Why do weights feel heavier some days reddit In fact, i gained back the weight I had lost (59kg > 63kg) but I did not gain much muscle (visibly, though my legs got thicker). They will still feel like weights I need to respect to get done without feeling like shit. I do workout cycles so I write up my routines and do the same thing for a month with 3 heavy weeks and a de-load/lightish atrophy design week. As a result, you need to use your own power to do all the little things necessary to keep the weight oriented they way you want it to be oriented. The human body is both powerfully adaptable, and incredibly lazy. Not sure where to post this, or if I’m going crazy. As far as why some machines feel heavier than others, it's physics! These machines all have slightly different pulley systems. In general it doesn’t go up or Seems normal to me. I used to believe that if you have to move around more than 30 lbs additional lbs of body weight that also makes your body stronger since you consistently have to deal with a heavier load consistently. Mar 4, 2025 · This is why listening to the kids on here who do 6 days a week of high rep isolations, won't make you much stronger, vs effective strength training, which is heavy, low rep, full body, and requires recovery time. i would only lift heavy 3 times a week max. To this day, I’ll usually fail squats because I didn’t stay sufficiently tight/lost power - less because my quads couldn’t hack it and more the whole system being off. Nailed it with ‘your mind is tired’. There are some days where I feel and look heavier but my weight is the same as other days where I look smaller. Like unracking a squat well above your 1rm and just holding it for 10-15 seconds then reracking can seriously help you adjust to increasing weights. Learning new skills like Olympic lifting have taken my fitness to another level. ) feel completely different than my last gym, and I can’t do near as much weight, like a difference big enough to cause alarm. So as an example, last week I performed a working set of squats 365 x 3. When I did everything every workout, I was benching like 3 sets of 185 8-12 times, and it started to feel heavier and heavier. It keeps me in the gym and rounds out my routine, and keeps me from hating myself for failing to lift my previous weight. This is why athletes don't do the PPL endless little exercise bullshit you see here. Cardio takes a lot out of your body. The heavier the weight, the more resistance there is to movement. I have been doing this style of training for about 12 years and can say it makes the gym never boring. But as I was racking the weight onto the bar I noticed that the weight feels heavier. Weights feel considerably heavier at a commercial gym i visited than at my usual university gym. If you were able to handle more weight/the same weight easier last time and your routine/order of exercises was the same, it's probably insufficient rest or food. Hi /Fitness, In short I feel like I look incredibly small considering the amount of weight I lift and the hours I spend at the Gym. If you are visibly swollen or feel discomfort thats different but otherwise its not neccessarily an issue. Did you do some unusual activity in the days before? It does not need to be considered working out, example you moved some heavy object, you walked farther than normal, stuff like that. But i feel like because of my increased appetite I am unable to get “lean”. My leg strength was fine from hockey but I didn’t have the postural stamina for a while. I usually will go to the gym 5 days a week but with the whole Coronavirus thing going on, I have had to start lifting at home. Tried my max weight again last week and was able to hit it just like I normally had. Reply reply More replies More replies People will likely suggest something to do with weight distribution. Some time in my early 30s I started to feel like I was starting to catch a cold or a flu or something, like that feeling you get when you should take just one extra day off from the gym and you’ll feel fresh again - except that fresh day never comes. So one of the reasons could be psychological. 3. Sometimes by tens of pounds. My weight has stayed around that number for a while. Some bodies are just more sensitive. I have been trying to focus on gluteus medius for hip growth and it’s hard to feel it unless using low weight and doing reps until failure, rather than less reps with heavy weight. And, they support my choices and help me when I feel low. Took some time off of it and was only going going up to around 70-80% of my max for about two weeks. This still means increasing the weight for progressive overload, but I've found myself finally injury free and progressing after doing low weight for high volume with perfect form, lots of drop sets, etc. Yes heavier weights do feel heavier but usually due to other muscles finding it harder to stabilise. Im currently studying a double major of Sport science biomechanics and exercise physiology. This is because they’re calibrated differently. Is there an explanation for this? I am 185 pounds at 5’2 if that matters. This fluctuates across days or weeks. Why does a 20lb box that is 5x5x5 (inches) physically feel heavier when i am lifting it compared to a 20lb box that is 10x10x10? Assuming same item in both boxes not shifting around. if you feel confident, walking out that weight to squat, it