Personal Training and Sports Performance Excellence Blog
Weight Training Category
Question: Which is better for increasing strength , Drop Sets or Forced Reps? I have used both methods but would like to know your opinion. Answer: For those of you who are not familiar with the terms, Forced Reps or...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on September 25, 2012
Question: I can't get the volume training you described to work for me. I always burn pout and quit before I reach the required reps. There is usually no problem with low reps but with high reps I just burn...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on September 18, 2012
Question: I found a training plan on the Internet that I would like you to review and give me your opinion about it. I have made huge gains with my routine over the past two years but I thought this...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on September 11, 2012
Question: I train alone basically. Most of the time anyway. I run into problems with that when I want to add weight especially with chest exercises. Any tips on how to increase without getting stuck beneath a bar? Answer: If...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on September 4, 2012
Question: I have difficulty completing the extended sets especially during leg training. Are there any methods I can use to deal with the pain and fatigue? Answer: To learn to endure the fatigue and pain of an extended set is...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on July 31, 2012
Question: I am trying to get bigger but can only workout 3 days a week due to my work and family schedule. I am 37 years old and would appreciate your help in creating a 3-day workout routine. Answer: Typically...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on March 27, 2012
Question: I have been working out for a while but mostly using machines. Is there any advantage to using free weights? Answer: Machines are considered the safest form of resistance training. They provide both a stable platform and a stable...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on November 29, 2011
Question: I read your article about the difference between competition dieting and just cleaning up. How would training be different for a competition? Is it something anyone could do? Answer: While training to lose weight and having concrete goals is...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on October 4, 2011
Question: I have a flat butt. There's no other way to say it but I want to change it. What are some exercises that I can do to actually build shape on my backside? Answer: The shape of your glutes...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on August 16, 2011
Question: The back of my arms are hanging and loose. My grandkids call it my chicken fat and I am disgusted by it. What exercises can I do to tighten it up? I go to a gym and have equipment...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on August 2, 2011
Question: I need a routine to shock my shoulders into growth. I have dumbbells and a barbell at home. My usual routine is laterals for 10 to 12 reps. Seated shoulder presses for 10 to 12 reps and upright rows...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on July 27, 2011
Question: Are bodybuilders strong? They look strong but a friend of mine said that they weren't as strong as they looked. Answer: Bodybuilders train for appearance but make no mistake they are also strong. The difference between bodybuilders, powerlifters and...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on June 7, 2011
Question: I train heavy and hard but recently I have just lost the fire to train? I thought about some time off from the gym but I don't want to lose the gains I have made. If I do take...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on May 17, 2011
Question: I play bass guitar in a band on weekends and between performances and practice my shoulders and back between my shoulder blades are aching. I just take Aleve or Advil to dull the pain but there has to be...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on December 21, 2010
Question: I recently finished physical therapy after knee surgery and have been released by the doctor as well. I still have not been able to return to hard training. The knee does not hurt but I am just fatigued and...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on December 14, 2010
Question: I am middle-aged man who works out and wants to continue to build some muscle but get leaner, especially around the middle. Weights and cardio seem to be in opposition to each other so how should I approach this?...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on December 7, 2010
Question: I have been training with a system that works each body part one time a week which has yielded tremendous results for me so far. My bench press has increased by 40 pounds in the last 6 weeks. Some...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on November 30, 2010
Question: My son is extremely athletic and his coaches all say he has potential to play at the collegiate level. He has good speed and good hands. What does he need to do during the off-season to improve his abilities...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on November 17, 2010
Question: I have several guys at my gym who train with full body movements in circuits and they look good and seem pretty strong. I do a more conventional workout that includes some full body exercises and I use isolation...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on October 25, 2010
Question: I have been working out for three months now without really seeing much improvement except during the first month. What do I need to do to accelerate my results from the efforts I am putting into my training? Answer:...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on October 18, 2010
Question: I am a marathoner and triathlete and feel like I need to be stronger but I really don't want to get bigger or bulkier. Should I train with weights because even though I do what I do very well...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on October 12, 2010
Question: My son is only 7 but he wants to work out with weights. I have a weight set at home. Should I teach him to workout with it? Answer: We want kids to want to exercise and be healthy...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on July 27, 2010
Question: I have a home gym and some odd questions. Hope you can help me. Should I use weight when doing abdominal exercises, specifically, rope crunches and side crunches? Is there any way to not have to drop dumbbells when...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on June 22, 2010
