From: 6500ursa@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (Disco Junkie)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: split routine question-TOO MANY SETS!
Date: 16 Oct 92 21:17:49 GMT
Article-I.D.: ucsbcsl.6086



Hello Brian,

Nice to hear from you.

[For those of you who are just reading this debate,
I, Disco Junkie, am claiming that most natural trainees are doing way too
many sets.  I'm not advocating a Mentzer-esque Heavy Duty go all out in one
set type of approach.  Just plain going back to the basics, and working hard
on each set.   Feel free to join in, critique, or whatsoever.]

>>[my abbreviated, short workout deleted.  No more than 5 sets per bodypart.
>> Sometimes less.]

>     If you use this workout, then I agree that you should be doing small
>sets. However, I dislike your workout.  I don't think one can adequately
>work more than one bodypart a day.  I usually do 12-16 sets of 6-8 reps
>per bodypart.  After I have worked a bodypart thoroughly, there is
>nothing left.

I used to train like you for awhile, too (one bodypart a day, 12-16
sets per bodypart).  It took only 30-45 minutes per workout.  I thought
I found my perfect workout.  Still, after an initial small gain, I plateaued
and found myself with mental burnout.   Don't you find, though, that you can't 
go truly all out on a set, because you know deep in the back of your head,
that you got 10 or so sets left, and so you'd better save some energy
for it?  I believe that it's better to do 1 all out set than 10 lesser
sets.  I found myself getting all kinds of joint problems from doing
too many sets.

>     I spend 5 days in the gym whereas you spend 3.  We both end up
>working each bodypart once a week, but the workout that I do is the one
>that has gotten me results.  It just seems like your squeezing to much
>into your workouts.  My workouts don't even last an hour, but it will
>take 3-5 days for the bodypart worked to recover.

If you get results, that's all that counts!  For me, though, I used to
train 5 days a week too, but plateaued at 155 lbs for awhile.  I then
realized that you grow only between your workouts, not during them,
and so I increased my rest days.  It's hard to rest your chest when
you're working other bodyparts intensely, even if you split your routines,
and especially if one works 12-15 sets! I made my best incline press gains,
believe it or not, when I trained only three times per week, and did
my chest only once every 7-8 days.  I even gained training three times
per 10 days!  (Although I wouldn't reccommend it for everyone.-I did
this when I was truly busy.)  

I think we both agree, though that it's better to listen to one's body 
and train only when one has recuperated rather than stick to a rigid schedule.
We see too much .net dogmatism (including hypocritical me  ;-)  ) where
people say that one should work 3 days between muscle groups, and others
say 8, etc. etc.  It's best to work out only when one feels that the
muscle has recuperated.

>     I agree that many don't use forced reps properly, but if done
>correctly they work beautifully.

Agreed.  If used correctly and in moderation.  Unfortunately, most trainees 
don't do this.  I see too many spotters using too much forced reps, and
can almost hear the shoulders grind on too many forced benches.  ouch!

Once again thanks for your comments.

Disco Junkie
Newsgroups: misc.fitness