Recently I've encountered something that I've felt before but never so distinctly. My workout buddy (we'll call him Jim) and I split ways when I took my sabbatical a month or so ago. He started working out with someone who was newer to weights than he was. So now Jim's setting the routines. After 30-45 mins I usually finish my workout and go find them. They're only halfway through. They're doing their 3rd set of 10 reps of some variation of a bench press. They do isolation lifts almost exclusively, and none of their workouts are less than 2 hours.
I've tried to give advice without interfering but it's maddening. I try to tell them, that it's too much time, that they're either not lifting right or they're not trying hard enough. That they shouldn't be able to keep lifting that long. They should be exhausted after an hour, hour and a half most. That they could get so much more benefit from clean and jerks, weighted pull ups, etc. But to no avail.
I'm sure we've all experienced the scenario, and what it comes down to is experience. I've been lifting for 7 years, Jim for 3-4 and his new buddy for maybe a year. I know that when I've tried those set ups I've been left with deficiencies in other areas (usually
cardiovascular fitness). But how do you get through to people. I know how reluctant I was 3 years ago to include leg days. Looking back now I can't think why, although I remember the excuses (I don't want big legs, I want to be able to run, I run so I don't need to, I don't have time
{when I'm working out 4 times a week for 2 hours I'm not surprised}).
Is there any way other than to just take away all control of the routine, and give them routines that more experienced lifters came up with? I guess what I'm asking is how can we help friends bypass the 100
bicep curls stage and get a broader understanding of fitness (including nutrition)?
Mike
Linear Mode
