The Mentzer way ???

[Danny Love]

Anyone here tried to bulk up (while on juice)with the Mike Mentzer's program ? I read an article about him and it made a lot of sense but I was wondering if anyone had any good results with it.

[Billy_Bathgate]

Refresh me...what is the Mentzer way?

[archive_the truth]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="**-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Billy_Bathgate:
Refresh me...what is the Mentzer way?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I assume he means Heavy Duty training, coupled with a moderate protein diet.

If that is what was meant, it's worked for me in the past.

[backlash79]

do you mean using HIT?

[archive_Mickey]

I am sure that is what he is talking about. I do a form of it. Well I do slightly more than Mentzer/Arthur Jones advocate. The idea is just to work out as quickly and intensely as possible. I truely believe that anyone who is working out 4+ times a week is doing too much. There have been studies that prove that a muscle might take up to 3 weeks to fully heal.
I do an individual body part workout around every 9-11 days depending how I feel. I do Back and Bis, Chest and tris, Shoulders and Legs. So three workouts do my whole body. I never do more than 3 exercises per bodypart, with arms usually being 1 exercise.
Ever since I started taking more time off, working out harder and heavier, and working out shorter, my strength and size have both increased significantly. I now hold all my size when I come off gear and lose little strength. I believe in the Mentzer way!
Experiment with it and see what works for you. I tried to do the one set workouts and its just not enough for me. So I adjusted it to what I thought was good for me and it works.

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron

[bigboy]

Mickey, what is your height, weight and bodyfat?

[rippedchef]

he was the big advocate of finding the optimal equation of training+recovery+diet=gains-its individuality and the huge problem of overtraining and the whole "more is better"mindset w/respect to protein,training and gear.However his program, like any other,taken to extremes is ludicrous-his Flex interview back in 86 bears witness to the fact that while extremely intelligent,he never got over losing to Arnold in 82 and his resentment and bitterness towards Weider and BBing in general made his interview sound like the ramblings of a madman-kinda made me feel sorry for him-great body-lots of great ideas-but when he tells a 55yr old man 1 set of deads to failure is it on back day-I'm not so sure of "the program"

[archive_Mickey]

I am 6'2 230lbs around 11% right now.

Guys dont forget that one of the greatest bodybuilders ever, Dorian Yates, also does a version of Mentzers workouts. I dont believe in the whole one set, one exercise per body part. Thats what I said before, using his basic principles, you then find how much and how often works for you.

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron

[global]

Isn't this the same as what is called the Hardgainer method?

I think there is something in it, but you also have to consider the bodypart you are working as some are easier to fatigue than others. Often, three intense sets of benchpresses is enough for my chest as evidenced by the pain the next day, however I cant get the same pain in back or shoulders with just one exercise.


global@elitefitness.com

[Danny Love]

If you wouldn't mind Mickey, to elaborate on your split (rest between sets, reps,etc). H

[archive_Mickey]

Well I do more of what Dorian did. I do one or two "warmup" sets followed by 1 or two actual work sets. Basically I do one set fairly light and then two sets heavy, forcing out as many reps as possible. I will do up to 15 reps on my warmups but usually never over 10 reps on my work sets. I try to get to 10 reps but sometimes can only do 6-8. I dont have an actual time period in between sets but I usually just walk to get a drink of water and then hit the next set.
I can do back and bis or chest and tris in around 30-40 minutes. Those are my longest days. I do very little for shoulders, usually just a press, a fly and shrugs. I also do very little for arms. Usually just one exercise.
Every person is different though. I have always had decent arms and shoulders, so not doing much for them does not really hinder their growth. I do know that doing this workout has helped my chest and back growth tremendously.
I read somewhere that on back days Dorian would sometimes just go in the gym, warmup doing light barbell rows. He would then slap on 5 plates, do that to failure, 4 plates to failure, 3 plates to failure and 2 plates to failure. Then leave and that was it.
There are some articles about it on www.mikementzer.com There is another website devoted totally to HIT training but I forget what it is at the moment. I will get it to you later.

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron

[archive_Mickey]

For more on HIT Training. Go to www.cyberpump.com

They are more into strength than bodybuilding but most of the principles still apply. Just adjust it to your specific needs. The key to growth is rest, nutrition, and intensity.

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron

[rippedchef]

Yes-Dorian is his "claim to fame"-and yes we all use many of the same ideas and principles put forth in the HIT program-but doesn't it all still come down to trial and error?-There is no right way or perfect split is there??-Mentzer seemed to imply HIT is the new answer to all our problems-I'm not convinced any program works for everybody.If you can, get a tape of his Flex interview-listen to him and draw your own conclusions.P.S.-Dorian Yates=Genetic Freak he could grow just walking past a gym w/a donut in his hand!!!Put him on any program-he still is Mr O

[Danny Love]

thanks for your advice guys.

[jimm]

what kind of shape is mentzer in right now?
arnold was old school high volume, but his intensity was high. yates was low volume, but intensity was high. maybe the thing is intensity, and the volume is adjustable. for me, when i do a set it's always to failure, or as close as i can get without a spotter. my volume is moderate in a given workout--but rest days are variable. nevertheless i grow with 4-5 days a week, moderate volume, good effort/intensity. i'm a mixed -fiber type, not tons of white fiber . if you have a lot of white fibers in your chest, you 'll likely train heavy--but the volume is sort of a variable, perhaps...just relates to rest time between workouts. i agree with an earlier post-it's specific to the individual and it's trial and error.powerlifting did little for my size, except my legs. i need more reps, to failure , with moderate weights. heavy weights don't seem to make me grow, etc..

[rippedchef]

uhh-the Mentzer brothers aren't in very good shape anymore-they're dead