> Performing your reps too quickly
The facts: If you zoom through your repetitions when strength training, you’ll be using momentum instead of muscle power. You won’t get the same stimulus for muscle building, and you won’t burn as many kilojoules. You’ll also be more susceptible to training injuries, such as torn muscles or connective tissue.
The fix: Take six seconds to perform each repetition: two seconds to lift the weight and four seconds to lower it.
(Since you have gravity to help you lower the weight, you need to slow down even more on this phase in order to give your muscles a sufficient challenge.)
Our experts agree that slowing down is the single most significant change you can make to get better results from strength training.
The facts: If you zoom through your repetitions when strength training, you’ll be using momentum instead of muscle power. You won’t get the same stimulus for muscle building, and you won’t burn as many kilojoules. You’ll also be more susceptible to training injuries, such as torn muscles or connective tissue.
The fix: Take six seconds to perform each repetition: two seconds to lift the weight and four seconds to lower it.
(Since you have gravity to help you lower the weight, you need to slow down even more on this phase in order to give your muscles a sufficient challenge.)
Our experts agree that slowing down is the single most significant change you can make to get better results from strength training.
