Length of trainning

[NewHollandWood]

I am currently training about an hour and half to hour 45min at least six days a week. No cardio at this point.

How long does every one else train?

[shredalean]

Originally Posted by NewHollandWood

I am currently training about an hour and half to hour 45min at least six days a week. No cardio at this point.

How long does every one else train?

45 min to hour 15 min max. Spend less time resting between sets, stay in the zone, fuck cooling down! Work out hard and go home or do some cardio.

[Freddy]

As long as you've picked out a good solid routine written by a good coach, then the amount of time you spend in the gym is irrelevent. Test levels decline after 45 minutes of activity REGARDLESS if you stop working out or not, so you might as well stay in the gym.

You can do HST in 45 minutes 3x a week. To do the 5x5 you need at least an hour and and 15 minutes, probably an hour and a half. Both programs work because its the manipulation of the other training variables that are important. Time is a really insignificant variable compared to the others. Long term loading and unloading is much more important.

If you're doing HST, the 5x5, Animal Mass's program, any of JS's GREAT programs (these are the best), Grizz's program, Hogg's, Ramstein's, the Super Squats program, etc than you have no reason to worry about how long you're in the gym.

[Ramstein II]

Time in the gym is not as important as time under load. time under load should be long enough to have a training effect and really not any longer. You want your body to register the stimulus and then stop so you can train more frequently. You should use the minimum number of exercises to address each joint articulation. Compound lifts allow heavier loads and fewer exercises. Progressive load or progressive fast twitch endurance (more reps with same weight) are the measures of success of a program. If you train 10 minutes at a time and the poundage is going up, then it's working. When I was a newbie I used to train 1-2 hours 5-6 days a week doing every exercise I could think of. Now I have simplified the routine and reduced volume (which I continue to do) with great success. Depending on my workout split (which changes from time to time) I spend anywhere from 20-45 minutes lifting 3-5 days a week (depending on split). I walk 30 minutes a day 7 days a week on top of that.

[Primo Max]

Although an hour and a half or more 6 times per week seems like way too much, I agree with the above two posts. Don't waste time talking to people, etc..., but just move at a good pace and take however much time it takes to complete your workout. When I'm lifting heavy, my workouts usually take well over an hour and a half. For example, just doing heavy 5x5 for squats takes me 45 minutes or more including warming up.

[spound]

Originally Posted by Primo Max

Although an hour and a half or more 6 times per week seems like way too much, I agree with the above two posts. Don't waste time talking to people, etc..., but just move at a good pace and take however much time it takes to complete your workout. When I'm lifting heavy, my workouts usually take well over an hour and a half. For example, just doing heavy 5x5 for squats takes me 45 minutes or more including warming up.

I dunno if this is correct or not, but i have read in a couple of magazines that your cortisol levels will increase if you work out longer than 1 hr 15min. Not sure though. I guess it might depend on intensity too.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by spound

I dunno if this is correct or not, but i have read in a couple of magazines that your cortisol levels will increase if you work out longer than 1 hr 15min. Not sure though. I guess it might depend on intensity too.

As I said above, hormone levels do change after roughly 45 minutes...but this occures REGARDLESS if you continue training or not. So even if you pack up and head home, the effect is still the same. You might as well keep training.

The Metal Militia guys train their bench 2x a week. The first session is 3 hours, and the second session later in the week is 2 hours. Their track record speaks for itself...they really are the best benchers in the World right now.

The quality of the program is far more important than the length of time.

[Grizzly]

Nuh-uh! Mike Mentzer says....LMFAO

[Phreezer]

Do you guys know anyone that HIT actually worked for?? I'm talking top amateurs..or even guys that you know that just look good..

I've never met one guy who did HIT training that looked like the real deal.

[Grizzly]

Mike Mentzer, that guy on the video and...and I doubt it worked for either of those two either.

I'll tell you what, Phreezer. That's one of the reasons that I stopped frequenting EF years ago. I could not stand those HIT guys they had running around over there.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Phreezer

Do you guys know anyone that HIT actually worked for?? I'm talking top amateurs..or even guys that you know that just look good..

I've never met one guy who did HIT training that looked like the real deal.

I dunno, I think it would work for one training cycle. But it would have to be followed by something with more volume.

The funny thing is that the program Mentzer himself actually did in his competitive years was closer to a combination of the Super Squats program and German Volume Training...the program he later marketed to the public as "HIT" was very different.

