Less is better!

SportinStyle · 07-30-2004, 03:45 PM

Two days ago - for the first time - I did chest by only doing 4 exercises (instead of my normal 5-6) of 3 sets each and today I am still extremely sore, a lot more sore than when I used to do 5-6, same with my biceps also.

I know a few of you do 16-20 sets total so I just wanted to post this to get you to try fewer sets and see how you feel. I think this new adjustment will be like a new life for me.

Thanks to everyone who helped me make my workout a week back!

boone · 07-30-2004, 04:20 PM

Hey, i have also had a good experience with the less is more philosophy. all last summer i tried this workout plan i found at bodybuilding.com which i dubbed the "one set wonder" i did like 15-20 excercises(whole body) each workout which was every 3rd or 4th day depending on recovery. only did one set of each and did it complete utter failure. at the end of the summer i had gained about 12-13 pounds and i enjoyed it. I know this wouldn't work for everyone especially some here who have been training for years and years and it takes more stress for their bodies to adapt and grow but i had been not lifting for a few weeks and it worked for me. i should note that i also was following my eating plan very closely and eating wholesome food and lots of it as well as taking a few supps from S.A.N. it was the best growth period i ever had. give it a try if you want

madden player · 07-30-2004, 05:09 PM

If you like the less is more philosophy you should read up on Mike Mentzer's Heavy Duty/high intensity routine....his ideas seem radical but they work for some including me.

LAM · 07-30-2004, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportinStyle

Two days ago - for the first time - I did chest by only doing 4 exercises (instead of my normal 5-6) of 3 sets each and today I am still extremely sore, a lot more sore than when I used to do 5-6, same with my biceps also.

I know a few of you do 16-20 sets total so I just wanted to post this to get you to try fewer sets and see how you feel. I think this new adjustment will be like a new life for me.

Thanks to everyone who helped me make my workout a week back!

being sore has nothing to do with the effectiveness of a training session or routine...

quality beats quantity any day of the week in this game...

SportinStyle · 07-30-2004, 05:42 PM

Well I am using it as a sign, since it takes months to see real progress.

What I am saying is, doing so many sets before, I was never sore (although this makes no sense to me), and now that I do less, but do them slowly and with better form, I feel as if I just competed in a strong man comp.

madden player · 07-30-2004, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportinStyle

...What I am saying is, doing so many sets before, I was never sore (although this makes no sense to me), and now that I do less, but do them slowly and with better form, I feel as if I just competed in a strong man comp.

It would make sense for you to be more sore after a workout now because you are probally concentrating more on the negative part of the lift because you say you lift with better form...

...I would also agree with Lam, being sore really doesn't mean you stimulated any growth...in fact being too sore may mean you over did it??

...after a couple of weeks of lifting with better form your body will adjust and I am sure you will not be so sore after your workouts.

aztecwolf · 07-30-2004, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAM

quality beats quantity any day of the week in this game...

enough said right there

aztecwolf · 07-30-2004, 07:32 PM

[quote=madden player]
...I would also agree with Lam, being sore really doesn't mean you stimulated any growth...in fact being too sore may mean you over did it??
QUOTE]
i can definately tell when i over did leg workouts i'f i am still sore 2 days later

PreMier · 07-30-2004, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aztecwolf

i can definately tell when i over did leg workouts i'f i am still sore 2 days later

After legs, sometimes I am sore week after

SportinStyle · 07-30-2004, 07:35 PM

There is NO WAY I over did it. I did 4 sets of 3 exercises on a big muscle group (chest) and only 3 on my biceps.

aztecwolf · 07-30-2004, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PreMier

After legs, sometimes I am sore week after

sometimes i'll be sore for a good 3-4 days, and sometimes only a little bit the next day, oddly enough i feel as if a get more growth when i am sore for only a day

boone · 07-30-2004, 09:11 PM

Me too, as far as feeling better if only sore for a day or so. as a sidenote though, when i do a new excercise that i haven't done for months - like heavy lunges - i am sore for sometimes 4 or 5 days after, but if i do the exact same workout when that time is up i am only sore for a day or so. hmmm

gr81 · 07-31-2004, 10:20 PM

Like my man LAM said, muscle soreness is not an accurate indicator of a "good" workout. You can perform an movement that you have previously never done with low intensity and as a result experience a high level of soreness post workout, while its possible that you are extremely intense at a familiar movement and soreness may not necessarily be a result. that being said I agree with ya bro, less can defn mean more in your training. I don't personally agree with Mike Mentzer theories in full, but I do agree that less volume can be beneficial sometimes, as long as the intensity level is raised accordingly, otherwise you are just doing less work. I also believe that high volume can be a good thing at times as well. variety is the key in the end

Terok`Nor · 08-01-2004, 07:14 AM

more might be better for me, ive yet to try it though. all I do for chest is 3 exercises 4x6 each exercise.

micflint001 · 08-01-2004, 12:58 PM

Well i dont get the same pump i do when i do more so i dont follow the lines of less is more i usually go heavey at first and work down to small and i get a awesome pump from it i dont get very sore my sorness usually lastest a day or two at the most. Just wanted to share that with all of you

**P-funk** · 08-01-2004, 01:00 PM

If you are doing less volume increase the intensity of the lift.

If you are doing high volume than lifting at a high intensity is almost impossible because after one exercise your output for the rest of the workout wont be what it could/should be. So lower the intensity when volume is high.

Terok`Nor · 08-01-2004, 06:57 PM

is volume the amount of sets or the no. of reps?

Premo55 · 08-01-2004, 08:25 PM

I think the volume prescribed in GoPro's programme is spot on for me.

Peace.

