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Mike Mentzer

JamesDoe350

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What do you guys think about Mike Mentzer ideals on lifting. Basically, how I understand it is, 1-2 warm up sets, then 1-2 100% max effort sets then move on. I've started doing these, with the push, pull, legs split. I enjoy it, get to ego lift KINDA, in and out of the gym fast. Just wondering what everyone else has to say about it. Thanks
 

Jlotz13

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What do you guys think about Mike Mentzer ideals on lifting. Basically, how I understand it is, 1-2 warm up sets, then 1-2 100% max effort sets then move on. I've started doing these, with the push, pull, legs split. I enjoy it, get to ego lift KINDA, in and out of the gym fast. Just wondering what everyone else has to say about it. Thanks
This is how I train and really enjoy it as well.
 

Jlotz13

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what progress have you seen? lifts, body imagine, etc.
My goal is hypertrophy right now and coupled with a high amount of food I’ve been seeing steady progress. The first 1-2 warmup sets get the blood into the designated muscle group so when you go into the working set you get a nice mind-muscle connection. I’ve noticed my strength has been going up as well but that isn’t a primary focus of mine so I don’t pay too much attention to that.
 

JamesDoe350

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Yates used to train in a similar fashion.
sure! i just dont want to "waste time" with the classic one muscle group a day, PPL, whatever other training styles are out there. I know everyone responds differently etc. You look at Milos and the monsters he is training and his approach is pretty much the opposite and he just wants blood in the muscle. I guess at the end of the day, Milos is doing the same thing but entering in a lot of "junk volume"
 

Aoi_611

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I think Mentzer was way ahead of his time. I think people will argue that you don’t have to train to failure or past failure, but the actual studies show that you indeed need to come pretty close to failure when we’re taking about effective reps - those being the last five or so to failure with the studies showing those are the reps that produce hypertrophy.

I also love how efficient he was - while he didn’t emphasize time under tension or anything like that, the level of execution through the eccentric and concentric of his 6-10 reps would be equal that of a regular gym bros 30 reps, and with more load = tension - this is why he could do one all out set to failure and illicit growth.
 
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EpicFlash

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So far ahead of his time that his training (well, actually Arthur Jones’ training system) still hasn’t caught on yet.
Said with a bit of tongue in cheek tone.
I believe with his genetics, he would have responded to almost any style of training. So the standard defense to how brilliant the Mentzer method was….is no one actually trains to failure…..rests enough…etc……
So ok…. Then take the top 100 bodybuilders over the last 2 decades and tell me which ones were built specifically with his method?
Listen to your body….. nourish it and rest it………. Enjoy the ride……. No one size fits all program out there.
I think Mentzer was way ahead of his time. I think people will argue that you don’t have to train to failure or past failure, but the actual studies show that you indeed need to come pretty close to failure when we’re taking about effective reps - those being the last five or so to failure with the studies showing those are the reps that produce hypertrophy.

I also love how efficient he was - while he didn’t emphasize time under tension or anything like that, the level of execution through the eccentric and concentric of his 6-10 reps would be equal that of a regular gym bros 30 reps, and with more load = tension - this is why he could do one all out set to failure and illicit grow
 

Aoi_611

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So far ahead of his time that his training (well, actually Arthur Jones’ training system) still hasn’t caught on yet.
Said with a bit of tongue in cheek tone.
I believe with his genetics, he would have responded to almost any style of training. So the standard defense to how brilliant the Mentzer method was….is no one actually trains to failure…..rests enough…etc……
So ok…. Then take the top 100 bodybuilders over the last 2 decades and tell me which ones were built specifically with his method?
Listen to your body….. nourish it and rest it………. Enjoy the ride……. No one size fits all program out there.
Agreed about Arthur Jones and Mentzers genetics - he had amazing genetics no doubt.

As far as taking the top 100 bodybuilders who were successful training and practicing his method or a variation of it? Dorian Yates of course…

Could not agree more with doing what works for you and getting to where you want to be, and most importantly doing what makes you happy, although I do admire the old school guys that we’re breaking out their protractors to develop more efficient ways to bodybuild, but that’s just me nerding out on shit 😉
 

2scoopzftw

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I personally think Mentzer was misguided.

All the studies conducted around Nautilus and their training approaches were all biased and not able to be replicated.

I think there was more volume involved then ppl claim and also good genetics and drugs to play a huge part.

From anecdotal experience, my best gains came when I trained very close to, or even up until failure, however, I don't think a single set is going to work for 99% of the population.
 

dick_starbuck

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Train hard, with intensity, progressively overload, close to or reaching failure, with 12-18 sets per body part per week and youll get results.

Any program that doesnt include these things is likely going to give sub par results. How you structure your program is up to you, upper/lower, P/P/L, bro split, they all give about the same results as long as you are doing the things listed above.
 

caret912

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Yeah I think Arthur Jones and Mentzer were full of shit. Maybe the short clips I've heard of Arthur Jones give the wrong impression, but it seems to me like he believed a lot of kooky nonsense. Cardio makes you out of shape? You should rest 10 days in between sessions? Never lift 2 days in a row? Whatever, everyone has that one crazy uncle. Unfortunately he was in contact with top-tier bodybuilders and was able to find the one that bought into his nonsense. Mentzer had insane genetics. Dorian Yates had insane genetics. They would have blown up regardless.

What actually is weird to me is that social media has turned the Jones/Mentzer theories into some kind of weird religion. Honestly I think it's fat/lazy people that want to justify barely spending any time in the gym. Being lazy really resonates with people. Sure, you can get hypertrophy from one or two really hard sets that push you to failure. But you don't need to rest for 10 days before working those muscles again. You can work out 6 days a week. You can work out 2 days in a row. Not thatt you have to, but the way they talk about rest like it's MANDATORY to rest a full day after any gym session irks me.

But maybe I've gotten the wrong impression from the youtube shorts that pop up.
 

JDLift

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It's basically just the conjugate method's Max Effort style training which works incredibly well for all purposes. The people who have the balls to actually push themselves every session see great results, while the detractors are always whining about it not working because they failed to put forth true MAXIMUM EFFORT. Motherfuckers go in and hit a single at 82% and call it RPE37 and then cry that this shit doesn't work when really THEY did not work but nobody wants to hold themselves accountable. Highly recommend all manner of overload, too; Buy yourselves some bands off EliteFTS or some chains at a hardware store and start overloading your lockouts, even if you do not want to be a strength athlete you will still see much better results from your training. Squat max 405? Okay, put a band on the bar and load 405 and now at the bottom that's 405 but as you go up it's progressively heavier till at the top your body is holding onto 450, 500, etc whatever the band tension is. Take advantage of tools to really maximize this training style and you can train at or above max every session.
 

caret912

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I do weekly undulating training with progressive loading.

Week 1 20-25 reps or more. High volume. Utilize drop sets and super sets.
Week 2 8-12 reps moderate weight adjust volume accordingly.
Week 3 3-5 reps heavy adjust volume accordingly. Utilize rest pauses, compound movements and machines.
Repeat but try to add 5lbs to each exercise or keep at the weight till your hitting that high end of the rep range easily for x amount of sets.
Monday chest& shoulders & traps sometimes
Tuesday cardio & core
Wednesday legs
Thursday back & Shoulders& traps
Friday arms.
I alternate Mon&Thu.
Shit works for me natty and not and leave the gym with nothing left. My diet and rest was on point. Took appropriate extra rest days when need hell even a whole week off.
That's all well and good but nobody wants to look at your dick every time you post dude
 
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