Muscular Endurance

[spotman]

Hello forum,

Beginners question:

My muscular endurance is terrible... especially for chest workouts...

For chest, I can only get through 2 workouts (3 sets of 7-8 reps per workout....)... I try to start the 3rd and I just can't --> my muscles are pretty much dead....

I do chest and biceps together... and I alternate workouts... meaning... I'll do a chest workout, then a bicep workout, then back to chest and so forth...

I've only been going to the gym now for 2 weeks after about a year of not going... but I've always had this problem....

Any ideas on how I can improve my muscular endurance?

[ssslayer]

So you do only chest and biceps bodyparts?

Endurance will increase when you try to push your body.

[IvanTheTerible]

Originally Posted by spotman

Hello forum,

Beginners question:

My muscular endurance is terrible... especially for chest workouts...

For chest, I can only get through 2 workouts (3 sets of 7-8 reps per workout....)... I try to start the 3rd and I just can't --> my muscles are pretty much dead....

I do chest and biceps together... and I alternate workouts... meaning... I'll do a chest workout, then a bicep workout, then back to chest and so forth...

I've only been going to the gym now for 2 weeks after about a year of not going... but I've always had this problem....

Any ideas on how I can improve my muscular endurance?

I am not a pro or anything but it sounds to me like you are trying to go to heavy , if you cant even start your third set try the following.

1: lower your weight used on chest by 15% increase reps by 20% OR
2: Do your contraction exercises one day and your extension exercises another day OR
3: If you insist on doing Bi's and Chest on the same day then do chest first then bi's

hopefully that helps

[MC]

Originally Posted by spotman

Hello forum,

Beginners question:

My muscular endurance is terrible... especially for chest workouts...

For chest, I can only get through 2 workouts (3 sets of 7-8 reps per workout....)... I try to start the 3rd and I just can't --> my muscles are pretty much dead....

I do chest and biceps together... and I alternate workouts... meaning... I'll do a chest workout, then a bicep workout, then back to chest and so forth...

I've only been going to the gym now for 2 weeks after about a year of not going... but I've always had this problem....

Any ideas on how I can improve my muscular endurance?

Ivan-I think that was solid advice. It could be a compound issue of form and weight on the bench press.

Also-- your bench press strength is also a function of shoulder and tricep strength as well (from what I understand).

You are doing push and pull exercises together. I have never read anywhere where is said that was effective.

I would recommend you start a program from here that puts your push exercises (chest, triceps) together and your pull (bicep, back) together.

Or try a another program all together.

I know it seems that people just notice a beefy chest, but working all your muscles will help you gain strength and size and keep your proportions together (and make your chest more noticeable as well).

[Doug]

Following on from the great advice given in the posts above ^ ^

Performing only chest and bicep exercises will cause problems with your posture, and may cause the greater likelihood of injuries. You have to train the body as a whole.

[spotman]

Thanks for the advice guys...

Just to clarify... I work out all of the muscle groups, but I just notice this problem with chest workouts...

I can get through 2 work outs of 3 sets each, but I cannot complete the 3rd workout...

For chest usually I do... incline dumb bell press, dumbbell flys, and flat dumb bell presses...

This is my week:

Mondays - Chest/Biceps

Tuesday - Legs

Thursday - Shoulders/Triceps

Friday - Back

I think i'll try to do chest/triceps instead... and do all of my chest work first before moving to triceps...

[MC]

Originally Posted by spotman

...

For chest usually I do... incline dumb bell press, dumbbell flys, and flat dumb bell presses...

...

I think you need to re-order your chest exercises. Do flat press first (since it works your entire chest). I am guessing that, given your current exercise order, by the time you get to flat presses, your chest (and tris) are worn out.