YIKES: It pays to re-read the book!

October 19, 2005

I was searching thru the BFL book to find an answer to someone's question

(about why we change exercises for the last set of reps), and I realized

that I'VE BEEN DOING SOMETHING WRONG FOR SEVEN WEEKS!!!

I've been INCREASING my weight for the 5th set of reps (ie, the 1st of the

two sets of 12), instead of DECREASING MY WEIGHTS. Which would explain

why my set of 6 reps can be a level 6 intensity, and my set of 12 reps is a

9 or 10.... If I'm going to drop the weight for my set of 12, then my

initial weights should be higher than they have been....

I've been slightly DECREASING my weight for the 6th set of reps (ie, the

2nd of the two sets of 12, on the different exercise). I see that BP

sometimes dramatically lowers the weight, depending on the exercise.

So, I really want to thank all the new folks for their questions - as they

made me re-read what I thought I knew by now!

***********************

In my efforts to examine whether or not I'm sabotaging my efforts (since

I've had minor results to date), here are other things that I've been

consciously doing not-by-the-book. Perhaps something will jump out, or

perhaps the cumulative effect is the situation. Or, perhaps it's simply

the paper towel theory, and the changes are all happening within - and will

start showing outside in a couple of weeks.

- I don't ALWAYS have the 6th meal

- I don't ALWAYS watch the clock between my repetitions during weight training

- sometimes I cannot go immediately from the first exercise to the 2nd

exercise for that muscle (ie, if someone is on the machine)

***********************

Here are things that I've done that have really helped me:

- for the cardio workout, I use the journal page from BP, but I get

confused about the minutes - so I write the minute range that I'm working

on (ie, 0-1, 1-2, 2-3) in the column - that way, I don't get confused on

the treadmill as to whether I'm between my 1st and 2nd minute at speed 3.4,

or between my 2nd and 3rd minute

- also for the cardio, I draw a horizontal line after each quarter of the

workout - so I have a visual sense of where I am

- after I do a weight workout, I circle any reps that are less than the

full # I was aiming for; this helps me plan my exercise the next time

That's about all for now....

n

C1-W8-D3

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