I don't believe it's possible for me to agree more!
Well said!!! I made a crucial decision today (and actually was considering this through the last few workouts). I got back to my all time highs on most of my exercises since I started this diet. I was already working toward that direction, but not really dieting. Unfortunately, some of those resulted in re-visiting old injuries over the last few workouts. Both flat barb bench and shoulder press related (what a surprise, right?). I don't want to relate this to age, but parts are wearing out, and even though I achieved higher rep rates over my prior highs on certain moves, the shoulder problems returned this last week. My form is and has always been nearly flawless. I consider that priority one. The things I've seen (and you have too,) in the gym make me cringe, especially when young guys are guaranteeing a short lifting career with reckless form and excessively heavy weights. But at a point, great form doesn't prevent the inevitable.
I have decided that certain heavy lifting is a diminishing return (at least for me). I feel like I actually made better gains working with 3 to 4 5ths of my ATH's since I started the latest cycles of increase. Was getting good pumps, and not losing too much size (I've lost almost 15lbs since we started chatting in this thread regarding this diet...hopefully mostly fat!) with the lighter weight. I had backed off the heavy stuff some months back because of certain recurring tendon problems, mostly left shoulder, and had been building back up over the last 4 - 6 months. Anyway, I think the lighter weight (still heavy by some people's standards) gave me better results...because I can go deeper into the range without increased risk of injury (no brainer).
I hate having sore tendons, and tonight my left RC and AC joint are asking for ice and are going to cost me several days of certain lifts.(I've had a spur in the left shoulder ball, and tendinitis in my left RC and a little arthritis in my left AC for a couple years already, so problems crop up there first). The decision to reduce was a result of one simple thing. I didn't have any considerable pain until I reached for the highs on the bench and shoulder press in the last week or so. I think backing off is good call for myself. It was great hitting those highs, but if they induce tendon pain, they are history. I know I can get good results, because I was a couple weeks ago...and felt great.
All in all, this fat loss diet is a huge success for me so far, though. I just hate it when mind over matter reverses.
It has to happen eventually. Got to listen to the body when it speaks, or suffer the result of choosing not to. Like you said, it's about the journey!!! I always joke with my friends, and not just about lifting: If I could have done this thing or that thing 30 years ago, I might have been somebody! Regardless, on with the journey!
I would have paid to see that!
