjoying your workouts more and therefore putting more into them? Who cares why...as long as it's working for you.

BTW, soon you'll have to grow an 80's porn star style moustache and join us in the geezers club. Nineteen years old, not too far off from AARP membership.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by .V.

Nineteen years old, not too far off from AARP membership.

Yep, I just got my card today,.....(whew!)

[maverick]

I'm doing the same thing now. Full body workouts whenever I feel up to it, only compound exercises, varied rep/set schemes (everything from tons of single to 5x12). Eating is 80% paleo (meat, fruits, veggies, high fiber carbs), 20% whatever I want (within reason, no old-school Firehawk binges). I'm also doing intense MMA conditioning 3-4 times a week for an hour.

I'm heavier (182) and leaner than I've been in a long time, my endurance is way up, and while my PL #'s might be down just slightly (I don't bench often), my overall strength is as high as its ever been. I don't count calories or map out my tonnage for the week, or obsess over progression. It took me 3 years (holy crap, just realized november marks 3 years of fitness for me) to get all the learning/unlearning done I needed to find what works and make it work for me.

[Dan C]

Originally Posted by maverick

to get all the learning/unlearning done I needed to find what works and make it work for me.

There is a lot of learning and unlearning, isn't there? I like the way you put that.

I think when we get serious about training, we read into it too much and swallow the info hook, line and sinker. A lot of what we read is meant to serve as a guideline, not gospel.

Nobody recommends what Motivated is doing (for long periods of time anyway), but it's working for him. And the most important thing is that he is 1) training and 2) enjoying it.

[cyclistrob]

Glad to see you're still working out Motivated. I've come to about the same point in my training, and am actually pleased with it. Best of luck in the future.