JKurz1 said:
the pros or 95% of bodybuildiers dont use this routine. They typically do 1-2 bp a day, 15-20 sets, 6-10 reps range.............but I thought 5x5 would produce lean mass gains...so, why wouldnt they use it?
Do you feel that the 5x5 with 2 aux movements of 8 reps tends to work better for bodybuildiers than those trying to be powerlifters?
A few observations.
In the 1970s pro bodybuilders primarily used free weights and some decent machine work. Just about all of them built their physiques upon squatting, pulling, and pressing.
In the 1980s through the early 1990s the Pros drifted away from free weights. Squatting made their "waists too big", the deadlift and pulling from the floor died completely until Chris Duffy started doing them around the mid 1990s and no one was rowing with a barbell until Dorian brought it back around the same time. Very heavy machine emphasis and some didn't even press with barbells after a while. 3 on 1 off was common as was A and B sessions. Not exactly how one thinks today about optimal programing or even anything marginally effective yet they looked better than the 1970s guys.
In the mid 1990s through 2002ish, frequency and volume slashes from Mentzer leave many with a 3 day or 4 day split training a lift or muscle 1x per week. Free weights are back and widely accepted although most don't know how to do the exercises correctly. Bodybuilders are again bigger and better than in the 1980s.
Currently, it looks like frequency is on the rise again maybe, Free weights still in there. The idea of working hard and getting better on big lifts is making inroads although still spotty (at least Ronnie gets this right). Bodybuilders are bigger and better than in the other periods.
So what we have here is some pretty damn non-linear or consistent training habits and definitely some stuff that would hardly work on a 16 year old novice being used successfully by the pros. I guess you could say that training doesn't seem to matter all that much. The progression is linear in size but training doesn't match that pattern too well as it zig zags all over between decent to abysmal. Of course drug dosages and anciliaries match very nicely and linearly.
So think that one over for a bit. Think about why you don't read anything in M&F or in any Pro BBer interview that conveys even a reasonable understanding of training theory. In short, you don't need to know much about training to rise to the top in bodybuilding. Eating a lot, managing your bodyfat, the ability to drop fat, preserve muscle, and show up full with minimal water, ability and willingness to handle large dosages of drugs, having excellent structural genetics as well as the genetics to respond well to said drugs, discipline to work hard and consistently over long periods while maintaining focus - this is all important. I think from the decade to decade variation you kind of get why supperior knowledge of training theory isn't listed and has never played more than a small part.
Take from that what you will but there is a reason a few of us are here posting on BBing boards and it certainly isn't because of the surplus of knowledge but rather massive 30 year deficit of ignorance that leaves people with reasonable goals who are trying to better themselves out to hang in the wind why the "sport" and supplement companies are promoted with bullshit training info for filler.
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