Salty's Pre- Pre-season

[Youngblood]

I've never really thought about building size but i understand what you mean about being too lean while trying to gain size. I have found previously that training hard while making weight has left me prone to illness. The last serious chest infection i got was after a longer than usual run and it left me coughing for weeks - set me back to what feels like the very beginning.

Apart from that i wonder with the attempt at gaining strength if there are intermediate steps i miss out. For example when doing chin-ups I have found that I can do a certain number of reps but struggle to lift my chin above the bar - up to the bar is fine but to feel like i'm doing them properly I'd like to be able to clear it by a good 10 cm each rep.

I see people in the gym who do this with added weight (including small elite junior female swimmers) and i have to wonder what step I've missed that doesn't allow me to progress to that next stage. Surely it's not all nutrition - not enough protein - i think it could be related to the muscle group transition at that stage but what to do to train that i don't know.

Sorry if this is not related I guess I see some similarity between getting to build size and strength. Afterall there's no point in building size in a sport like boxing if you end up carrying non-functioning muscle mass is there - surely you're aiming for muscle that will be specific to the sports you'll be participating in?

Ya Sharla. In my case was looking to jump up a weight class as just couldn't maintain middle weight any more (75 kg), and moved up to light heavy (81 kg). In realizing I needed to have more bang in my punches in making the transition, the focus was to add strength from the bottom up...beginning with quads. So in using some principles of lifting, added a lot of fat stores to help build that mass where required. The noticable difference in leg strength, even looks of them ( i look at old pics and they look like spindles!), is fairly huge. I've noticed a considerable difference in overall power now...and am just trying to tie it all together with core, and upper body too. but ultimately when that is done...then going back to fast twitch muscle conditioning to have speed also...and this is where I burn the fat stores off. It's a tough balancing act and takes time. Best done in the off season imo because the recovery time is important.

[Spicoli]

Good luck Salty. Learned the hard way....n.e.v.e.r neglect the cardio. Water weights a b**ch!

[Sharla]

I've never really thought about building size but i understand what you mean about being too lean while trying to gain size. I have found previously that training hard while making weight has left me prone to illness. The last serious chest infection i got was after a longer than usual run and it left me coughing for weeks - set me back to what feels like the very beginning.

Apart from that i wonder with the attempt at gaining strength if there are intermediate steps i miss out. For example when doing chin-ups I have found that I can do a certain number of reps but struggle to lift my chin above the bar - up to the bar is fine but to feel like i'm doing them properly I'd like to be able to clear it by a good 10 cm each rep.

I see people in the gym who do this with added weight (including small elite junior female swimmers) and i have to wonder what step I've missed that doesn't allow me to progress to that next stage. Surely it's not all nutrition - not enough protein - i think it could be related to the muscle group transition at that stage but what to do to train that i don't know.

Sorry if this is not related I guess I see some similarity between getting to build size and strength. Afterall there's no point in building size in a sport like boxing if you end up carrying non-functioning muscle mass is there - surely you're aiming for muscle that will be specific to the sports you'll be participating in?

Ya Sharla. In my case was looking to jump up a weight class as just couldn't maintain middle weight any more (75 kg), and moved up to light heavy (81 kg). In realizing I needed to have more bang in my punches in making the transition, the focus was to add strength from the bottom up...beginning with quads. So in using some principles of lifting, added a lot of fat stores to help build that mass where required. The noticable difference in leg strength, even looks of them ( i look at old pics and they look like spindles!), is fairly huge. I've noticed a considerable difference in overall power now...and am just trying to tie it all together with core, and upper body too. but ultimately when that is done...then going back to fast twitch muscle conditioning to have speed also...and this is where I burn the fat stores off. It's a tough balancing act and takes time. Best done in the off season imo because the recovery time is important.

Yeah that does make sense - i guess a periodized training program is really the only solution as you can never really do everything at once. I never mastered that myself but i can definately see the logic in it!