The importance of a spotter, in body building

A lot has been written about body building, nutrition, correct form, etc, etc. And even more on the variety of exercises available to exhaust each body part, from head to toe.
But there is one aspect, which is often been ignored or for that matter, taken for granted, and that is ‘the spotter’. A spotter is the guy, whom you rely upon to eke out those last 2-3 painful reps out of your set. He is the person, who will keep a watch over your form and is  literally the last line of defence when you are drained of all your strength during a set.
For most people the spotter is usually also their regular workout partner, but for folks who workout alone, it is a bit of a challenge to identify a good spotter, who can help one push one’s limits in the gym. We all reach a plataeu in our workouts, a stage where we are only slogging away but the results seem elusive. If you have a spotter then this situation can easily be overcome, as there will be an external stimulus to help you push yourself harder and achieve your goal.
In my opinion, a spotter is a great to have during a workout, because:
1. He can keep a watchful eye on your form, and prevent gym accidents.
2. Can push you beyond your perceived limitations.
3. Motivate.
4. Provide support during sets.
5. Help you eke out a few negatives at the end of your set (this one is my favorite )

So if you have plans of getting into serious body building, or heavy lifting, it pays to identify a spotter, as early as you can!
Happy lifting

Return of the Bodybuilder

35 sure has been a significant milestone in my life. This year has particular significance because an old passion for body building, was rekindled. For the past couple of years, thanks to work and family commitments, my exercise program had reduced to generic fitness maintenance workouts.
This July onwards, once again I started serious muscle building workouts with extra attention to nutrition. The results have been more than encouraging! There is a lot of motivation in seeing results:-)  I am sure it will help me keep up the momemtum and perhaps, help motivate folks around me as well!
I’d also take this opportunity to share a great onlinemresourse for people who are really serious about fitness: http://www.bodybuilding.com
Check it out!

Warm ups. The most neglected part of a workout.

Image Courtesy: David W. Siu / Creative Commons

Usually, when on enters the gym, the most overwhelming emotion that takes over is to just jump at the first available weight station or machine, and just crank out the motion!

What one (especially the GYM newbie) doesn’t realize is that this can be dangerous. For any good workout plan to return maximum results, it is imperative to have a gradual warm up routine, before diving headfirst on to the first available rack of weights or cardio machines. While enough has been written about warm up being the most essential move, before beginning any serious exercise regimen, still, it has been by far the most neglected portion of most people’s workouts that I have been witness to.

Starting a vigorous workout without a warmup is like starting up your car and jumping to fourth gear straight up. Chances are the engine will jerk and stall. Similarly the human body also needs to be gradually taken towards intense workouts. If it is done abruptly, it may lead to muscular injury. In certain cases, the injury can be so serious that it may just be the end of your stint at the gym altogether.

What follows are some of my thoughts on the subject and some tips for easy incorporation of warm ups into your everyday workout routine.

Just Stretch - One of the simplest and least time consuming moves is to simply stretch each muscle group on the body. The immediate result is enhanced blood flow to the muscles. I usually like to do this before hitting the gym, so that as soon as I get there, I can get to work. (note: I can afford to do this because my gym is located right inside my apartment complex and take less than 5 minutes to reach. So if you take about 15-20 minutes to reach your gym, do this after you reach!)

Warmup sets - This one is for folks who lift weights. The first set of your multi-set work out can be used as a warm up set for the chosen muscle groups. Use a light weight for this set and try to do 10-12 rep while breathing normally. It will certainly wake up those muscles so that they can function more efficiently in later sets, with heavier weights and reducing the possibility of injury.

Treadmill/Exercycle - This is also an excellent warmup tool, when used properly. If you are one of the tribe, whose only concept of a workout is walking away on the treadmill, then it is a good idea to start slow for a couple of minutes and then gradually increase speed/resistance. Usually it is a nice idea to use the pre built programs in the treadmills that come with predefined warm up and cool down routines.

One of my personal favorite stretch is the downward facing dog. It really gives a nice stretch to the buttocks, hamstrings, calves and the lower back.

Once you are sufficiently warmed up, proceed to your chosen form of exercise. Most importantly, enjoy what you do and have a great work out. Remember to relax & cool down appropriately after a good intense workout to bring your heart rate back to normal.

Good Luck!!