Things I Would Do Differently
By Bob Youngs
When I put a post about needing article ideas, I got some
real good ideas from a bunch of guys. The one I kept getting the most was, “What
would you do differently?” So, here is a list of things I would do differently
if I could go back in time. Please keep in mind that this is just my opinion.
- I would not do any tricep extensions. My reasoning is
two fold. First, I think extensions were the main cause of me tearing my
tricep tendon. The overall abuse far outweighed the benefit. Second, I think
compound movements help more. People forget how much a dumbbell bench works
the triceps as well.
- I would get out and walk more or ride a bike. I try
and get out and do that 4-5 days per week now and it really helps my
recovery and general heath.
- I would have done more forearm work. I do a ton of it
now and I feel it really helps to keep the elbows healthy. I know a lot of
people will disagree with that, but it sure has helped me.
- I would do more recovery stuff. It doesn’t have to be
anything fancy. I like Epsom salt baths, hydrogen peroxide baths, and
hot/cold showers. All of the above don’t take very long, but they will go a
long way towards helping you recover and keeping you healthy.
- I would do more stretching. I think this is going to
be a roundtable soon and many will disagree with me. However, I think the
stretching I do now really helps to keep me healthy.
- I would keep my reps on good mornings to 3-5. I used
to work up to singles and my form went to hell. The only good mornings I
would do for singles are the chain suspended variety.
- I would do speed bench every other week as opposed to
every week. This also tore up my elbows to the point where I have had to
eliminate it.
- I would do more rear delt work. I did almost none in
the beginning and I think this hurt my shoulder stability.
- I would have dealt with my injuries and tried to heal
them. Instead, I simply tried to ignore and hide them. This worked for a
while, but it caught up to me this year. I was in such bad shape that I
couldn’t bench the bar without pain or walk 10 feet without being in agony.
- I would have taken the time to talk to more lifters.
You can learn something from everyone and most lifters will talk to anyone.
If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend that you ask questions.
- I would listen to my body better. A lot of times I was
beat up and would train anyway. Taking a light day would probably have
served me better in the long run. George Halbert once told me that
powerlifting is a marathon and not a sprint. He meant it would take you many
years to reach your goals. Skipping some workouts will help you reach those
goals in the long run.
- I would have trained my abs better. There were times
where I would take the easy way out and do something easy or nothing at all.
The abs are a key component to squatting and deadlifting. You need to do the
hard stuff.
- I would have never have gone 308. The added weight at
that point just made me fatter. Fat doesn’t help once you get to a certain
leverage point.
- I would have taken the time and learned the bench
shirt better. Like it or not, if you are going to lift in equipment, you
better learn to get the most out of it.
- I would have tried to go to more big meets. I went to
a bunch, but I could have gone to more. This would have allowed me to
network with more lifters. Knowledge is power.
- I would have video taped more of my workouts. It is
much easier to understand the mistakes you are making if you can see them. I
was just lazy and that doesn’t help.
- I would have read more of the Russian books. I have
read more as I have gotten older, but I should have done more reading
earlier in my lifting career. It is important to understand the how’s and
why’s.
- I would also never do another floor press. I realize
that this a great exercise for some. For me, it was a pec strain every time
I did them. If a specific exercise gets you hurt, how productive can it be
for that individual?
As you can see, there are many things I would have changed.
But, I am still learning as I go. I think half the fun is in trying to figure
out just what you, as an individual, need to be doing to get stronger. Learn
from your mistakes. I am trying to learn from mine.
Copyright© 2005 Elite Fitness Systems. All rights reserved.