I joined the gym / question about workout.

[Nomad92]

Hi.

I joined the gym a while ago, they created a schedule which I use, but then I started to just use as many machines as I can, and push myself as good as I can, without strictly following a schedule.

My question is, can I get ripped without following a schedule? Can I just hit the gym like 5 times a week and push myself as hard as I can? It just feels like way more fun not following some stupid paper what tells you what to do. I of course keep in mind to repeat certain excercises and machines, but mostly, I feel way more challenged not following a schedule and just use machines for different muscle groups, and push myself hard. What do you guys think about it ?

note: I am not a beginner, been a martial artist my whole life, always been working out a lot and pushing myself. Physically extremely fit. Just never been ot the gym really.

[GershonSurge]

Most of all, I feel you should do what's fun. If you can, do fun with a purpose.

There are many ways to lift to achieve different goals. Yours seems to be martial arts. If you want to lift to improve your martial arts, I suggest finding a book to give you advice. It will be difficult. You could also look at boxing workouts.

Machines don't exercise the balance muscles as well as free weights do. If you can work the same muscle group with free weights, it may be a better choice.

Keep in mind, muscles get stronger faster then tendons, and it is possible to snap a tendon by lifting heavy weights too quickly. The safest definition of lifting to failure is not being able to do the next rep with excellent form and almost as fast as the previous rep.

[emili]

after some time following their routine will get tedious so switching it up is not a bad idea. If you already have strong muscles then push as hard as you can. I would just maybe talk to the trainer or research how to avoid injury while still building muscle.

[WendyB]

You need to work different muscles on different days. 

The need to push yourself makes no sence to me. Go to gym find what you like and go from there.

Work legs ne day, arms the next. Include som cardio

[Nomad92]

I do a similar way of workout.

I.e I ALWAYS start with a nice run, then I usually start working on my arms on different machines, these machines always are the same. Then I go over and do a lot of pull-ups, then I finally start doing things like leg presses and rowing, then I finish off with an other run and sometimes hitting the bag.

When I feel absolutely overworked, pain in my muscles etc the next day, I sometimes just do a run or take my training very easy, or as you've said, only train a specific muscle group that does not hurt.

What I have noticed is, that I feel much stronger and my body actually starts to get more and more " developed " since I do freestyle workout without following some strict fitness-plan.

The reason I push myself is because this is why I started going to the gym, martial arts did not push me anymore, I wanted to really concentrate on my body, not so much on fighting anymore. Pushing myself makes me happy, calm and balanced in my mind. I am pushing myself my whole life when it comes to sport, I really hit it. But I have never pushed myself this hard as now in the gym, except when I was in the armed forces, where we usually had a massive lack of sleep anyway.

I don't even want to look like some bodybuilder or whatever, just want to stay physically extremely fit, and form my body a bit more, " getting ripped ".

I have noticed that diet is a very important factor when it comes to being lean. But I am well aware of that.

The reason for my post is, to find out if I am the only person who does a so called " Freestyle workout " without a schedule or fitness-plan. Or if all successful athlets follow a strict plan.

Note: When I go to the gym, I always have in mind what I am doing, I obviously know that I need to train muscle groups repeatedly to make them grow and get stronger, so I usually try to use certain machines on a daily basis or every other day. I also lift weights, but only 18 kg each arm.

[Dominique]

The basic principle of resistance training (doesn’t matter if it’s done with machines or free weights) is progressive overload. If you don’t follow some kind of program, but rather pick up exercises and loads based on availability, the way you feel etc., it will be hard to assess whether or not you’re making progress over time. Same if you don’t keep a log of what you are doing. You don’t have to follow the particular schedule of your gym, but you should have some kind of plan/program you’ll be following.

Yes, women usually want to be "toned", and guys to be "ripped" . In either case, it means: 1) having a decent amount of muscle, and 2) having not too much fat on top of the muscle. So even if you don’t intend to become a bodybuilder, the principle of progressive overload will still apply to you (if you need/want to build some more muscle mass). And as you said, nutrition is important for 2).

[Nomad92]

Well, but I clearly see that my body is developing, so I must be doing something right.

In fact, if I use the same machines over and over again, and push myself as hard as possible, then I usually also feel when I can do more than let's say last month.

I do not really want to have some kind of plan I am following. Because I usually get bored of it within a week. So what I do is, I do use up to 8 different machines/tools to train different parts of my body, so everything is covered. from head to toe. But sometimes I add a new machine or not follow my " routine " at all. I just feel that schedules like i.e 12x4 sit ups, 20x6 pushups, 20 minute run, blablabla too strict. I rather prefer to go to the gym and think " well, today I try to push myself for a 10 km run within a certain amount of time, and then do some dumbell workout, some leg presses and some pull ups, tomorrow I only go for a 2 km warm up run and give it a bit more motivation at the punching bag or the abs machine. You know what I mean?

I obviously keep roughly track of what I am doing in my head, and I usually try to do 100 reps each, if I can't get there, I have still tried it and are able to make more and more every week.

I am very well aware of progressive overload, this is why I don't train my biceps if I feel they are overworked and give them rest, this is why I don't rush my workout, I rather try to do the proper technique.

The reason why I work out  5 times a week is, as I've said, because I just like it. I don't care if someone claims I would get less results. I have followed fitness schedules and made more progress doing it my way, way more progress! Maybe I have some type of super hero genetics that let me regenerate within 2 hrs? No idea, but it works. I always built muscles within short time periods and gained physical progress within short time periods. Never felt the need to skip the workout of muscle groups for at least a day, only when they really are overtrained and hurt.

I find myself spending a lot of time on the rowing machine and the treadmil. I think this is the best to lose useless body fat and tone my muscles more.

I remember some lads in my unit ( back when I was with the military ), they did push ups, pull ups, sit ups etc on a daily basis, and always did as much as they could, going for long runs, trying to become faster etc etc, these guys never cared about techniques, they most likely didn't know what progressive overload even means, and they didn't care about recovery time in general, whoever wanted to recover was considered a pu**y. However, these guys were extremely ripped and the most physical fit soldier I have ever seen, no fancy workout schedule, no fu**s given about diet, no recovery. So again, proof that it actually works.

I just want to find out if there are other crazy guys like me, who just go for it and hit the iron as often and hard as they can. Not saying your way of doing it doesn't work, it actually makes a lot of sense, but for sure is not the only effective way.

[Dominique]

I seem to remember (from older posts) you’re a young guy, in your early twenties. That would explain why you feel like a super-hero at the gym. You probably feel like a super-hero in bed too . If so, same reason: high production of testosterone. Enjoy it while you can! The youth factor allows you to get away with a lot of things: you can achieve results training without much planning, remain lean in spite of a poor diet etc. Im not saying it’s not possible to make progress without a program, just that it’s not the optimal way to do it. Anyway, the main thing is you’re enjoying what you’re doing.

[Nomad92]

I am 24 and feel like 42. When I was 16/17 I was way more fit. Could run for ages, did not freeze in winter, didn't know anything like muscle ache even if working out for hours.

I know exactly what you mean, nobody is getting younger. This is why I push myself, so my body gets used to it and can keep up a healthy and physical strength until a high age. Even if workout might become harder at some point in my life.