3 ms·
A better way to look at it is that 1 hard set gets one most of the benefit that is possible from the exercise. An athlete would definitely want to do 2 or 3 se
by skittles 15y ago
A better way to look at it is that 1 hard set gets one most of the benefit that is possible from the exercise. An athlete would definitely want to do 2 or 3 sets (or more depending on level of competition, etc.), but an average person just trying to get into shape or maintain shape doesn't. I went from pencil-neck to bench pressing 215 lbs using the one-hard-set method.
- Florin_Andrei 15y agoOh, it will work, no doubt, just at less than the ideal speed. Such a minimalist program was espoused by Mike Mentzer, one of the great bodybuilders of past decades. But his views are not considered mainstream. I agree that a full 24 ... 25 reps (3x8, 8x3, 5x5, etc.) program is not required for maintenance only. To get into shape... well, I guess it depends on the temperament. I'm inclined to achieve the goal as quickly as possible, then focus on something else. Hence my previous reply.
- jacques_chester 15y agoWithout wanting to sound rude, you were a beginner. Training programs for beginners are notoriously effective. I could bring a beginner's squat max up by making them walk up hills. One of the major problems with the scientific literature on weight training is that it tends to take untrained males of college-attending age and then do dippy stuff to them. And then, surprise! The weird training protocol works! The happy researcher concludes that their pet theory is proved. But as I say, beginners can be trained with almost anything and improved. So one might as well get them used to what they will need to do as an intermediate or advanced trainee and teach them to squat, deadlift, bench, overhead press and (in my case) the snatch and C&J.