Beyond Brawn - The Insider's Encyclopedia on How to Build Muscle && Might

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While training with a partner

. Either of you could do the record keeping (poundages, sets and reps—in a

training log) during the workout. Check the poundages you need set by set,

and then verify that the resistance has been loaded correctly before perform-

ing any set. If there is a mistake you want to discover it before the set starts,

not during it. Miscalculations can ruin sets and perhaps cause injuries; and

regular errors will strain the relationship between you and your training

partner or supervisor.

. Treat your workouts as very serious working time. Get down to business

and keep your training partner or supervisor at a distance. Keep your mind

focused rigidly on your training.

Some caveats

. Do not let anyone push you to train before you have fully recovered from

your previous session. Do not let anyone push you to perform exercises in

ways that do not suit you. Do not let anyone add unplanned exercises to

your program. Do not let anyone push you to abuse forced reps and nega-

tives. If you allow a training partner or supervisor to do any of these things,

then he is going to mar your progress, and possibly injure you and stymie

your gains.

. Work together in an intelligent way so you do what is best for both of you.

You must avoid pushing each other to do things that are reckless. A training

partner or supervisor can be invaluable for pointing out form errors, making

suggestions, and helping you to improve your exercise technique. But that is

different from pushing you to do something that will hurt you.

. One of the potential problems from having a training partner is that his

specific needs, limitations, strengths and weaknesses are different from

yours. Be sure that your training program suits you, and that your training

partner’s program suits him. While your programs may be very similar, they

If you cannot find a compatible and reliable regular training part-

ner, and assuming that you use a public gym, at least work in with

someone on each of your major exercises—for the safety that spot-

ting should provide, and the extra motivation too.

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