pecs Archives - Page 5 of 6

Steve: Full-Body MMX (anabolic drive)

I always wake up on Wednesdays with fear plus excitement. I know I have to hit the gym and attack a grueling 20-rep set of Feet-forward Smith-machine squats right off the bat–at 6:50 a.m. Fear. But it’s also exciting because I know that the hypoxia from that set, as well as from the lower-rep sets after (10, 8), can trigger overall muscle growth–anabolic drive. Good motivation to hit the rest of the workout hard–and grow like never before…

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Jonathan: Chest, Back, Abs (power pump)

POF MMX

The change to all-DP 3X this week has resulted in a serious power pump for all muscle groups. Even slight variation is enough for some good change to gain… [Read more…]

Steve: Full Body MMX (metabolic uptick)

I made a small change to gain today–and it created a big metabolic uptick. The change: After my high-rep set, I stuck with the same weight for the second two sets. In other words, I added weight for my second set, when stayed at that weight for my third. That gave me a few more reps on every exercise. I was surprised at how doing only 2 to 3 extra reps per exercise all the way through took a serious metabolic toll. In fact, I had to go home and take a nap–not kidding. I was wiped out. Bonus: The pump was bigger too…

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Jonathan: Chest, Back, Abs (low pump)

I botched up the workout a bit today by not remember to hit the grocery store last night. The result was a really low pump level, as I was out of my usual pre-training food, so I had a handful of almonds instead. Add that to the fact that I trained several hours after eating. Not ideal… [Read more…]

Steve: Full-Body Workout (MMX Pyramid)

Getting good at these full-body workout sessions–felt strong all the way through today. I’m even thinking about doing a drop or rest/pause set on the last set of some exercises to up the growth ante a bit. Here’s today’s workout–felt great… [Read more…]

Steve: Full Body (MMX Pyramid)

I made a few exercise changes from last Friday’s workout. That’s part of my change-to-gain plan. For example, last Friday I did DB stiff-legged deadlifts for hams; today it was Flat-back hyperextensions–and I did a static-hold in the stretch position after the last set: Change to gain with ending pain. Lol…. [Read more…]

Jonathan: Chest, Back, Abs (DP 3X)

I went with DP 3X only again today – somewhat due to scheduling, but mostly due to the fact that I wanted to try yesterday’s approach with more intensity… [Read more…]

Steve: Full Body (MMX Pyramid)

It’s tough knowing Smith-machine squats are first on the agenda with an MMX Pyramid. It’s even tougher at 6:45 in the morning–in a summer heatwave. After the first high-rep set, my shirt begins to show sweat. By the time I’m done with legs, I’m soaked–but I still have upper body. Full-body training is grueling but also invigorating. I keep reminding myself that many legendary bodybuilders, including Steve Reeves, preferred full-body training because the body grows best when be worked as a unit–or so the theory goes. [Read more…]

Jonathan: Chest, Back, Abs (superset sequence)

I was going to alternate the superset sequence every other workout, and I might still do that, but I liked this sequence so much on Friday that I duplicated it today… [Read more…]

Steve: Full Body (MMX Pyramid)

Feels like back to the future for my workouts–full-body three days a week. I don’t think I’ve done full-body workouts consistently since I was in my 20s–but this time with a POF and MMX twist. Training every muscle three times a week but with a different exercise each workout (POF–midrange, stretch or contracted). [Read more…]