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Bodybuilding Program
Lesson 5-Training Partner
Training Partners-The Key to Extreme Workouts by
Scott Jameson
- Are you Doing Your Squat to failure?
- Are you limiting your down time between sets?
- Has your bench press increased in the last month?
- Is every workout a sweat grueling event?
Well if answered "no" to any of these question, you likely don't have a workout partner or at least not a good one.
A Training Partner is critical to achieving mind blowing and muscle frying workouts that leave your body in a state of muscular pain for a day or two after that training session. So do you really want to GROW? REALLY!?
Then get a training partner and together take each other to limits of training intensity. Notice I said TOGETHER! This is not about finding a person that will push you through. You too must have that intense drive to order up an extreme workout in the gym! Those type of workouts compel the muscle to grow and Grow and GROW.
So how do you find a good training partner? (BTW these should be your characteristics too!)
Training partner characteristics:
- Desire- A yearning to improve. The craving for that good muscular pain that changes to muscular growth.
- Commitment- The dedication to Show Up for 99% of your workouts.
- Accountability- Insisting excellence from your partner. Encouraging excellence when the attitude wanes.
- Persistence-The perseverance to do the right thing regardless of the natural feelings to slack off.
- Personality- Compatible and likeable. You have to get along if you are going to train long.
- Physically Comparable- Your level of development and strength must be comparable to precipitate competitive training (motivation) as well as the efficiency of using similar weights.
Okay, do you have a person in mind? Or are you still wondering how you find such a person? Okay here's how to find a partner?
Finding the right partner:
- Go to the Gym where bodybuilding is the norm. (See Article on How to Pick a Gym)
- Train at your regular time and observe those persons that seem to have the characteristics above.
- Get a spot from a perspective partner. A good partner will encourage you even if you don’t know him.
- Train a body part with a person to understand his Desire.
- Understand his workout schedule. Determine if there is match or arrangement can be made to align workout times. (Assumes step 4 went well)
- Inquire if he would like to train together for a week or two. Evaluate Commitment, Accountability, Persistence and Personality.
- Share Goals. Are they similar and compatible?
- Gain agreement to train as partners regularly. This is a natural extension if the trial period went well.
- Keep the partner long term (a year minimum)
Step 9 is a difficult step sometimes. Living in the gym day after day with your training partner can become a drag. Keep in mind this arrangement is bodybuilding partnership not a marriage.
Okay, now that I have a partner what next?
Responsibilities of the partner:
- Encourage the each rep of training. Compliment improvements. Expect success.
- Create Accountability: Show Up on time. Expect your partner to Show Up on time.
- Communicate necessary schedule changes. Provide feedback and tips real time during workouts for training improvements.
- Push the Limits. Make intensity a priority by adding more weight, limiting rest between sets and driving force reps.
- Help. Provide a lift off, a spot and push the reps to failure.
- Prepare your partner for a contest. Evaluate his posing, keep his diet in check and encourage his attitude.
- Work toward improved routines. Modify exercise selection.
All set? Good! Get a good partner and your old workouts will seem mediocre!
"Sweat eventually hardens to Muscle"…. Scott
This article is property of Bodybuilding Program Zone and may not be reproduced without written permission from Scott Jameson. Besides it wouldn't be right....Scott
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