[Palmetto]

I picked up an issue of Reps! today at the grocery store and I was reading an article entitled 49 Questions every bodybuilder needs to know the answers to. It was a good article but one of the questions and answers kind of threw me off. The question was "How important is it to use correct exersize form?" The answer was "Not very important. Most sucessful bodybuilders use loose or "cheating" style combinded with strict form. While some bodybuilders use ultra-strict style on every exercise, many m ore utilize a lot of body motion, swinging and heaving their reps. It all works to build muscle mass."

I have two problems with this:
1) More than likely 90% of the people that read this article are not "successful bodybuilders" and are just teens looking at this mag because there is a big musclular guy on the front that they want to look like. They think if they follow these steps they will look like this guy. If they swing the weight and such, they will hurt something because they are not fully developed like the pros.
2) I feel that this was an irrisponsible answer to a simple question. YES!! Form is the most important part of lifting weights, its the first thing you must learn to do properly before anything else. If you do not have right form, you will more than likely end up hurt or maybe even dead if you are squatting and outrageous amout of weight who knows what can happen if you dont have a clue what you are doing?

Sorry guys I just had to get that off my chest. I feel that it is the magazine's responsibilty to provide accurate information on simple things such as this. Let them do their advertisizing but do not give false information on something so important because not everyone is a pro.

[Rocky]

I have to agree with both you and the magazine. Yes, "loose" form can still be beneficial -more so for some exercises rather than others - really wouldn't EVER advocate loose form on squats or deads, but on maybe curls and some rowing and other exercises, a little body english when using max weight is acceptable, again though, this "loose" form is still controlled to a point to actually utilize the muscles you are meant to be working rather than simply getting the bar from A to B. And yes, seeing the pro's using this form a lot can be misleading, which is where I agree with you on the way it is preaching it to probably a majority of natural and beginner to intermediate trainers who really should be using proper form almost exclusively for a good long time, except maybe at the end of ther last main set when a couple of cheat reps are ok.

[tim290280]

Agree with you Rocky!

Gotta weigh up who the audience is when you publish an article like that. Pimply newbies will take that as gospel and do something stupid. The seasoned veteran can use loose form, but thats more due to them knowing what they are doing and having the strong foundation to do so.

Considering how crap most peoples form is in the gym, I don't think the magazines should be this irresponsible.

[Palmetto]

I agree, I'm not saying that mag should be responsible, I'm just saying that they should emphasize good form in all levels of bodybuilding.

[marko begus]

EDIT: Bye

[rpen22]

Originally Posted by marko begus

AND IF UR ONYL IN THE GYM FOR THE HYPERTROPY GET THE FUCK OUT AND GET I LIFE

Wait, I thought this was BODYBUILDINGdungeon?

[DonPengu1n]

I think it is kinda out of context.... Looking at Ronnie Coleman do his workout his form may not be 100% when concerning the proper ways of doing the exercise, but he is keeping his mind on his muscles and thus getting alot of out the exercise ....for example: Leg Press...he doesnt go all the way up, but he does it intentionally(sp) so he is still working his legs...

Just my opinion

[Mygeeto]

but thats ronnie coleman

[DonPengu1n]

I just mean that an experienced lifter knows how to work his muscles the best..which may look like *cheat reps* to some..while in reality they are workin their muscles 100%