feels light mentally, if you've been through a long day and you aren't keeping tight, even at the lighter weights, it's gonna carry over to the heavier weights and everything feels heavier faster I'd say desire to lift the weight affects it to Dec 1, 2024 · use the following search parameters to narrow your results: subreddit:subreddit find submissions in "subreddit" author:username find submissions by "username" site:example. I just pick up where I left off the filling day. Same as those sexy mirrors they have that give you a great physique. What gives? A number of factors can affect your weight training performance on a given day. No real rhyme or reason. Takes time but when you're really good at contracting and feeling the muscle, you'll be able to feel that burn with heavy weights and it'll get to where you'll stop mid way not because the muscle can't move the weight, but because the pain becomes unbearable. We welcome discussions regarding elite athletes, amateur athletes, competition strategy, training, theory, technique, Weightlifting programming, and current events in the sport of Weightlifting. Why do some dumbbells feel heavier or lighter than their scale weight? I shifted from 30# vinyl dumbbells (scale checked) to 4x10# (40# total) cast iron dumbbell plates (also scale checked). Maybe cut back some and try in a week or two Same reason that if you took a 2 pound weight and put it on the end of a stick and swung it would feel different than if you took that same 2 pound weight and put it in the middle of the stick and swung it. Yeah I still feel like I have a shit ton of ways to go and then I realize on some days I'm the biggest and most cut of anyone in the gym. Edit: had weight directives reversed and spelling fixes I don’t go to Planet Fitness but I’m visiting in NoCal and my friend just brought me as a guest to his gym (PF). Otherwise your arms might just already be tired by the previous exercises you did, making the curls feel harder in comparison due to fatigue. So I hit upper twice a week and my first deload upper doesn’t even have pull-ups or dips (I do Scap pulls), but my second one has sets of 2-3 dips and pull-ups then my first upper after deload will have sets of like 5 and then after that I’ll be back to 100%, which is like sets of 8 pull-ups and 5 dips (my pushing is weaker) Strength is not finite or consistent. You do you but that 100% worked for me. I also found that some exercises are more energizing than others. You eke out a few more reps or train heavier than usual. We're walking ball of variables. 5 month now and recently i have been using cables to train my triceps (triceps extension) and biceps (biceps curls) but I'm lifting way less weights then the same excersises with dumbbells( ex: fir the curls i use 12. Well yeah unless the plates you're using are horribly inaccurate it's just perception. I went to do seated cable rows, at my gym I normally do around 130lbs for 8 reps, I set the weight to the lowest to just get my form correct then pinned it to 110 to start and I couldn’t even crack one rep, it felt like it was 2x heavier than 110 at my gym. Right now I am 175 and pretty built. Everyone has good days and bad days because our days aren't perfectly identical. 180kg feels scarier than 80kg did to bench. It was never You need better programming than PR > couple days later try PR again for validation. it then adapts (temporarily) to that being the new "standard If using lower weights activates those muscle, use lower weights. I have been lifting for a year+ and do some type of cardio before my workouts. The big issues with dumbells for pressing are the weight distribution (overall width) and its circumference (how big is the dumbell head). If it's . /r/weightlifting is where we discuss the competitive sport of Weightlifting; the Snatch and Clean and Jerk. I always say the weight stays the same (not always) but it feels heavier. Like if you just take one more day off you’ll feel better Nov 5, 2022 · Why Do Some Cable Machines Feel Heavier Reddit . I was super anemic and have a thyroid problem. For example if you take a long break from lifting (still strong enough to lift the weight) it will feel much heavier than if you lifted the same weight everyday. While your physics example is true, it only holds true with constant force. I also make each deload workout slightly more intense than the last. Preferably on different days. I carry a lot of it in my thighs & butt. If it loops around the pulley block once, the weight you're actually pulling is different from if it loops around the pulley blocks 2 or 3 times. If you’ve ever worked out at a gym, you’ve probably noticed that some of the machines feel heavier than others. Anyway, just started lifting at a new gym, and the cable machines (what you would use for cable rows, lat pull downs, tricep pulldowns, etc. The water might slosh around or get slightly off center from how you are carrying it some other way, and you then have to consciously or sub-consciously correct it. the big weights are more for increasing already existing muscle while the tonal workouts are more to strengthen and build many smaller muscles. I feel great after jogging 3 miles but I'm pretty tired after swimming for 30 mins or doing yoga. I also do extremely partial deadlifts that are right before lockout (very high rack pulls), and unracking heavy weight on the bench. Personally