training solo

**jl39** · 03-17-2011, 01:07 AM

is training solo about useless? iv trained always with a partner to push me but i have been training alone just with an ipod and i didnt have to wait on anyone but myself got my rest periods perfect and got in and got out in little over an hour....u dont need that spotter to grow the most effectively do u ??? i did rest pause on smith with close grip bench drop sets and single arm dumbbell forced reps think ill get the same results without a spot?

**songdog** · 03-17-2011, 01:54 AM

I do fine.There are ways around everything bro.Bench in the squat rack.Set pins at a high in case you get hung up.

**Renesis** · 03-18-2011, 01:04 AM

I workout solo right now but I have noticed its hurt my workouts.

**n00bs** · 03-18-2011, 01:47 AM

I train solo at home.. It hleps to have motivation but only if your gym partner is as pumped as you are.. otherwise you train less.

**MR-FQ320** · 03-18-2011, 01:56 AM

You get used to training alone, if you really need a spotter for a particular exercise just ask whoevers about at the time. Just be self motivated to go every time.

**paulzane** · 03-18-2011, 04:42 AM

I love training alone

**l2elapse** · 03-19-2011, 02:59 AM

alone for me as well..if you need a spotter just ask someone in the gym

**Linuxian** · 04-02-2011, 09:43 AM

I use dumbbells if I'm training alone, no spotter needed...

**tapout417** · 05-01-2011, 06:53 PM

I love traing solo. I have went through many training partners. When I walk into the gym I know what I can do and what I want to do. No one giving me excuses they can't lift this or can't do that. If I don't leave it all in the gym its on me. I hate excuses they are just weaknesses to me

**kelevra** · 05-01-2011, 08:37 PM

i hate having partners and i have no probs with motivation.

**terraj** · 05-01-2011, 08:54 PM

Always alone.

As said above, dumbells are good, machines, the rack is my best friend.

Many training principles you can use to grow without a spotter.

**PK-V** · 05-04-2011, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by n00bs

I train solo at home.. It hleps to have motivation but only if your gym partner is as pumped as you are.. otherwise you train less.

I used to train for years at home, my motivation was at 600% and I would train balls to the wall

now that I have trained in a large gym, I feel that fire I had for my home gym is quenched for some reason

I think I started using others in the gym as motivation to lift against

have you found that?

**AbusedYam** · 05-07-2011, 11:34 AM

I train alone as well, my brother also lifts.. but he has a hard time finding motivation

**kelevra** · 05-07-2011, 11:41 AM

id rather be in a gym by myself as others talk too much.

**zaggahamma** · 05-07-2011, 12:18 PM

i always wondered if i would gain a bit more if i did forced reps on a few lifts here and there

**Nephets** · 05-08-2011, 10:48 AM

I also go alone. It seems the majority of the people at the gym who go in groups spend most of the time talking, sitting on the equipment or looking at themselves in the mirror. I can go through a 45 min workout alone and some of these guys have yet to pick up a weight.

**gethuge21** · 05-09-2011, 07:12 PM

^^^ like he said time wise alone is more time efficient. But some feel it's easier motivation wise and I guess just for some support. Or if you have questions or anything you can build off each others knowledge..

**Renesis** · 05-13-2011, 12:50 AM

When I went with my friend we were both into the powerlifting scene. Anytime we got stuck at a plateau we would look at each other have this evil grin and say MORE WEIGHT BABY! I've never been that strong.. and besides working out at a college gym alone there is no way I would trust pencil neck spotting me on 315lb+ squats.

**boz** · 05-13-2011, 09:29 AM

For the first time in a long time i had a mate come with me to the gym.

And tbh rest periods were awfully long, motivation was not as high as it was when i train alone. Also my mate makes me laugh which doesn't help with aggression lol, so puts me off my whole workout.

Only benefit I could see with him there was when we were hitting chest, i was going much heavier than normal and he was helping with force reps. Also assistance with very heavy dumbbells on decline.

**zaggahamma** · 05-13-2011, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by boz

For the first time in a long time i had a mate come with me to the gym.

And tbh rest periods were awfully long, motivation was not as high as it was when i train alone. Also my mate makes me laugh which doesn't help with aggression lol, so puts me off my whole workout.

Only benefit I could see with him there was when we were hitting chest, i was going much heavier than normal and he was helping with force reps. Also assistance with very heavy dumbbells on decline.

thats usually where i would think i would stand to gain more is when benching or it would be nice to have the heavy dumbells handed to you at the starting point...its hard to hoist them up

**TOkidd** · 05-14-2011, 09:03 PM

I've worked out with partners and solo. There's benefits to both (if you get the right partner, of course). Right now I'm going it solo at home after some time in the gym. I hate the ****ing gym. My basement has all I need - tunes, weights, me motivated as hell, and a frosty protein shake waiting in the kitchen upstairs when I'm done. In the gym, you see lots of guys lifting more than you, and for some reason it kills your motivation. In my basement I have one competitor - myself. I only have to outdo my last workout. I use dumbells so I don't have to worry about a broken neck.

peace

TOkidd

**lovbyts** · 05-30-2011, 07:33 AM

I'm another loaner. I trained with a partner for a few years and it was good but I like to do my own thing now. I like to train one body part a day most of the time and most people dont like that. I like not having to wait for someone or feel rushed. It would be nice to get a couple forced reps sometimes but Ill deal with it.

