is less more? - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

Conan · 27-09-2004, 07:46 PM

hey guys,
just need some help clearing this old arguement up?
is doing less helping more than doing more in the gym?
ive been reading up about it so ive been only working each muscle group for about 35-40mins!
i work them hard and the intensity is fairly good but sometimes when i dont do a few more sets or a few more exercises i dont feel as though im doing enough!! perhaps thats all in my mind though!
there are some big guys in my gym and they seem to be there all day, and im starting to wonder if i should be too?
what do you guys think on this?

winger · 27-09-2004, 08:38 PM

If you are making strength gains then keep doing what you are doing. If you are not try doing less and see what happens. I train 17 minutes 5 days a week. I am the strongest I have ever been and no injuries. That is just me though.

**hackskii** · 27-09-2004, 09:01 PM

I think doing less would be better than doing more.
I do notice the younger I was the more time I could spend in the gym.
With that said, it is not uncommon for me to do 8 sets of chest and go home.
9-10 sets max for back and sometimes just 6 sets for biceps.

I think if you had enough intensity then even less sets would be required.

Overtraining would not be good as you can get chronic fetigue and injuries and lose some size.

CRMon1 · 27-09-2004, 09:03 PM

My routine consists of 6 sets over 2 exercises per body part. The last set of each exercise being very intense. And my recent gains are outstanding. The only advice that I feel comfortable to say is, pay close attention to your body and your progress or lack of progress. Know that in the gym you damage tissue, and through good diet and adequate rest you rebuild and overcompensate the damage. All three of these elements must be monitored in order to figure out what works best for your body.

If you are not making progress, it could be that your body cannot recover fast enough for your schedule. In that case you will need more time between your lifting sessions.
Herculean muscle damage needs Herculean recovery time.

**big** · 27-09-2004, 09:14 PM

It depends on you.

I find that I gain best with high volume (circa 20 work sets) none of which are really done to failure (although a lot are close). I have tried HIT style programs - and maybe I can't generate enough intensity - but they're not for me.

BTW, good to see another Cambridge bro on here

**hackskii** · 28-09-2004, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRMon1

My routine consists of 6 sets over 2 exercises per body part. The last set of each exercise being very intense. And my recent gains are outstanding. The only advice that I feel comfortable to say is, pay close attention to your body and your progress or lack of progress. Know that in the gym you damage tissue, and through good diet and adequate rest you rebuild and overcompensate the damage. All three of these elements must be monitored in order to figure out what works best for your body.

If you are not making progress, it could be that your body cannot recover fast enough for your schedule. In that case you will need more time between your lifting sessions.
Herculean muscle damage needs Herculean recovery time.

I do this

Quote:

Originally Posted by big

It depends on you.

I find that I gain best with high volume (circa 20 work sets) none of which are really done to failure (although a lot are close). I have tried HIT style programs - and maybe I can't generate enough intensity - but they're not for me.

BTW, good to see another Cambridge bro on here

Actually both guys are right here.
As long as you spend the time or not in the gym.

Great posts guys.

27-09-2004, 07:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Conan Newbie Trainer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: manchester Posts: 80	is less more? hey guys, just need some help clearing this old arguement up? is doing less helping more than doing more in the gym? ive been reading up about it so ive been only working each muscle group for about 35-40mins! i work them hard and the intensity is fairly good but sometimes when i dont do a few more sets or a few more exercises i dont feel as though im doing enough!! perhaps thats all in my mind though! there are some big guys in my gym and they seem to be there all day, and im starting to wonder if i should be too? what do you guys think on this? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Conan To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. *************** "EAT like a monster, TRAIN like a monster, BE a MONSTER!"**

27-09-2004, 08:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
winger UK-Muscle Male Animal Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 10,253 Blog Entries: 1	If you are making strength gains then keep doing what you are doing. If you are not try doing less and see what happens. I train 17 minutes 5 days a week. I am the strongest I have ever been and no injuries. That is just me though. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

27-09-2004, 09:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
hackskii UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 22,956	I think doing less would be better than doing more. I do notice the younger I was the more time I could spend in the gym. With that said, it is not uncommon for me to do 8 sets of chest and go home. 9-10 sets max for back and sometimes just 6 sets for biceps. I think if you had enough intensity then even less sets would be required. Overtraining would not be good as you can get chronic fetigue and injuries and lose some size. __________________ "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." - George Carlin Scott To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

27-09-2004, 09:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
CRMon1 Newbie Trainer Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago area Posts: 66	My routine consists of 6 sets over 2 exercises per body part. The last set of each exercise being very intense. And my recent gains are outstanding. The only advice that I feel comfortable to say is, pay close attention to your body and your progress or lack of progress. Know that in the gym you damage tissue, and through good diet and adequate rest you rebuild and overcompensate the damage. All three of these elements must be monitored in order to figure out what works best for your body. If you are not making progress, it could be that your body cannot recover fast enough for your schedule. In that case you will need more time between your lifting sessions. Herculean muscle damage needs Herculean recovery time. __________________ In all things, pursue Truth.

27-09-2004, 09:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
big UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Beer me Posts: 5,229	It depends on you. I find that I gain best with high volume (circa 20 work sets) none of which are really done to failure (although a lot are close). I have tried HIT style programs - and maybe I can't generate enough intensity - but they're not for me. BTW, good to see another Cambridge bro on here