HighIntensity.net View Mike Mentzer Bodybuilding Topic

Hi,

I′ve been doing the IDEAL routine for about 5 weeks now and i′ve maxed out the weight on the palms up pull down.

I would simply switch to pullups, however i can never get on the pullups because there′s always a bunch of volumers trying to show off to each other…presumably on how good they are at overtraining…

..Anyways, would there be a major issue in me switching to preacher curls? the reason I suggest this is because it′s a pretty good isolation movement for the biceps.

I just wanted to check because I don′t want to pick an inadequate replacement.

Cheers,

P-McDodge

I′ve pretty much maxed out on pulldowns myself , thats with using straps and all the intensity techniques , right now I′m doing the consolidation routine and doing static contraction for pull downs , I′ve added a workout in between the consolidation routine , it looks like this , squat-pulldown , 7 days rest , curls-pressdowns-laterals-toe rasie , 7 days rest , deadlifts-dips , 7 days rest , curls-pressdowns-laterals-toe raise , and start over

if you′ve maxed our the pulldowns

1. what movement are you using for back?

2. here is a list of acceptable substitutes they all have their own individual shortcomings but needless to say work the biceps well

– Barbell Curls
– Machine Preacher Curls
– Cable Preacher Curls
– Nautilus Curls
– Barbell Preacher Curls
– Cable Curls (Standing)

All the best

As long as you progress week to week on any exercise your bodypart being trained will get stronger and bigger.

Hold on…. You maxed out on a back exercise and you want to replace it with a bicep exercise? Ya palms up pulldowns work the biceps in addition to the back, but the main focus is the back. I had the same problem but with Pec Deck and Leg extensions. The idea was givin to me that you can use a belt with a chain to add more weight to the stack to make it even heavier. Wrap the belt around the stack and attach some plates to the chain, that solved my problem. And I dont know what kind of equipment your gym has, but there are hammer stregnth machines that you use actual plates for the pulldowns and theres no way your gonna be maxing out on those, but im assuming you dont have those. But you dont need to be replacing a compund back exercise with a isolation bicep exercise, that just doesnt make sense.

Thanks for the replies peeps,

Gromek, Is it a back exercise? According to the MM book this is the only bicep exercise in the IDEAL routine with it being palms up, it′s like a machine based underhand pullup.

I was under the impression that with it being palms up, the primary muscle group being used is the biceps… I feel it in the biceps and it′s the biceps that give in first.

I use the regular overhand pulldown on back day.

Unfortunately it′s a "Health Club" i′m member of so there′s no hammer stength machines in there.

I think i′m going to use Barbel Curls or Barbel Preacher Curls for the biceps.