HighIntensity.net View Mike Mentzer Bodybuilding Topic

Hi Guys,

Hope you are all well. My progress as not be great I′m becoming more and more convinced that I will be unable to make any more progress as you know I been training once every 21 days on a routine of rotating around Bench and Squats, here′s how it went.

19 Nov
Benchpress
warm-ups
132*8
176*2
220*2
workset
242*2 plus 2forced reps
Barbell Curls
warm-ups
66*10
110*8

3 Dec
Squats
warm-ups
132*10
220*2
308*2
workset
352*6

17Dec
Benchpress
warm-ups
132*8
176*2
220*2
workset
242*4 plus 1 forced rep
Barbell Curls
warm-ups
66*10
110*8

30Dec
Squats
warm-ups
132*10
220*2
308*2
workset
352*6 lower reps full squats

14Jan
Benchpress
warm-ups
132*8
176*2
220*2
workset
242*3 plus 1 forced rep

add more rest 20 days between workouts

4Feb
Squats
warm-ups
132*10
220*2
308*2
workset
352*8

24Feb
Benchpress
warm-ups
132*8
176*2
220*2
workset
242*5 plus 1 forced rep

add more rest 27 days between workouts

24Mar
Squats
warm-ups
132*10
220*2
308*2
352*2
workset
396*2

I add pulldowns to see if any strength had been lost I had not done any pulldowns for 153 days from the 22-10-03 till 24-03-04 add I had lost no strength on this movement last time I did pulldowns they were in a workout of there own and not after squats
Pulldowns
warm-ups
75*10
135*2
195*2
workset
255*4 plus one forced rep

I′m unsure were to go at this point I don′t know if it would be impossible for me to increase in strength because I have reach my genetic potential
I don′t see my self as having great genetics but would say I′m above average
I have reached a point of being able to lift the following poundage′s without the use of any steroids

Benchpress 242*4
pulldowns 255*4
deadlifts 396 *8
squats 396*2

Would you guys have any ideas that may help me further progress or do you believe I have come to the end of the genetic road so to speak?

I was thinking of trying superslow and recording TUL to make record keeping more accurate as a full rep at this stage may be too much to ask.

I have not started the Squat only workout yet, I′m a little apprehensive about just doing squats but I′m finding it very hard to make anymore progress.

Cheers…HIT.

HIT-for what its worth, with that low of volume, i suggest more frequency. do the bench, rest 5 days, and then squat, rest 7 days, and then bench again. rest 5 days.etc. considering the 2 ex. youre doing,you can recover alot faster from the bp,than the squat,as you know. i believe your frequency is too low on the supercons. routine to net you the strength gains your after. good luck,metalman89.

Thanks for the reply metalman89!!!

Hi guys,

I′m going back to the start!!!!!

I′m going back to the ′IDEAL′ routine I will start with 5 to 7 days rest and go from there.

The athletes routine is as the name suggests for athletes that are engaged in weekly practices for another sport the consolidated routine in Mikes book HD II is for those bodybuilders how are very advanced and/or midgets of recovery in the book muscle in minutes Mike states that if someone has trouble gaining on the ideal routine they can use the athletes routine till their condition improves and then they can switch back to the ideal routine. this is also the case if you have been using the athletes routine as an advanced bodybuilder you can switch back to the ideal routine when you have more recovery time and life is less stressful I also believe now that Mike would have people stay with the ideal routine for longer than he suggests in HD II before consolidating because he states in muscle in minutes that he has people training once every 10-14 days but he dose not mention that they are using a consolidated routine.I would say that if you were showing no progress with the ideal routine with rest days at or over 14 days then it would be time to think about consolidating your workouts I think I have been a little to keen to reduce workout volume and frequency every time I have shown no progress even in just one workout when there could have been a number of reasons i.e. motivation,food,sleep etc. its time to re-run the test form the start wish me luck!

Cheers………HIT.

Hi Guys,

Just thought I would run by you a rough draft of the routine I′m thinking of trying..let me know what you think at your first glance!!

Workout 1
Benchpress
Flyes
Curls
Sit-ups.

Workout 2
Squats / Legpress (alternated periodically)
Leg extension
Leg curls
Calf raises.

Workout 3
Smith machine shoulder press
Side delt raises
Rear delt raises
Pushdowns
Sit-ups.

Workout 4
Pulldowns / Pullovers (alternated periodically)
Rows
Shrugs / Deadlifts (alternated periodically).

Any thoughts?…

Cheers….HIT.

Come on guys! you must have some thoughts on this routine what′s happed everyone seems to be a little disinterested just recently remember were all in this together at one time this site was buzzing don′t let it burn-out guys this is the best HIT/HD site on the web lets keep it that way

Cheers..HIT.