07-30-2004, 03:45 PM	#1
SportinStyle IM's Anti-Drug ;) Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 275 Photos: 8	Less is better! Two days ago - for the first time - I did chest by only doing 4 exercises (instead of my normal 5-6) of 3 sets each and today I am still extremely sore, a lot more sore than when I used to do 5-6, same with my biceps also. I know a few of you do 16-20 sets total so I just wanted to post this to get you to try fewer sets and see how you feel. I think this new adjustment will be like a new life for me. Thanks to everyone who helped me make my workout a week back! I don't train hard, eat right, and do the things I do for others. I do it for myself. ....did I mention the ladies too???

07-30-2004, 04:20 PM	#2
boone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 17	Hey, i have also had a good experience with the less is more philosophy. all last summer i tried this workout plan i found at bodybuilding.com which i dubbed the "one set wonder" i did like 15-20 excercises(whole body) each workout which was every 3rd or 4th day depending on recovery. only did one set of each and did it complete utter failure. at the end of the summer i had gained about 12-13 pounds and i enjoyed it. I know this wouldn't work for everyone especially some here who have been training for years and years and it takes more stress for their bodies to adapt and grow but i had been not lifting for a few weeks and it worked for me. i should note that i also was following my eating plan very closely and eating wholesome food and lots of it as well as taking a few supps from S.A.N. it was the best growth period i ever had. give it a try if you want Best vitamin I have ever used. It's made from real food (veggies, fruits) and not synthetic (made in a lab) like most vitamins. Check it out at www.dontforgettotakeyourvitamins.com/safty4884

07-30-2004, 05:09 PM	#3
madden player I am Canadian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 707	If you like the less is more philosophy you should read up on Mike Mentzer's Heavy Duty/high intensity routine....his ideas seem radical but they work for some including me. http://www.canadabodybuilding.com/banners/cbbsmall.gif

07-30-2004, 05:42 PM	#5
SportinStyle IM's Anti-Drug ;) Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 275 Photos: 8	Well I am using it as a sign, since it takes months to see real progress. What I am saying is, doing so many sets before, I was never sore (although this makes no sense to me), and now that I do less, but do them slowly and with better form, I feel as if I just competed in a strong man comp. I don't train hard, eat right, and do the things I do for others. I do it for myself. ....did I mention the ladies too???

07-30-2004, 07:32 PM	#8
aztecwolf Sackin' up every day Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: san diego Posts: 1,267 Photos: 3	[quote=madden player] ...I would also agree with Lam, being sore really doesn't mean you stimulated any growth...in fact being too sore may mean you over did it?? QUOTE] i can definately tell when i over did leg workouts i'f i am still sore 2 days later -Sack Up- "If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?" Pink Floyd, Another Brick in the Wall

07-30-2004, 07:35 PM	#10
SportinStyle IM's Anti-Drug ;) Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 275 Photos: 8	There is NO WAY I over did it. I did 4 sets of 3 exercises on a big muscle group (chest) and only 3 on my biceps. I don't train hard, eat right, and do the things I do for others. I do it for myself. ....did I mention the ladies too???

07-30-2004, 09:11 PM	#12
boone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 17	Me too, as far as feeling better if only sore for a day or so. as a sidenote though, when i do a new excercise that i haven't done for months - like heavy lunges - i am sore for sometimes 4 or 5 days after, but if i do the exact same workout when that time is up i am only sore for a day or so. hmmm Best vitamin I have ever used. It's made from real food (veggies, fruits) and not synthetic (made in a lab) like most vitamins. Check it out at www.dontforgettotakeyourvitamins.com/safty4884

07-31-2004, 10:20 PM	#13
gr81 You Lack Intensity!!!! Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Just below our civil disguise Posts: 6,378 Photos: 10	Like my man LAM said, muscle soreness is not an accurate indicator of a "good" workout. You can perform an movement that you have previously never done with low intensity and as a result experience a high level of soreness post workout, while its possible that you are extremely intense at a familiar movement and soreness may not necessarily be a result. that being said I agree with ya bro, less can defn mean more in your training. I don't personally agree with Mike Mentzer theories in full, but I do agree that less volume can be beneficial sometimes, as long as the intensity level is raised accordingly, otherwise you are just doing less work. I also believe that high volume can be a good thing at times as well. variety is the key in the end

08-01-2004, 07:14 AM	#14
Terok`Nor Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 97	more might be better for me, ive yet to try it though. all I do for chest is 3 exercises 4x6 each exercise.

08-01-2004, 12:58 PM	#15
micflint001 (v)ichael Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Wi(v)ington North carolina Posts: 121	Well i dont get the same pump i do when i do more so i dont follow the lines of less is more i usually go heavey at first and work down to small and i get a awesome pump from it i dont get very sore my sorness usually lastest a day or two at the most. Just wanted to share that with all of you As i walk through the valley of shadow and death i fear no evil because...I AM THE BADDEST MOTHER FUCKER IN THE VALLEY

08-01-2004, 01:00 PM	#16
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 31,699	If you are doing less volume increase the intensity of the lift. If you are doing high volume than lifting at a high intensity is almost impossible because after one exercise your output for the rest of the workout wont be what it could/should be. So lower the intensity when volume is high. E-Book: Take Charge! Everything You Need To Know To Write Your Own Training Programs Online Consulting/Program Design Reality Based Fitness Podcast Check me out on Twitter! Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter! "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book

08-01-2004, 06:57 PM	#17
Terok`Nor Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 97	is volume the amount of sets or the no. of reps?

08-01-2004, 08:25 PM	#18
Premo55 Mic Murderer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 1,059	I think the volume prescribed in GoPro's programme is spot on for me. Peace. T DOT O.

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