For several exercises (squat, bench press, bicep curls), I am strong in the middle and weak at the “bottom”. I have not been doing full range of motion reps. That has caused uneven strength development. Now I’m at the point where I cannot increase my weights and the amount that I can lift is limited by the weakest part in my range of motion. I’m starting over. Relearning everything with lighter wieghts, full range of motion, and uber-perfect form.
Frustrating. But in bodybuilding years, I’m still a baby, so getting this stuff fixed now will pay off later. And because I’m almost 50, I can’t mess around with heavier weights if my joints can’t handle it. An injury may not heal very quickly.
For the upper body work, I don’t think this was something I could avoid. The gimpy shoulder needed to be strengthened and I wasn’t going to skip stuff while it caught up. I had to do the reps I could do. Half reps, three-quarter reps. Whatever. I still have issues with it, but the pain isn’t so horrible. I’m pushing through OK.
What stalled me a little for squats was the hip and back issues – I blogged on those before. But also the knees. I didn’t mention my knee problem because I forgot about it. My knee issues have all but disappeared lately. I don’t run anymore and I’ve stopped doing walking lunges. They were killing my left knee. It’s not all lunges – just the walking ones.
I’m grateful for my workout partners. They are retraining me. I’m learning. And I’m growing. Uh huh. Very grateful. Sure, there is a certain amount of trash talk and farting to ignore, but they are very generous and patient with me. Hahahaha!