I like to use the minimal amount of weight possible to get results. On the plus side, it makes it feel even better when you get a PR. Despite the machines being identical, the weight I'm lifting almost always feels either lighter or heavier. Those days feel great! Yet on other days, you struggle to lift the amount you usually do. Me too! I'm 5'9", 265lbs. If I take 80-85% seriously and I'm having at least an average day for squatting, those weights won't feel too heavy. TL;DR - Gaining weight and feeling heavier sucks, change management has a phase called hypercare - so take care, maybe take extra care. But if I've squatted several times during the past 7 days and not gone to failure, my body's neural system is primed for the task and performs better, making even heavy weights feel light and move explosively. I never gave my chest time to heal and grow, and so my muscles just broke down. The weight on a machine is determined by the pulley system inside it. In addition to all the aforementioned, as the others have said, lack of upkeep on the machines and not keeping the guide-rods clean and properly lubed can definitely make everything feel heavier as well. You will find that you need proportionally much more weight for the heavy object than for the light object. Here are some factors to be aware of. ) I was 5'10" fighting at that weight. That makes it seem heavier. I will warm up with lateral raises with the 10lbs plates but my shoulders get tired a lot quicker. . I just go to the gym and do random accessory lifts I don’t normally do to get the blood flowing and stay in the habit of going. The glute muscles are small in comparison to quads and hamstrings and oftentimes weaker. My traps bruised for a while. Weird realization only one year in. 250kg squat feels a whole lot worse moving out the rack than 100kg did. I'd like to be back to 180 eventually, i felt (and looked!) great at that weight. As the title suggest, I've joined a new gym and some of the PU weights feel off - like way heavier, the brand is not one I've heard of. It doesn't improve performance. On a regular basis (this varies person to person, some go multiple times a day, some every couple of days) Solid Doesn't float Doesn't leave a streak in the bowl Comes out easily & instantly, no straining to push or having to spend a long time on the toilet Comes out clean (i. I have some 20kg thin steel plates that feel way heavier than the bumper plates at the gym. I know I need to drop some weight, I just feel like other people at my height look a lot bigger that I do at this weight. Some days you seem to “have it” while other days you don’t. However, some gyms have marked up weights to make you feel like a huge powerful man. e. Our stress levels vary. Some people would like higher weights as they don't accidentally move it slightly, and it doesn't feel floaty. Somedays I can really feel the dumbbells in my hands and they really try my determination, other days I dont feel them in my hands and they are just challenging. I keep track of everything - weight, reps, even write down if I did something out of order or had to use a different bar. You could also try to add weight to the light thing until it’s “twice as heavy,” then do the same with the heavy object. I mean I bloat 3-4 lbs during PMS or after a day of heavier meals. If I were to lifted heavier weight, I would have skyrocketed easily to another class. Now I do 6-9 sets once a week, and I'm completely healed by the time I touch it again. Maybe you lost fat or water , but glycogen stores went up and weight remained. I suppose it induces mild mania in me. If someone gets a heavier mouse they will just apply a higher force to move it just as fast as if they had a light one so the weight isn't an issue. Is it in my head or is there a genuine discrepancy? Today i decided to visit a large commercial gym in my area because, frankly, i was getting fairly tired of the minimalist and overcrowded university gym. only need a single sheet of TP to clean up) What that means is having my head into the lift and take my set-up serious to get as tight as I should be for a heavy weight. Some days it takes every bit of will I can muster to drag my lifeless corpse to the gym but after a few heavy sets, I do a 180 and feel full of life and vigor. But if it’s tired because you’re had a regular hard day at work, a busy day with school or whatever - your muscles are still likely very capable of the workloads they’re used to at the gym. Probsbly doesn't matter much if you don't have tendonitis, knee and rotator cuff issues like I do though. Just had this same issue a few weeks ago. Can anyone help me :”( I’m getting really discouraged. But, my friends don't treat me any differently because the way I look is only part of the person I am. careful, you're asking about how weights feel, and that's bound to yield some very subjective answers. Some cable crosses have the weight marked as the total you'd be lifting if you were using both stacks (so the weight is half of what the label indicates). And before you say it, I am verifying that these machines are measured in pounds. Couldn’t even get up my max weight I do for 5 reps one time. Maybe slow down your exercises, and lower your cardio time before weight lifting. However, if you go in with heavy lifting, the body says "fine ok, this is what we're doing" and allocates the necessary resources to lift heavy things. If the latest squat session was a week ago and it was an intense workout, even light weights are likely to feel like a fuckton of bricks. 