Back in the 1970s, Mike Mentzer’s physique at its peak was shocking. But even by today’s standards, Mentzer’s grainy thickness is jaw dropping.
While he never won the overall Mr. Olympia, he did place second to Frank Zane in his first attempt in 1979. The following year he placed fifth as Arnold made his stunning comeback in Australia.…
Mentzer prematurely retired from bodybuilding after the ’80 Olympia—mostly because he was so pissed. And that anger lasted for years after.
He died 21 years later in 2001 of a heart condition at the age of 49. But his training methods live on…
Mentzer considered himself a student of scientific hypertrophy protocols, and his brief, intense workouts quickly stimulated growth in multiple muscle-fiber types. When he was training for the ’80 Mr. Olympia, he used a modified Pre-Ex method.
For example, for chest he did a higher-rep set of Nautilus flyes (isolation), rested only briefly, then did a heavy lower-rep set of Nautilus decline presses.
Yep, one set of each exercise only—higher-rep isolation followed by lower-rep compound, both with slow, controlled repetitions.
So Mentzer’s modified Pre-Ex with a higher-rep slow-twitch set followed by a lower-rep fast-twitch one. That’s right in line with our progressive muscle-fiber loading method (outlined in the new ebook; see the bottom of this newsletter).
That type of scientific-minded detail is one reason Mentzer’s workouts were short—less than an hour. Precise hypertrophy stimulation can do amazing physique-transformation things quickly.
It’s what we strive for, and why our workouts are only 35-minutes three days a week, alternating upper-body and lower-body sessions…
Exciting stuff. For more, see our new web page HERE.
Till next time, train hard—and smart—for BIG results.
—Steve Holman and Jonathan Lawson
www.X-Rep.com
New Year, New Release…
For a limited time, you can get the brand-new Old Man, Young Muscle at 25% off (introductory price)
PLUS you’ll get the Muscle-On, Belly-Gone “Diet” ebook F-R-E-E
That’s a two-days-a-week, shred-your-physique eating plan that can recharge your anabolic environment, build more muscle, and melt body fat (see Steve’s photo on the cover).
Check it all out HERE