Something I often see with trainees is a lack of intensity.  Most people simply do not employ enough of it, or don’t understand how to apply it.  Most correlate training intensity with simply adding more weight to the bar, or taking a set to failure, but that isn’t what I’m referring to.  What I see as intensity is fully involving the musculature throughout the entire range of motion.  For example, if doing a flat dumbbell press you don’t simply push the weight up, you squeeze it up constantly focusing on the muscles you are trying to work, your pecs.  Once at lockout you continue to keep a conscious tension on the muscles and then do the same as you lower the weight.  This style of training will recruit more muscle fibers and thus be a more efficient way of developing your body as well as a safer way to exercise.  For you ego lifters out there, yes, you will have to reduce the loads used at first, but you will quickly be lifting more than ever and look the best you ever have.  Train your muscles, not your ego, and you will be well on your way to achieving your goals.

Allen Cress is a multi strength sport athlete as well as a highly sought after trainer. Allen owns Maximum Performance Training, LLC where he offers both online and one-on-one training. He has an eclectic variety of clients ranging from bodybuilders to high school, college, and professional athletes. He also works frequently with injured clients referred to him by both orthopedists and physical therapists.