prophet said:realgains whats our def of "volume" here...if you go by the mags you are def going to over train without gear. my volumes work outs consist of 3 exercises for big muscles with 3 sets per exercise 9 total working sets not including warm ups....my HIT is pretty straight forward 1 warm up 1 set till failure (also use drop sets, rest pause, and increase weight till failure) usually 3-4 exercises and 3-4 total sets takes about 15-30 mins for HIT worksouts
Mandinka2 said:This is my natural split:
Legs/Shoulders/Biceps
3 sets of squats/hacks 15 reps (about 370lbs.)
Calves 2 sets stnading calf raises
lateral raises - 12 reps immediately followed by smith machine presses. 2 sets
1 set of bicep work (preacher machine)
2 days rest:
Back/Chest/Triceps
2 sets of heavy pullovers (300 lbs.) 13 reps then immediately row machine 6-8 reps (260 lbs.)
1 set of flyes (62lbs.) 13 reps immediately followed by pec dec with excruciating stretch to finish.
1 set of rope extensions (we have no fucking tricep bar in the gym!) followed by pushdowns.
Finish with one heavy set of deadlifts (12 reps)
2 days rest then start again.
On gear , just one day rest between sessions. Have grown very well on this split naturally.
When I squat I put the motherfucker thru the floor , as others have said to me , "It's not balls to the ground , it's balls through the ground" ,that means down until there ain't no place left to go , otherwise I'd squat 500 like every other guy on elite (he he). I don't like leg extensions cos it feels like my shins are gonna shatter with the weight, that and the fact that every spandex wearin idiot in the gym uses em. I think you didn't exactly pick up the post correctly , I squat and deadlift every third day and with max weights and high reps. The fact that I do deadlifts at the end is cos I wanna take the CNS right to the limit at the end. I got this from Arthur Jones who used to make the trainees squat and deadlift at the end (i.e. before collapse!). As you mention , chest could use a decent pressing movement but the fact is benching for me is just a shoulder exercise , to get slabs of muscle on the chest , I have to isolate the bastards. I find it too easy to cheat with regular barbell curls , and the gym has these variable resistance air machines which allow for decent drop set and negative (very rare) work. We are very much in agreement ,-deadlifts and squats are the way forward , everything else is just so much confetti.. In fact what would you say to me switching the squats (one set) to the end of the leg workout and just doing 2 sets of hacks followed by one set of leg presses at the start? Once again thanks for your help , I appreciate it.Okay bro....you are training along the right llines while natural but I can improve on the program..
I don't think the pre exhaust super sets are the greatest for most. Its hard to progressively increase weights used with pre-exhaust and this is the most important factor and not intensity per say...... Leg extension/Squats maybe yes but only after you can deep squat 400 pounds 15 times.
You shold stick more with the big basic compound movements.
Where are the deep Squats? Or at least deep leg presses?
Where is the stiff leg or regular deadlift.....you have left out the two best exercises bro, especially for a natural.
Regular curls are better than the preachers and close grip benches or machine dips all with elbows in are best for the triceps.
And bro the flyes/pec deck thing won't do that much for ya...decline benches or dips with elbows flaired are best for overall pec developement.
The key is to increase weight weekly for the same reps in small to tiny jumps in the compound movements. Put 30 pounds on your declines for example and believe me your triceps and chest and shoulders will be much bigger..mor eto come as I have to go to work now.
Mandinka2 said:
When I squat I put the motherfucker thru the floor , as others have said to me , "It's not balls to the ground , it's balls through the ground" ,that means down until there ain't no place left to go , otherwise I'd squat 500 like every other guy on elite (he he). I don't like leg extensions cos it feels like my shins are gonna shatter with the weight, that and the fact that every spandex wearin idiot in the gym uses em. I think you didn't exactly pick up the post correctly , I squat and deadlift every third day and with max weights and high reps. The fact that I do deadlifts at the end is cos I wanna take the CNS right to the limit at the end. I got this from Arthur Jones who used to make the trainees squat and deadlift at the end (i.e. before collapse!). As you mention , chest could use a decent pressing movement but the fact is benching for me is just a shoulder exercise , to get slabs of muscle on the chest , I have to isolate the bastards. I find it too easy to cheat with regular barbell curls , and the gym has these variable resistance air machines which allow for decent drop set and negative (very rare) work. We are very much in agreement ,-deadlifts and squats are the way forward , everything else is just so much confetti.. In fact what would you say to me switching the squats (one set) to the end of the leg workout and just doing 2 sets of hacks followed by one set of leg presses at the start? Once again thanks for your help , I appreciate it.
