HighIntensity.net View Mike Mentzer Bodybuilding Topic

Hey Folks,

I wanted to share my recent workout experience with everyone. My workout today was different, it was different and better. Why? From watching the HIT video and SEEING someone be trained by Mike 🙂

In the past on here, I have posted how I have tried and tried but one set to failure just never would work for me. Did I train to failure? Yes, but did I train to FAILURE.. no! I apparantly was at a disadvantage, even though reading Mike′s stuff and everyone′s posts, as to how hard Mike was advocating taking a set. I was at least, until seeing him train someone.

I had resolved myself to following an abbreviated approach with 3 sets of 6 for all exercises. In the past I had felt that I could not generate enough intensity with one set, just by going to failure, to stimulate much if any growth.

After seeing how Mike made Marcus train, I now have a new outlook and appreciation for what Heavy Duty failure is! I had thought if was continuing until the weight stopped moving. I mean, that is how it′s described, but to see that it′s more akin to "going till the weight stops, then back off and give it another try, MAKE IT GO, then try again, take a couple breaths try again, ok NOW it′s failure, now take the negative slow… suffer .. suffer…. there your done!" More like how a set of 20 rep squats is done!

After performing it this way, taking my laterals to 21 1/2 reps, a weight I was doing for 3 sets of 6, eek! I did more normal exercises, bench, pulldowns and laterals, and I must say, my muscles are NUKED!! Way more stimulation and inroad then the 3 sets of 6 induced! The pump is extreme, I am weak! I only hope I don′t get mugged whilst at the grocery store later!

I am going to give this training a 4th try, when the weights slow down, I′ll try intensity, then adding rest days. Let′s see for real now how this works!!!

Take care guys!

Az

yeah my friend, training to failure is something that you must know from your inside… i think people that have sometime practiced REAL martial arts, can know how much intensity can be generated and from that point measure your available intensity, that is my case indeed, i have done martial arts training so so so exhausting and so intense for 1 straight hour that i couldnt believe that thing that endurance and intensity cant be hand to hand LOL…. yes that intense was! so when i go to the gym and i do an intense set i know if it was intense for myself or not… all i have to say is the day i train at the gym that day i cant get to sleep because i feel my affected bodyparts like they are shaking , and hurtful , it is a strange sensation… and even with that i punish myself telling me that i didnt train hard enough! …

greetings

JS

Hey ivx,

Yes, that is true! I was into martial arts yeeeeaaars ago, and I guess I forgot just how far one can push themselves! Also, I did think that was only supposed to go to "just failure". When I saw Mike make Marcus keep going after he failed, but not FAILED, I was surprised…. but excited to try this. It′s been hours and my muscles are still weak and dead! Pretty cool!

Az

Is it rest pause training?

jim

Hey Jim,

You mean the way Mentzer is training Marcus on the video? He has him kinda do a rest pause, but not a real one, he also helps him with a forced rep or two every set. Since I can′t do that, I take a couple breaths and force out another one like rest pause. Really fried my muscles! 🙂

Az