PH levels in blood.....maybe?

[beretta96]

I'm not sure if this is a diet issue or not, but I've noticed, along with a trainer friend of mine that I have a very hard time going past 6 reps.

I can use a heavy weight for my particular exercise, get out 6 good hard fast reps with excellent form, then on rep 7 completely hit a wall. Typically he says most people tend to fade slowly and he can tell if a guy has 2 more or 3 more reps. He spots me, figures I'm good for 4 or 5 then I hit this wall stone dead.

He suspects it may be a PH level issue with a beta alanine supplement to help remedie but it is just a guess.

What do you guys think? Has anyone experienced something like this or know of someone who has?

thanks,

[ironwill]

the best way to neutralize an acidic, or alkaline condition is...............Good ol H2O...water, drink more of it......That will make you more neutral in a few days..., or closer to a 7 PH wise

[L3]

to get more than 6 reps i use orange juice
except its not really orange
and i dont drink it

[#8]

^^ LOL

creatine also.

[beretta96]

I use to use creatine and gave up on it a few months ago. Well, I'll give it a shot again along with a double dose of water and see what happens. Is there a good, better, best as far as creatine is concerned?

thanks

[tiramisu]

I think the PH thing is just noise.

More likely this is simply a function of fast twitch/slow twitch muscle composition OR even more likely you are simply not used to the work load. The ability to handle Work Load is trainable just as maximal strength is. A couple of months of higher volume training and you'll either adjust and/or discover that you are on the far end of the bell curve for fast twitch muscle. 10 or even 20's aren't exactly a marathon so truthfully you should adjust to it in 6-8 weeks.

[beretta96]

I could buy your story as well.

Before I met him, I was doing a lesser weight but reps of 10-12. After I started with him we went to 5x5 which worked well for me but then I got this job out of province which doesn't really help the case any with no gym and such so I can only train when I get home.

My one month off the weights at a time could very well be the killer. When I come home and do train, I use the same weight as when I left though. Just now it seems I feel a little more energetic so to speek, and push past the 5x5 with the same weight but fail miserably after 6 or so reps.

I'm leaving again on Tuesday (sucks!) so I'll have to wait again to try a couple of theories when I come back.

thanks for the help

[Andre Gregoire]

I think the PH thing is just noise.

More likely this is simply a function of fast twitch/slow twitch muscle composition OR even more likely you are simply not used to the work load. The ability to handle Work Load is trainable just as maximal strength is. A couple of months of higher volume training and you'll either adjust and/or discover that you are on the far end of the bell curve for fast twitch muscle. 10 or even 20's aren't exactly a marathon so truthfully you should adjust to it in 6-8 weeks.

I am with tiramisu, I would bet that you are more fast twitch dominant, I am the same. Nothing wrong with that.

If you are failing because of the burn then beta-alanine or baking soda in really small dosages would help but you might just be better suited for lower reps.

Like tiramisu also stated if you want to do higher reps just drop the weight and build up the strength and work capacity.

Oh and Ironwill's advice on drinking more water is always good advice.

[beretta96]

thanks for all the advice, never would have figured baking soda. The fast twitch dominance thought is intriguing, I did play football as a kid which is a stop and go game obviously, and never had endurance much to speek of as far as cardio is concerned or for playing endurance sports like hockey.

Good advice to work with. thanks,

[Andre Gregoire]

Might be interested in this thread on Baking Soda:
http://forums.lylemcdonald.com/showthread.php?t=6121