Question: What is the best age to start training? Should they wait until they are in high school? My son is in middle school and has been lifting weights at home. Recently he began complaining about sore knees and I...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on June 1, 2010
Question: I really want to get bigger arms because right now they look like garter snakes not pythons. What are the best exercises for building big guns? Answer: I going to assume you read the article in one of the...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on May 5, 2010
Question: Should my son use pre-workout drinks like N-O-Explode? He is in high school and asked me to get him some but I don't know anything about them. What about post-workout drinks? Are they any good? Answer: Pre-workout formulas are...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on April 6, 2010
Question: I need to literally get my butt back in shape for summer. What are some good exercises to firm up my glutes which have gotten to their maximus? Answer: The gluteus maximus is the largest single muscle on your...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on April 6, 2010
Question: I have tried wearing a belt when I train legs but all I get is pinched by it. When should I wear a belt? What exactly does it do? If it helps, how do I wear one so that...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on April 6, 2010
Question: When we lift weights doing squats at school the coach wants our butts almost on the ground but it kills me to do that. I just wanted your opinion, is it necessary to get that low to get results...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on April 6, 2010
Question: I need to get faster and stronger for football and I have been watching Spartacus on Starz and those guys are ripped and look huge. What do they do and would training like that help me at football? Answer:...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on April 6, 2010
Question: Some days when I go to train I have already had practice with the team and in the gym I just don't have the energy to do what I can when I don't have practice. Should I even go...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on April 6, 2010
Question: I'm 52 now and feel like I have become a fat magnet. Every time I get on the scale I am heavier and just have a sluggish demeanor. I have begun to walk in the neighborhood which helps but...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on January 26, 2010
Question: I am in my early 50's and would like to put on more muscle but my joints just can't take the heavy weight necessary to build muscle. I try to do sets of 5 to 8 reps with heavy...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Fred Black on December 22, 2009
Question: I had been gradually losing weight all year and have finally reached the weight I felt I needed to be. I'm still not satisfied with how my arms look but I don't want to lose more weight which would...
Comments: 1, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Fred Black on December 15, 2009
Question: I read about a system of 100 reps for training. How do you do 100 reps without wearing out completely? What is the purpose of such a workout and can you do it for everything? Answer: 100 rep systems...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Fred Black on December 8, 2009
Question: I want to know how I can put on 30 pounds of muscle like Tyler Lautner from New Moon did. How much food did he eat to grow like that? Did he train every day all day or something?...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Fred Black on December 1, 2009
Question: My training partner nearly got me killed last week and in light of the accident with the USC football player that had his larynx crushed by a barbell that he dropped, I need someone to enlighten my workout partner...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Fred Black on November 24, 2009
Question: When is the best time to do cardio, before or after weight training? Answer: For most, the best time to do cardio is after weight training provided you are moving at a good pace during your workout. That means...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Fred Black on November 17, 2009
Question: I need to build larger quads for next year's competition. I already do leg presses, lunges, inverted leg presses, leg extensions and a variety of exercises and use considerable weight in doing those. I do not do squats frequently...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on October 27, 2009
Question: I really have hit a stalling point in my workouts. I just can't seem to get any stronger on just about anything. It seems like I have not added any substantial amount of weight to any of my exercises...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on September 18, 2009
Question: I recently had surgery on my knee and have been released from medical care by my doctor and the physical therapist. I followed their recommendations and have returned to the gym but I still have difficulty putting pressure on...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on September 8, 2009
Question: I was thinking about training my chest twice a day to see if it would help to get me bigger and stronger more quickly. By hitting chest two times in one day and then resting it until a week...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on July 21, 2009
Question: My daughter is a middle school volleyball player and wants to get stronger before the season begins. Is she too young to begin weight training while she is in middle school or should she wait until she is in...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on June 23, 2009
What's the purpose and result of all of the outside training going on at your facility? I drive by there regularly and have seen men, women and high school kids flipping tires, pulling a weight sled, throwing a barbell and...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on June 1, 2009
Question: I really want to gain some weight, specifically muscle this summer before I go to college. I'm training 4 days a week and continually getting sore from my training but I haven't seem any noticeable weight gains. I assume...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on May 26, 2009
Question: I need a way to shock my legs to get more growth. I typically do pyramid sets starting with a light weight for 12 reps and do 4 to 5 sets increasing the weight and decreasing the reps until...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on April 14, 2009
Question: I recently read your workout for a "Ultimate Bikini Beach Body." How about one for the guys to get ready for the summer season? Answer: All right guys, to get a killer beach body you will need a combination...
