how intense was your workout

It is often asked....."how intense was your workout?"

I figure we should examine what intensity means and how it applys to your workout.

Intensity can really have two meanings:

1) Intensity- preceived effort of a workout
2) Intensity- amount of weight used in relationship to our 1RM for a given exercise.


Just because one trains with intensity (def. 1) doesn't mean that they are't using intensity (def. 2) and vice veras. But for matters of this thread we shall keep it to those 2 defenitions.

#1- effort

Usually people go into the gym and bust their butt. Work as hard as they possibly can to push them self as hard as possible. For those that follow how DP trains it would be safe to say "Dr. Pain trains with great intensity". He trains with lots of volume and uses many different techniques to make the workout intense (ie, dorp sets, supersets, giant sets, etc.). The rest interval is low utalizing the "you go I go" or the "grab and go" phylosophy. The effort is all out. Everythign you got.

#2- Intensity in regard to load

Powerlifters train with great intensity. Everythign is in relationship to their percentages (of 1RM). This is where most people mess up as they don't have an idea how to set up their program properly or they don't know their percentages. This is the way that thos using High intensity training train. The idea being "if the weight is heavy enough and you are working hard enough for your reps then why do you need to do anymore than one wokring set." For me when i train I like to use my percentages as well, typically working up to a new 2 or 3 RM (since I am not competing in powerlifting I see no purpose to hit 1RMs as it can be dangerous). My volume is less than that of others but I train with more frequency (everything gets hit every 5 days) and I train closer to my 1RM so anymore volume would be potential CNS overlaod. So it can be said "p-funk trains with great intensity"



It is important to focus on both defenitions of intensity and cycle your program accordingly to get the best results you possibly can from your body.