to zigzag or not to zigzag

[bicep_grind]

Hey Matt,

Yeah, I've been there a few times...

https://www.elitefts.com/education/train...on-warrior

I had to try 5 exercises on a Muscle Round day just a couple weeks ago to find the right one.

Any by the right one, I mean one where I feel like I can just friggin' go to town on it, full force, without nagging thoughts in the back of my mind.

I'd sort of disagree with your generalization in the first paragraph above. I think if you're paying close attention when warming up, that you can indeed figure out that an exercise is becoming problematic before it's too late. (I've been doing this for decades now... LOL I've been training for over 30yr, and pretty much always been a knucklehead in the gym...)

You might try this - SAFELY. (The below is a kind of diagnostic, not a war-up.)

When you go to a new exercise (one that you suspect might be an issue), or a the start of our workout, don't do anything special to warm-up as far as stretching, walking on the treadmill, etc. Just go in an do an UNLOADED (or as close to that as you can) version of the movement and see where it hurts (and watch how you accommodate to try to do the movement.)

If it were a day you'd be squatting, just go into the gym, head to the squat rack and squat down (not even with a bar on your back) and see how that feels. Can you imagine your back being tight, your knees hurting, etc?...

Those would give you some indication of trouble spots to pay attention to, before, during and after doing that exercise.

If it were a pressing movement, you could use an unloaded bar and do the above. NOTHING heavy or crazy - just the movement itself to see where the niggles are.

-S

Hey Scott thanks for all the advice. I always appreciate any training tips. My family runs a Gym. My dad won the 2011 Mr universe over 50's and the Britain in every class and my Mum won every British title I think there is. My dad is 40 years in the game and my mum is 35 years. They retired only a few years ago...so there is alot of experience at my doorstep.
Unfortunately non of us see eye to eye regarding, diet or training techniques haha. "my way or the highway" sort of thing. Jeez man you should of seen their faces when I was skiploading during prep.

I probably do need to be way more thorough with warm ups. The cruise is really healing me up nicely.
One thing I have noticed, rest days my hunger is insane, I know i should be feeding this Hunger but I'm already fatter than I want to be this offseason lol.

Matt