But if it works for someone I'm glad they found success with something. For weight gain I still think the 5x5 can't be beat. Unfortunately, its difficult and boring, so wussies won't do it.

[Phreezer]

Originally Posted by Freddy

I dunno, I think it would work for one training cycle. But it would have to be followed by something with more volume.

The funny thing is that the program Mentzer himself actually did in his competitive years was closer to a combination of the Super Squats program and German Volume Training...the program he later marketed to the public as "HIT" was very different.

But if it works for someone I'm glad they found success with something. For weight gain I still think the 5x5 can't be beat. Unfortunately, its difficult and boring, so wussies won't do it.

Lol...Those same guys still pop up on ef from time to time preaching their dogma.. I only visit the PL forum over there....but hey.. if you're not growing..just take another week off.. pretty soon you're only doing one workout a month...lol


It's interesting that you've brought up German Volume training Freddy.. I've looked at this routine a couple of times.. and posted the workout at another site that I mod at because the members wanted it..but it doesn't look like something that one could do for very long..

What are your thoughts on GVT?

[Ramstein II]

I try to find some usefulness from other perspectives, such as "HIT." Actually HIT is not any uniform theory it is a collection of people you subscribe to "low volume" training. Some advocate machines, some free weights, some pre-exhaust workouts etc... Also, some advocate infrequent workouts, such as once every 9 days, while some advocate training the full body 3x a week. Some advocate multiple sets even, although low.

What I have gained that I believe is useful from HIT theory is the check and balance it has provided as the opposite of high volume training. It has certainly inspired me to look past bodybuilding dogma and the guys who expect you to take their "word for it." HIT balances out the rediculous high volume touted by popular mags. HIT has also inspired me to look back at the very basic training principle of progressive loading. Progressive loading is the center piece of any successful routine, and HIT recognizes and utilizes this. The same cannot be said for every high volume perspective. Many high volume trainers forget to even monitor whether they are going up in weight, more concerned with getting theire magical 15, 20 or whatever amount of sets in for their target bodypart.

I don't agree with failure training. I do agree with finding the minimum effective dose of training. I don't know if failure training is what is needed to constitute "HIT." I'm not bashing volume training either. I think it is a path that can be taken. Volume loading is one way of overloading the system with work. However, just as HIT can get absurd, so can reliance on volume for progress. The right amount is the..right amount. know what i mean?

[finafreak]

Originally Posted by Ramstein II

I try to find some usefulness from other perspectives, such as "HIT." Actually HIT is not any uniform theory it is a collection of people you subscribe to "low volume" training. Some advocate machines, some free weights, some pre-exhaust workouts etc... Also, some advocate infrequent workouts, such as once every 9 days, while some advocate training the full body 3x a week. Some advocate multiple sets even, although low.

What I have gained that I believe is useful from HIT theory is the check and balance it has provided as the opposite of high volume training. It has certainly inspired me to look past bodybuilding dogma and the guys who expect you to take their "word for it." HIT balances out the rediculous high volume touted by popular mags. HIT has also inspired me to look back at the very basic training principle of progressive loading. Progressive loading is the center piece of any successful routine, and HIT recognizes and utilizes this. The same cannot be said for every high volume perspective. Many high volume trainers forget to even monitor whether they are going up in weight, more concerned with getting theire magical 15, 20 or whatever amount of sets in for their target bodypart.

I don't agree with failure training. I do agree with finding the minimum effective dose of training. I don't know if failure training is what is needed to constitute "HIT." I'm not bashing volume training either. I think it is a path that can be taken. Volume loading is one way of overloading the system with work. However, just as HIT can get absurd, so can reliance on volume for progress. The right amount is the..right amount. know what i mean?

About 45 minutes.

fina

[Bob Smith]

Originally Posted by Phreezer

Do you guys know anyone that HIT actually worked for?? I'm talking top amateurs..or even guys that you know that just look good..

I've never met one guy who did HIT training that looked like the real deal.

Good question, Phreezer. From my experience, I havent met a single person that has used HIT for a long period of time and been very successful with it. It appears that most people gain strength from it, but dont really grow much bigger while using it.

As for GVT, Ive used it and I think it works great while dieting as it tons a metric assload of calories in order to finish the workouts. I dont think its all that effective for hypertrophy, but maybe it could be if you ate constantly throughout the day and could pack in enough calories. Bryan Haycock has a little article about GVT over on the HST website, looking at it from a scientific perspective. http://www.hypertrophy-specific.com/...dex.html#art_1