**crazy_rocks** · 05-30-2011, 10:31 AM

i dont like training with a partner because nobodies gonna be on the same routine as me

**Jfew44** · 05-30-2011, 10:35 AM

I'd rather train by myself. I like going at my own pace and doing what I want to do.

**crazy_rocks** · 05-30-2011, 01:17 PM

yeah its much better alone rather than switching out plates between every set unless you two happen to be just as strong as eachotherand have the same endurance strength...probably not. just annoying.

**baseline_9** · 05-30-2011, 02:01 PM

You cannot train to true failuer without a spotter IMO

Why? Because you will quickly find yourself stuck under a bar once you fail....

I train to true failure.... Untill I cant get a rep and actually fail on the final rep.... I could not and would not do this without a spotter.

I do however like the pace of training solo and can see benefits to both....

**marcus300** · 05-30-2011, 02:25 PM

You can incorporate dropsets to failure without a spotter and you can also use the pre-exhaust or rest pause methods what are both intense training techniques.

**crazy_rocks** · 05-30-2011, 03:02 PM

well ive made some very nice strength gains at a nice pace with training alone. if that can be done for strength then it can be done for muscle building.

**baseline_9** · 05-30-2011, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by crazy_rocks

well ive made some very nice strength gains at a nice pace with training alone. if that can be done for strength then it can be done for muscle building.

True....

you dont need to train to failure to progress..... you simply need to progress with your weights/reps over time

**Flagg** · 05-30-2011, 03:14 PM

If you can find someone that can match your intensity, has the same gym goals, disciplined, etcetera, then a gym partner is golden. Unfortunately, MOST people are not like this.

I've only trained with one person that I can say was worthy and I got my best gains from working out with him. Everyone else that's wanted to train with me has failed miserably, quite after two or three sessions and you wont believe noobs ive taken under my wing for a couple of gym sessions, only for them to say "you're not lifting right" and try and tell me what to do, after asking me for advice?!

Solo it is for now...

***t-gunz*** · 05-30-2011, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by marcus300

You can incorporate dropsets to failure without a spotter and you can also use the pre-exhaust or rest pause methods what are both intense training techniques.

100% agree as i am putting this into practice as we speak

**tegzy** · 06-14-2011, 10:45 AM

I train alone all the time and have seen many gains, if i ever need a spot, i usually ask one of the boys at the gym

**apacheman75** · 06-16-2011, 07:44 PM

strongest I've ever been and I'm training alone and get done quite a bit quicker.

**lc1213** · 06-20-2011, 03:45 PM

Been working out at home and haven't had a training partner in nearly 3 years and seem to be doing ok. When I had a partner, I noticed that my workouts lasted a lot longer with sub par results. Me and my partner would talk and look at the eye candy more than we would workout. If you have the right partner they can be really beneficial.

**inked1314** · 07-02-2011, 08:58 PM

As a "NOOB" it would be cool to have a "Pro" show me the in's and out's at times. I am never too old to learn from experience. Right now I am goin it alone. I tell ya it BLOWS!!!. I agree that there's a ton of jackwads out there who jamb up my workout. Chattin and just sucking up valuable time. Still tryin to get my own act together. I got no patience for anything other than 'what's right'. I'll get it though.

**Cagerat** · 07-20-2011, 12:47 AM

I lift alone, mostly because I cant find a training partner motivated enough to lift for more than a couple months. Or maybe im just a dick in the gym

**PitMaster** · 07-22-2011, 02:13 AM

Glad I came across this thread. I have had one training partner at the age of 18-19 he was much bigger than me and pushed the hell out of me. I believe we were too young and inexperienced to know what good form was while watching the other do his set. I have gone solo since that age and I believe If I would of picked up a partner here and there I might of dropped some bad habits that I have developed over a period of time. What's the sense of working a muscle group if your not doing it perfectly to isolate it? Sure some cheat reps, but that's not the base of what I'm getting at. I'm going to setup a camera and monitor my training and adjust those bad habits, that I thought were so perfect. Going solo still the best, still good to have another eye on your form when you can't use a mirror.

**pheenyx1** · 07-22-2011, 05:20 AM

Originally Posted by jpkman

thats usually where i would think i would stand to gain more is when benching or it would be nice to have the heavy dumbells handed to you at the starting point...its hard to hoist them up

That's the biggest benefit to having a partner. Getting dumbells up usually takes half my strength. I always worked out alone until this summer. I started working out w/ a buddy recently, and the competition and built in spotter have been great! It all depends on who it is though. We barely speak a word the entire time we workout, aside from "another dime on each side" or "I'm going for 6". I think most guys would drive me nuts. The chatty dudes in the gym annoy the shit out of me already. If I had to work out w/ them I would lose my shit.

**zaggahamma** · 07-22-2011, 06:51 AM

Originally Posted by pheenyx1

That's the biggest benefit to having a partner. Getting dumbells up usually takes half my strength. I always worked out alone until this summer. I started working out w/ a buddy recently, and the competition and built in spotter have been great! It all depends on who it is though. We barely speak a word the entire time we workout, aside from "another dime on each side" or "I'm going for 6". I think most guys would drive me nuts. The chatty dudes in the gym annoy the shit out of me already. If I had to work out w/ them I would lose my shit.

DUDE....you are my twin

**The_Irish_Dave** · 10-10-2011, 03:58 PM

I train on my own. I've found it much better. I can have everything the way I want and I don't have to wait around for a squat rack or bench. I use a powerrack so I don't need a spotter for anything. You can watch porno before a workout too which raises the testosterone . That or get your girlfriend to slap you in the face before a lift.