Bro where do I start?
Bro trust me on this one...there is nothing knew for me under the Sun. Please read on as I must tell you that you are making some very serious errors in training.
I didn't see Squats in the program you gave me ...only hacks.
Shallow inclines and declines along with dips with elbow flaired are the best chest developers by far bro. The isolation work that you are doing may FEEL like they are working the fibers harder but is a mirage.
You have to focus on lifting bigger and bigger weights in the big compound movements and then you will see your chest grow.
Heavy weighted dips are the upper body squat. Please don't waste any more time on the isolation work as you are currently doing things. If you want to utilize some isolation work then do one exercise before a compound exercise but not in a pre-exhaust super set fashion. Rest a little before doing the compound movement. I know this is hard for you to take but this will allow for better stimulation. The isolation work will still pre fatigue the target muscle group but the rest before the compound movement will allow much better stimulation during the compound movement itself. Dorian Ytes and Lee Labrada and even Mike Mentzer all gravitated to this form of pre fatigue training.
BRO please plesase do NOT SQUAT AND DEADLIFT EVERY THREE DAYS...nobody can recuperate form this type of frequency. Heavy hard Squats need AT LEAST 6 ful days between sessions and often time up to 10 days...and regular heavy DEADLIFTS should only be done very hard once every 7-10 day or even less often bro.
One thing that Aurthor Jones was a very smart man but he was DEAD WRONG with his theory that muscle begin to atrophy after 96 hours of rest...that is pure CRAP! It often takes this time for muscles to recuperate and then up to a week for full systemic recuperation. Muscles do not begin to atrophy after a hard workout in 96 hours! maybe a week and a half or two weeks.
Do the regular barbell curls and just don't allow yourself to cheat bro...its that simple.
I have used a two way spilt, training one day and taking two days off, with good results but I now favor a three way split doing fewer exercises per workout and training only MON-WED-FRI while natural.
WORKOUT FOR MASS AND STRENGTH( two way split)
It is best for recuperation reasons to group chest and tri's together and back with bi's.
YOUR FOCUS MUST BE ON MICRO LOADING and NOT intensity as I mentioned in an above post. Make it your life to add small amounts to the bars each week. As I said earlier in another post even 1 pound per week in the bench is good progression after the going gets tough.
www.fractionalplates.com
Focus on getting that next 10 pounds to the squats for example and another 10 and another 10 and after months of this your entire body will be much bigger and stronger..the same can be said for the other compound movements.
Train very hard BUT hold somehting back for the next session...DON"T KILL YOURSELF with intensity..the nervous system will not allow for this.
Day one.
30 degree inclines in a smith machine 3 progressively heavier warm ups with low resp of 5. DO NOT push your self.
Then 2 work sets of 6-8 with as much weight as you can handle.
Rest 2-3 minutes and do the same with 10%less weight.
On the last set do rest pause reps, that is after you cannot do another good rep put the weight down and rest for 10 second and then do more reps ...do this 2-3 times.
Next do two sets of either medium grip dips with elbows flaired with a weight belt, or 2 sets of BB declines or 2 sets of Hammer declines
On steroids you could add a set or two of flat fles, which are better than the pec deck or cable cross overs even though little tension is at the fully contracted position. The flys are optional...the most important thing is adding small to tiny amounts of weight each week to the compound movements.
Next do abbs to rest the tri's. Hanging knee ups and crunches. couple hard sets each . Add weight as you can and don't go over 2o reps. .
Next do tri's. Rets 2-3 minutes between sets
You will get FAR BETTER gains form either close grip benches in the smith machine with a 15 inch grip or machine dips with elbows in and a narrow grip. Another good one is bench dips having someone put a padded heavy barbell at the top of your lap. Be careful not to go too deep with dips or you will mess up the rotator cuffs.
Do one warm up set max and then 3 sets of 6-8. A set of pushdowns or tricep extensions can be done while on roids but again the compound movements are far more important.
