Hudg's House

There's no way for me to describe in detail how to perform proper form/technique for a myriad of exercises.

#1 I'm not an expert.
#2 The entry would be 10 miles long.

It's important -very,very much so.

It keeps you from getting injured.
It exercises the mucles properly tension wise and gives you the most benefit for your effort- that's what we want.
It cuts down on momentum & cheating to "help" lift the weight your dealing with.
It provides a living example for others on how it should be done.

I realise there are a thousand variations for exercises and philosophies on how to do them- how often,how much and even probably some debate on how to do them right.

In general however if you watch,read,study and search- you'll find a concensus of how and what your looking for as regards proper technique for a whole lot of exercises.

There are a host of sites on the net that offer up video footage for an exercise database.
A movie or picture is a blessed thing. Watching proper techniques can tell you alot.

I have a book at home that in my opinion is worth it's weight in gold and I don't mind hyping it:
The Insider's Tell-all Handbook on Weight Training Technique by Stuart McRobert.
Highly recommended. Stuart puts out good stuff. I put him right up there with anybody as regards a no bs approach to exercise and fitness. Alot of pictures and detail in this one. Many exercises and esp. the real old-time standards. Even some photos of how not to perform the exercise. Get it,enjoy it. I do.

You can just tell when your doing something right exercise-wise, how much better it is. You know your hitting the muscles correctly. Unfortunately there's a fair amount of bad technique in the local gyms and people fretting away regularly on machines that frankly probably won't have much effect on their physique. But at least they show up and give it a go. I'll never cut their meat for that. It's just that I've seen alot of people come year after year and some look just like they did from day one. I don't mean that arrogantly. I'm just saying what I've seen. Others however, you can tell are gettin' down to business. Cool. Like everything -it's ALL out there.

Speaking of momentum - don't do it in general. There are a few lifts, esp. when performed with heavy weights that might require an explosive start but for the mass majority of trainees movements slowed down and focusing on impecable technique with lighter weights if necessary will serve you so much better in my opinion. Do what it takes to learn and practice perfect technique - it will be one of the biggest keys towards physical success given to you to treasure.

Now it's time for show & tell, put up or shut up, offer up some results where my mouth is. Did I do or did I not do? The pics don't lie. Honestly, in my heart I know I've tried with a damn good effort. It was me that got my butt up at 4:00 AM to go hit the gym (mine stays open that way thru the week). There were a few times where momentarily I felt I could have layed back down but it just wasn't going to happen. I know when I start making physical excuses, I could be starting a bad streak that I would not be proud of. So off I went, come what may. I tried getting consistent accurate bodyfat measurments but with not much luck. I think my efforts will be easier to obtain with a little more "cheese" removed. Maybe in a month or two.

All good things in their own time. "Hudg"

220 lbs. - 8 lbs. lost for the Month and "29" to date.

No April Fool's.