New vs Old Theory ??

[japanjon]

First post.

During the olden days of the 1980s and early 1990s, I'd ideally lift 6 days per week and spend hours in the gym. The theory was generally the more lifting the better - with split routines, adequate rest, etc (my weight was 180 and bench high was 305).

Is mine old theory?



Now getting back to weight lifting at age about 40. Spoke to a person who argued that for max gains, one should ideally lift a max of 3 times days week at a max time limit of one hour each time. You should lift as much weight as possible, and lift until absolute muscle failure, max 4-7 reps while adding on weights every week (and more reps for smaller muscle groups).

Question: is going until muscle failure and using as much weight as possible considered as a newer and more enlightened outlook on body building -- or is it just theory. Is this idea now commonplace? Do others agree with this?




JapanJon

 

[djeclipse]

First post.

During the olden days of the 1980s and early 1990s, I'd ideally lift 6 days per week and spend hours in the gym. The theory was generally the more lifting the better - with split routines, adequate rest, etc (my weight was 180 and bench high was 305).

Is mine old theory?



Now getting back to weight lifting at age about 40. Spoke to a person who argued that for max gains, one should ideally lift a max of 3 times days week at a max time limit of one hour each time. You should lift as much weight as possible, and lift until absolute muscle failure, max 4-7 reps while adding on weights every week (and more reps for smaller muscle groups).

Question: is going until muscle failure and using as much weight as possible considered as a newer and more enlightened outlook on body building -- or is it just theory. Is this idea now commonplace? Do others agree with this?




JapanJon

I personally don't train to fail, I have all my lifts planned out before I get to the gym. At the gym I do the lifts, hopefully I make all of them, go home. the next day/ week I add weight to the bar, same reps. If I do end up stalling/ failing on a lift it's not on purpose.

3x/ week if you're going heavy compound movements is more then enough, and will give your body the rest it needs to recover.

Training to failure is a typical BB thing and has been around for ever.

 

[sugashane]

I tried the long double split routines Arnold used to do when I started, and my body couldn't handle the volume. I found that I respond and recover better from brief intense workouts to or near failure, with mostly lower reps. Go, lift, rest, grow. I usually lift 3-4 days a week.

 

[str8nubin]

You could conceivably go either route, depending on the way you set up your splits and the way that you train. You really have to look at the big picture and consider how everything in your life is going to tie together. Most people these days lean towards the low rep, high weight approach but that is not the only way. There is no ideal way, just the way that best fits your personal goals.