Do calves now with 3-5 sets of 10-15 in either the standing calf raise, donkeys or keg press calf raise. Direct soleus work is not needed as these exercises work the soleus hard too.
be sure to utilize the rest pause reps and reduce the weight a little for each set. Keep rests down to 90 seconds
Rets two or three days
Next workout
Again use rest pause form time to time and reduce the weight for each successive work set on many exercises.
Squats deep and hard for 2 sets of 12-15 after 3 warm ups
leg press deep for one set
(Hacks are inferior to both of these)
rest 4-5 minutes between sets
rest 5 minutes sitting against a wall
Stiff leg deadlifts for 2 sets of 10-12. Keep back straight, use straps, go only to mid shin or you will scew up your back in time.
1 set of leg curls
Pulldowns with either a curl grip or medium grip with palms facing each other. 2 sets of 8 ,use straps
Rows for 2 sets..hammer rows are good and so are others
Seated overhead press for 3 sets
Shrugs for 2 sets
Upright rows for shoulders and traps for 2 sets...use straps
BB curls 3 sets... use the rest pause reps for sure.
optional ...wrist curls and reverse curls.
Bro ...isolation work is WAY over rated as is pure pre exhaust super setting. If you must use more isolation work then do then before the compound movement but don't do them in a super set fashion.
IE: you could do a couple sets of laterals before the presses.
Rear delts get plenty of work with over head pressing and back work.
NOTE: many men find it best to use a 5X5 program where you do a couple warm ups and then 3 sets of 5 with the same weight for each set ..with longer rests between sets. Many find it easier to add weight progressively in this way. Reg Parks liked this type of training as do many more.
Try a three way split training MON-WED and FRI. It has one training more frequently but with fewer exercises per workout and works very well.
RG
Lift Chief said:Great post realgains- i've heard something similar to what you have listed in some books i have read. Seems as though we've all been overtraining.
Bro where do I start?
Bro trust me on this one...there is nothing knew for me under the Sun. Please read on as I must tell you that you are making some very serious errors in training.
I didn't see Squats in the program you gave me ...only hacks.
Shallow inclines and declines along with dips with elbow flaired are the best chest developers by far bro. The isolation work that you are doing may FEEL like they are working the fibers harder but is a mirage.
You have to focus on lifting bigger and bigger weights in the big compound movements and then you will see your chest grow.
Heavy weighted dips are the upper body squat. Please don't waste any more time on the isolation work as you are currently doing things. If you want to utilize some isolation work then do one exercise before a compound exercise but not in a pre-exhaust super set fashion. Rest a little before doing the compound movement. I know this is hard for you to take but this will allow for better stimulation. The isolation work will still pre fatigue the target muscle group but the rest before the compound movement will allow much better stimulation during the compound movement itself. Dorian Ytes and Lee Labrada and even Mike Mentzer all gravitated to this form of pre fatigue training.
BRO please plesase do NOT SQUAT AND DEADLIFT EVERY THREE DAYS...nobody can recuperate form this type of frequency. Heavy hard Squats need AT LEAST 6 ful days between sessions and often time up to 10 days...and regular heavy DEADLIFTS should only be done very hard once every 7-10 day or even less often bro.
One thing that Aurthor Jones was a very smart man but he was DEAD WRONG with his theory that muscle begin to atrophy after 96 hours of rest...that is pure CRAP! It often takes this time for muscles to recuperate and then up to a week for full systemic recuperation. Muscles do not begin to atrophy after a hard workout in 96 hours! maybe a week and a half or two weeks.
Do the regular barbell curls and just don't allow yourself to cheat bro...its that simple.
I have used a two way spilt, training one day and taking two days off, with good results but I now favor a three way split doing fewer exercises per workout and training only MON-WED-FRI while natural.
WORKOUT FOR MASS AND STRENGTH( two way split)
It is best for recuperation reasons to group chest and tri's together and back with bi's.
YOUR FOCUS MUST BE ON MICRO LOADING and NOT intensity as I mentioned in an above post. Make it your life to add small amounts to the bars each week. As I said earlier in another post even 1 pound per week in the bench is good progression after the going gets tough.
www.fractionalplates.com
Focus on getting that next 10 pounds to the squats for example and another 10 and another 10 and after months of this your entire body will be much bigger and stronger..the same can be said for the other compound movements.
