losing muscle strength

[surely_5]

I've been doing T-Tapp for four months. I've had amazing improvements in flexibility, coordination, endurance and posture. When I started, I decided to abandon the free weights that I was doing (hand weights . . . lower weight, high rep) so I could focus on T-Tapp. I've been doing TWO, BWO and HTF (I do 3-5 workouts a week). Although I've had many improvements, my muscle strength has decreased. I've especially noticed this in my arms. My legs have always been very strong, so even if I've lost some strength in my legs, it doesn't affect me so much in my day to day life. However, the decrease arm strength is very noticeable when I'm doing yard work or lifting speakers (hubby and I help with the audio system at church). Is this normal? Will I have to do some kind of weight bearing exercise to get the strength back to where it was? Or am I doing something wrong?

[monica213]

Without seeing your form, it is very possible that you are not utilizing full fiber activation to the arms along with full extension, or do not completely understand what leverage isometrics is. You should be getting a GREAT arm workout in every movement, if not then you need to reassess your form and activation.

[surely_5]

To clarify . . . are you saying that with proper form, I should be able to lift 70 lbs as easily now (doing T-Tapp) as when I was doing the hand weights?

[monica213]

No, that is not what I am saying.

T-Tapp and weight training work the muscle completely different. With Tapp you are working insertion to insertion, <the full length of the muscle> creating muscle density. With traditional weight training you are working one insertion to the belly of the muscle (1/2 the muscle) creating muscle bulk.

Why don't you continue to use weights for your arms? Just apply T-Tapp technique to your stance to protect yourself. Cool thing about T-Tapp is once you know the fundamentals you can apply it to any workout to make that workout work better for you.

[surely_5]

Thanks for the feedback! I assume that it would be best to do weights in addition to the T-Tapp arm workout, correct?

[surely_5]

Any thoughts on a particular hand weight and/or stretch band workout for the arms? The more I think about it, I'm fairly certain I won't need/want to add 'bulking' exercises year round. I was happy enough with my progress during the summer, when I was doing lots of yard work in addition to T-Tapp . . . digging, moving heavy loads with the wheelbarrow, etc. When the weather's cold and rainy, and I'm indoors a lot, I think I need something to replace the heavy lifting I do as a part of yard work.

[memes]

You could just try adding some push-ups and tri-cep dips to your T-Tapp workout....you won't have to mess with weights but will get the same effect using your body weight.

M

[SeanyseanUK]

When you say your noticing decreased arm strength, do you mean your noticing a loss of bulk, or your losing your ability to contract the fibres there during the movements. If so, my thoughts are (just brainstorming here) but maybe you need to add some stuff to your diet (like protein etc) to help your body recuperate from the workouts. If your working out, and engaging the fibres, then maybe your not eating sufficient amounts of protein and carbs to help your muscles recuperate from the workouts that your doing might also be necessary.

[surely_5]

I am losing bulk, but what I meant by "losing muscle strength" is that I literally can't lift the same amount of weight as I could when I was lifting weights. I did try adding push-ups, and I feel that has helped increase my strength again.

I had considered that there was a nutritional factor, but I'm more convinced that this is an issue of poor T-Tapp form and/or needing to add some weight bearing exercises.

[lotsakids]

You have already gotten some great advice. I would like to share some observations for your consideration:

I just had a young woman at my T-Tapp Training event who built very toned arm muscles with T-Tapp in just 7 months. Everyon thought that for sure she had been weight training, but she said, "No, just T-Tapping."

I can curl a 25# dumb bell one rep or more. In my late 30's I tried weight training and could only do 10#. I have not done any isotonic resistance training for about 7 years.

I hope this helps.

[surely_5]

Thank you for the feedback! T-Tapp is very "new" to me in that for most of my life I've only done standard strength training (plus cardio) and therefore don't have any long term experience with what T-Tapp can do. I've been doing T-Tapp since last July.

[lotsakids]

You are welcome.