Comments: 1, TrackBacks: 1. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on March 16, 2009
Question: I read your article last week with great interest because I always lose my grip before my back gets a complete workout. I have seen others in the gym where I workout using them but I never knew how...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 1. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on February 17, 2009
Question: I want to build a good looking back so this summer there's something to see instead of just soft fat sticking out of my swim suit top. What exercises are best for doing that? I do assisted pull-ups on...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on February 10, 2009
Question: My chest training has gotten stale. Typically, I do Bench Presses, Incline Bench Presses, Dumbbell Flyes and sometimes a couple of Cable Crossovers to finish. I know I should vary my routines but I have finally gotten a 300...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 2. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on January 27, 2009
Question: I'm in my 60's and my grandson, who is 13 wants to start working out. According to my doctor, my health could be greatly improved from workouts as well. Would it be beneficial for the two of us to...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on November 18, 2008
Question: Since its winter I would like to add some muscle to my frame before next summer. I have a good workout and am eating well to gain weight but are there any other pointers that you can give me...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on November 3, 2008
Question: I really have been trying to get that "V" tapered look of wide shoulders and small waist but I can't get my back to grow. What are some exercises I can do to build back width? Answer: The broad...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on October 6, 2008
Question: I would like to build my shoulders. What's the best way to do that? Answer: Well developed shoulders add a classic look to a physique. The 1940's and 1950's bodybuilding and "Hercules"movie star, Steve Reeves, won the Mr. America...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on September 18, 2008
Question: I am 18 years old and I want to build muscle. I train 4 to 5 days a week and I have really come a long ways from where I was when I started. My progress has stalled and...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on September 16, 2008
Question: I seem to have hit a training plateau. I can't get past the weights that I have been using for the past month. How can I overcome this wall? Answer: Most people have no trouble making progress when they...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on September 11, 2008
Question: I would like to build better legs which might stop people from telling me to look out for Colonel Sanders, because I have chicken legs. My calves are especially weak. What is a good routine for building legs? Answer:...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on August 1, 2008
Photo by Peter Schumacher, Times-News.Katherin Carman, 74, leg presses 760 pounds Friday at Body Unlimited under the guidance of gym owner Daryl Laws. After 1 1/2 years of training, Katherin Carman reached her goal of legpressing 750 pounds before...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on August 1, 2008
Question: I'm in my 40s and want to begin working out again, but I have a problem. When I worked out before, I had a blessing/curse: I put on muscle very easily, especially in my legs, and they just got...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on August 1, 2008
Question: Sometimes I hear a "clicking" sound when I do some shoulder exercises. Should I stop doing those exercises? Answer: Most of the time if you hear noise in a joint during an exercise, especially shoulders, it's time to evaluate...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on August 1, 2008
Question: I really want to build up my legs and I am trying everything to get them to grow. Do you suggest any particular exercises for leg growth? Answer: Legs respond to both heavy and volume training. Heavy training means...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on August 1, 2008
As you may know by now, old school is the way to train. Just ask Ronnie Coleman judging by the recent magazine article he had from his hard-core gym in Texas. One old routine that is as effective today as...
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Daryl Laws on August 1, 2008
| 