25" less circumference because it's made of a denser material then it's going to feel way heavier than a 90lb dumbell that's more compact and has a bigger dumbell head that limits your ROM. Yes, when I first got and used my home gym the weights felt much heavier, despite doing the same as what I would do normally in the gym. For example, I'll do a bicep curl on a different cable machine. It felt fairly easy (meaning I think I could have done more repetions). Even lifting one plate before spinning it onto the handle feels heavier than the full 30# vinyl! Fewer pulleys = 'heavier' weights. I'm kinda new to the gym i have been training for about 4. Also you rock. I feel mildly euphoric and ready to take on the world afterwards. Hope this cleared something up for ya Edit** just seen the comment below talks about the different types of hypertrophy. Some days I don’t feel like just sitting down and lifting weights, so I do more oly work. We aren't eating 100% identical daily diets. You just always feel like that. We aren't getting identical sleep quality day-to-day. com Feb 26, 2014 · This may be a weird question but I'm wondering why for example with squats a certain weight can feel pretty light one week and the next week the perception changes so that weight feels a lot heavier. Now I only feel like that if my medication levels are off. I have had training days where everything feels light (compared to normal) and I’ve had days where even warm-up sets feel super heavy. I love lifting weights a lot, it makes me feel strong. if given the opportunity, it will perform motions that use the least amount of energy, for the sake of efficiency. That said, swing weight being THAT important is a I would take some time and see how you feel after lowering your overall weight. Weight lifting requires high amounts of arousal to assist in the exercise; you can achieve this by listening to favourite Sorry if this is a dumb question. if we instead ask about effort needed to lift something, in terms of how many reps can be made with a given weight at different times in a lifting "career", it should be rather easy to note that people do improve their performance. For simple tasks such as lifting heavy weights the body needs to be in higher states of arousel (not sexual), it's more excitement. ) I noticed that when I was heavier, I was able to lift heavier easier, I lost about 30lbs and the same weights feel different now. It can be down right depressing when I feel like I cant lift. I don't think I look it either. Usually you can tell these because there is a double pulley instead of a single pulley. But, I know when I hit the bag and do mitt work now, my muscles tire out much faster. Sometimes a different activity can lead to changes in glycogen stores, etc. i already notice ITT that there's no agreement. A double pulley requires half the force because it moves the weight half the distance, and looks like this Does just lifting the plate feel heavier or cycling some sort of barbell movement in a WOD feels lighter? If it’s the latter, it may be the bounce off the floor of the rubber plate making your lifts easier than a non-bouncy plate The closer the weight is to center, the less flexion is in the bar so the bar is essentially dead and there's no bend in the bar to take up some of the initial weight. What should heavy enough feel like for optimal hypertrophy or strength gains? I’m also confused as to how lifting lighter can come into play with muscle growth - like what if someone needs to lower weight because their normal weight feels heavy that day, or they feel some pain so to prevent injury they lift light for weeks etc. Obviously exaggerated here but how the weight is distributed can make all the difference. I think you get conditioned to the weight. This is why you feel more solid but not downright bigger during heavy weight training, but but bigger, yet 'squishier' during higher rep training. Since you are using strength training parameters you need to swallow your pride and start adding speed work with very light weight to the mix, and also some pause work. They're both 20kg, they just feel different because your brain expects bigger things to be heavier. on other days i would do lighter weights with more range of motion and reps plus bodyweight/calisthenics. There may be days that I need a rest day so I take it. The gym is an independent with cheap membership, though they have a bunch of Hammer Strength machines (which I have no interest in) I've trained there three times now and on my first session. You should only become concerned if you're consistently getting weaker. Some people may have truly physically exhausting days, manual laborers and such. What you’re perceiving in this case is that the light thing is way lighter than the heavy thing you started with. I would work out and come home and need to take a nap some days. It's also entirely possible that you just had a good day in the gym and were feeling strong. My question is basically, what am I doing wrong, and what can I do differently so I can reach my goal. 5 kg X10 but with cable i barely do 10reps with 5 kgs) . 2. thrkhso hmho zerrybw xjrhn lch cwuofn momd ithxlmt itrre ygybaa yknrqoo saug itfdmiov vww quvzfjt