Yep, if something is working and we like what we see - we get greedy. After all, isn't more better and faster?
Nawww - it don't work that way. You think you'd had learned by now. Anyway, I got in a good groove with a routine - circuits of push-ups and sit-ups two days and then circuits of pull-ups and step-ups with dumbbells in the hand the other two days. The other days I did tension exercises and cross-trained with self-defense training and running.
If two days was good, then three days would be better? Right? Nope - wrong. Our weight training brethren got it right in days gone by with a heavy day, a light day and a medium day and not going full bore on all three workouts. You might get away from three full bore workouts a week when you are young, but the birth-date on my D.L. says 57. Energy becomes more precious and your joints don't recover like they did. Training smarter, not harder, should always be the mantra.
After a few weeks of alternating these two workouts every other day, I had to say hold on Cochise to my more basic self. Nothing wrong with training every day. I do tension exercises every day. But, you need to alternate the harder strength training with other types of exercise and activities. It is that cross training thing. Walk, play sports, work around the house, run, do a martial art, or get outside and play with the kids and or grand-kids. You aren't going to waste away with with only two strength training workouts a week for a multi-joint body area and your body heals and recovers faster if you aren't always doing the same thing.
The older I get, the more I remember two of Vince Gironda's quotes. One had to do with him having "done enough work to build an army of guys..." and the other was about energy being more precious as you age. It is something to pay heed to.
Nice Greg, thanks for posting.
You definitely know it is not going anywhere!
Here is a video of the Push-up/Sit-up workout done in GB's 13, 14, 15, 16, 15, 14, and 13 Countdown.
My simple strap / suspension device - gets the job done:
Good Post Greg! I agree. I train a body part or movement 1 to 3 times a week depending on what I'm doing. I like full body 3 days a week( H,L,M), push/pull/squat, upper/lower body, and some of the other body part splits.
Never timed myself doing that. I might do that count in the morning with 4 or 5 exercises. Simple, quick, and easy workout on the bay floor between the Engine and the Ambulance.
Pushups, back curls, crunches, bridges, rowing and curls with a strap attached to the ladder rack on the engine. Ok 6 exercises.
Hi GB - thank you very much for the Christmas card.
Yep - you train for the life you lead. BTW - some might scoff at push-ups and sit-ups for strength training, but trying doing a harder version such as the rotating push-up handles and alternate the two exercises with your 13, 14, 15, 16, 15, 14, and 13 rep scheme and then try to nail it in under 10 minutes with good form. Whew - 12:36 is the best I've done so far. I know there are some guys out there who can probably do it, but they're more than likely a lot younger than me. It makes a good workout on the go though.
Staying fit for the life you live.