Train very hard BUT hold somehting back for the next session...DON"T KILL YOURSELF with intensity..the nervous system will not allow for this.
Day one.
30 degree inclines in a smith machine 3 progressively heavier warm ups with low resp of 5. DO NOT push your self.
Then 2 work sets of 6-8 with as much weight as you can handle.
Rest 2-3 minutes and do the same with 10%less weight.
On the last set do rest pause reps, that is after you cannot do another good rep put the weight down and rest for 10 second and then do more reps ...do this 2-3 times.
Next do two sets of either medium grip dips with elbows flaired with a weight belt, or 2 sets of BB declines or 2 sets of Hammer declines
On steroids you could add a set or two of flat fles, which are better than the pec deck or cable cross overs even though little tension is at the fully contracted position. The flys are optional...the most important thing is adding small to tiny amounts of weight each week to the compound movements.
Next do abbs to rest the tri's. Hanging knee ups and crunches. couple hard sets each . Add weight as you can and don't go over 2o reps. .
Next do tri's. Rets 2-3 minutes between sets
You will get FAR BETTER gains form either close grip benches in the smith machine with a 15 inch grip or machine dips with elbows in and a narrow grip. Another good one is bench dips having someone put a padded heavy barbell at the top of your lap. Be careful not to go too deep with dips or you will mess up the rotator cuffs.
Do one warm up set max and then 3 sets of 6-8. A set of pushdowns or tricep extensions can be done while on roids but again the compound movements are far more important.
Do calves now with 3-5 sets of 10-15 in either the standing calf raise, donkeys or keg press calf raise. Direct soleus work is not needed as these exercises work the soleus hard too.
be sure to utilize the rest pause reps and reduce the weight a little for each set. Keep rests down to 90 seconds
Rets two or three days
Next workout
Again use rest pause form time to time and reduce the weight for each successive work set on many exercises.
Squats deep and hard for 2 sets of 12-15 after 3 warm ups
leg press deep for one set
(Hacks are inferior to both of these)
rest 4-5 minutes between sets
rest 5 minutes sitting against a wall
Stiff leg deadlifts for 2 sets of 10-12. Keep back straight, use straps, go only to mid shin or you will scew up your back in time.
1 set of leg curls
Pulldowns with either a curl grip or medium grip with palms facing each other. 2 sets of 8 ,use straps
Rows for 2 sets..hammer rows are good and so are others
Seated overhead press for 3 sets
Shrugs for 2 sets
Upright rows for shoulders and traps for 2 sets...use straps
BB curls 3 sets... use the rest pause reps for sure.
optional ...wrist curls and reverse curls.
Bro ...isolation work is WAY over rated as is pure pre exhaust super setting. If you must use more isolation work then do then before the compound movement but don't do them in a super set fashion.
IE: you could do a couple sets of laterals before the presses.
Rear delts get plenty of work with over head pressing and back work.
NOTE: many men find it best to use a 5X5 program where you do a couple warm ups and then 3 sets of 5 with the same weight for each set ..with longer rests between sets. Many find it easier to add weight progressively in this way. Reg Parks liked this type of training as do many more.
Try a three way split training MON-WED and FRI. It has one training more frequently but with fewer exercises per workout and works very well.
RG
Mandinka2 said:
Ok Bro ,back in the saddle today , so I can try and do justice to your very informative post. On the subject of overtraining , even on roids I do a total of 9 sets lower body (1 squat) and 8 sets upper body (1 deadlift) in each WORKOUT. Are you sure that I can't recover from that? Well in any case , I am recoverin like crazy now I'm on , most interestingly it is my chest that grows quickest on roids , which suggests that the pre-exhaust method is too harsh for this body part for me (even with one set!). Don't particularly know why , but it sucks. I'm already on the eod training split you recommend. Bro , I have just realized that you are advocating doing back and legs in the same workout , that is impossible for me , my lats and my quads are my standout parts and I couldn't imagine trainin them together inside the 45min. limit (or any other). In any case I will consolidate a little more and try and reduce no. of sets/workout by one each day. Cheers.
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