Thread: Is this too much volume

After meeting with a personal trainer and deciding I've been on a Push/Pull (used cowpimps thread to design about 6 months ago) for too long - we've decided to see how I respond to full body split, where I train all major parts 2-3xs a week. I've also been working in the 6-8 rep range and he wants me to try working to 12 reps. So with the increase in reps is this going to be to much volume?

ALL Sets 12 reps.

Leg press X 2
Leg extensions X 1
Leg curls X 1
Dead Lifts X 1
Calf Raise X 1

Bench Press X 2
Flies X 1

Pull Ups X 2
Rows X 1
Shoulder Press X 1

Curls X 1
Arm Extentions/Skull Crushers X 1

Abs X 2

That's 17 sets by 12 reps seems like WAY too much. Any advice on where to cut if it is too much? Also some of these exercises will be interchangable at different parts of the week. ex. Leg Press may become Squats, etc.

I guess the real question is "too much volume for what?" In other words, what are your specific goals?

If your trainer is recommending sets of 12, it sounds like he wants to get you into the so-called "hypertrophy range". So I'm guessing your primary goal is to increase muscle size, as opposed to 1RM strength or long duration endurance. If that is indeed the case, and you are going to be working with weights between your 12RM and 15RM, then I don't think that sixteen sets of twelve is unreasonable, although you may find it too much for your taste.

For comparison, I've been doing eighteen sets of fifteen three times per week for the past two weeks as the first block in an HST program, and it's really no big deal. I feel like I could do even more, but I would have to break it up into two separate workouts per day, and I just don't have that kind of time.

--milo