is the weight your lifting or the mental focus on contracting the muscle more importa

**bbh90** · 12-21-2010, 01:22 PM

what do you guys think the mind muscle connection and perfect form really focusing on hitting the muscle hard is more important? or lifting heavy weight is more important?

**rc_p90** · 12-21-2010, 01:42 PM

100% mind muscle connection

**AZGOLDSMEMBER86** · 12-21-2010, 01:46 PM

mind muscle for sure, form. weights play a good roll, but contracting the most muscle fibers through perfect form and focus,and then not in order-diet,post workout meals.. its allplays a factor. what are your stats and goals?

***RAGE*** · 12-21-2010, 01:54 PM

Diet is by far the most important thing!!!! hands down, the old saying you are what you eat. mental and contracting the muscle fibers is also great....

**AZGOLDSMEMBER86** · 12-21-2010, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by *RAGE*

Diet is by far the most important thing!!!! hands down, the old saying you are what you eat. mental and contracting the muscle fibers is also great....

agreed

***FireGuy*** · 12-21-2010, 01:59 PM

Your muscles have zero idea how much weight they are moving, it how comes down to how many muscle fibers can you get to contract and to STAY contracted throughout the entire set.

**bbh90** · 12-22-2010, 06:04 AM

do you guys slow down your lift on order to gain greater focus and more contractions?

iv always lifted just to push the heaviest weight basically what ever it takes to get the weight up but that doesnt allow you to work on the contraction as much

**Slayer of Souls** · 12-22-2010, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by bbh90

do you guys slow down your lift on order to gain greater focus and more contractions?

iv always lifted just to push the heaviest weight basically what ever it takes to get the weight up but that doesnt allow you to work on the contraction as much

but theni got injured.. ****ed that

**lil_herc81** · 12-22-2010, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by bbh90

do you guys slow down your lift on order to gain greater focus and more contractions?

I use a 2 second rep and flex at the top of the movement. I work with 60-70% of my one rep max depending on energy. IMO- unless you are a power lifter there is no reason to life heavy all of the time. Bodybuilding- you focus and work the muscle completely.

**Superhero d-bolman** · 12-22-2010, 06:21 AM

Mental focus on the amount of contraction your doing means everything, the amount of weight u lift is nothing.

**Superhero d-bolman** · 12-22-2010, 06:26 AM

Mental focus on the amount of contraction your doing means everything, the amount of weight u lift is nothing.

**Slayer of Souls** · 12-22-2010, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by lil_herc81

I use a 2 second rep and flex at the top of the movement. I work with 60-70% of my one rep max depending on energy. IMO- unless you are a power lifter there is no reason to life heavy all of the time. Bodybuilding- you focus and work the muscle completely.

Then how do you measure progress? Lets say you squat 500lbs for 8 reps... whats your target for the next squat day?

**lil_herc81** · 12-22-2010, 06:44 AM

Progress would be the ability to have proper form, and higher sets. This will fully develop the muscles. Lol 500lb squats never here. I use 135-225lbs. I go ass to ankles as low as I can and slowly. If the goal is to be huge and strong then hit the heavy weights but I know im not looking for tendinitis or any joint problems.

**bbh90** · 12-22-2010, 06:16 PM

ya im thinking that i may have been seriously short changing myself for a while now i mean iv made good gain but for sure i was more worried about getting more weight up than focusing in on really hitting the actual muscle hard

what kind of tempo have you guys been using im thinking maybe ill go with 4 down 2 up or maybe 2 down 1 up

**Joe-MA** · 12-22-2010, 06:26 PM

Mind/muscle focus all the way! You can get huge using very little weight. Look at power lifters they usually are half the lean body mass of a body builder and yet they push 2 or 3 times the weight. Also you where asking about tempo and imo Jim C, biggest natural body builder out there has that shit down. He writes some amazing articles on it http://www.jimcordova.com

***FireGuy*** · 12-22-2010, 07:11 PM

Bodybuilding progress is measured more with a tape measure than the poundage you are lifting.
That was supposed to be a "reply with quote" from post #12.

**Slayer of Souls** · 12-23-2010, 10:57 AM

What about the theory... lift big to be big... or with strength comes size

**Narkissos** · 12-23-2010, 12:23 PM

I find it impossible to separate lifting a weight from concentrating on contracting the target area.

So I'm not sure I understand the question.

**mrniceguy215** · 12-23-2010, 12:42 PM

its 50/50 heavy weight builds muscle proper form and full contractions build muscle.

**D3m3nt3d** · 12-23-2010, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Narkissos

I find it impossible to separate lifting a weight from concentrating on contracting the target area.

So I'm not sure I understand the question.

That's because you are a one track mind bodybuilding beast bro

He wants to know which would make him bigger - lift a lighter weight but really concentrate on squeezing the muscles

Or less concentration on squeezing but heavier weight.

P.S. The correct answer is focus on squeezing OP