Advanced Techniques

You can't get past a certain poundage on a certain exercise no
matter what? Sound familiar? When you've been lifting for two
years or so, you might start hitting a wall in your training.
It's called a Plateau. Plateaus are when the training seems to
be making no advancements but seems to get stale, tiring. Well,
the fastest gains you make will be in the first two years of
your training. After that, gains are hard fought.

Here are some techniques that all can use to spice up that
training to break that plateau. Warning: this is not for the
beginner in training, if you been lifting less than a year
and you're hittin' the wall, you're just straight out not
training right.

Technique:

1. Trisets - Using three exercises targeting the muscle group
and performing them in quick succession with little rest.

2. Giant Sets - Similar to Trisets but the set range is 4-6 sets.
It can target the same muscle group or two antagonist groups
(exp. 2 sets biceps followed by two sets triceps).

3. Continuous Tension - Moving the bar slowly over the entire
range of motion.

4. Partial Reps - After taking the muscle to failure and you can
no longer complete a full rep, take it only through half the
range of motion.

5. Negative Reps - Your spotter takes a load that's heavy enough
you could not perform one rep of the exercise. The spotter helps
you get the bar to the finish point of the exercise. Then it's
up to you. You let the bar down to the starting point of the
exercise while resisting the whole time.

6. Stripping Methods - Start heavy with low reps, strip off a
couple of plates, do more reps with the lighter bar. So on
and so on.

7. Pre-exhaustion - Hitting the smaller muscle groups before the
mass movement that targets the same area. ex.) pec deck exercise
before bench press.

8. Supersets - Two exercises done back to back with little rest.
Usually between antagonistic muscle groups.

9. Powerlifiting - Check out some of the sites on the net
about powerlifiting (bench press, Squats, Deadlifts, etc.)

10. Rest - This one of the most underrated techniques of
pushing past your limit. Have you been lifting a long time
with no layoffs? Try taking two weeks off and come back
stronger.

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The Mentzer Heavy Duty system
by Gregory T. Glading

I am a former professional wrestler who can testify that the Mentzer,
Auther Jones heavy duty system works. It also works in a way that
the traditional multi-set system doesn't. The Mentzer system does bring
greater and more rapid strength gains. Nevertheless, that is not the
biggest benefit of Mr. Mentzer's system. The biggest benefit is saving
Time. I remember seriously getting into body building in the
Mid-Seventies. Body builders such as Arnold, Frank Zane, and Franco
Colombu were the tops in my mind and if I could only look like them,
fame, fortune, and chicks would be mine. Therefore, I threw myself into
training. I followed the workouts that Arnold and Franco would endorse
in the Weider magazines. Six-days a week, double split, three-hours a
day. On some days I would not leave the gym until 2:00 am.
Relationships? No time. Once I had that Arnold or Zane body, the
chicks would flock to me.

Here was my work-out life's critical moment. I ran into an acquaintance
from the previous Spring late that September. All he said was, "Hi, I
remember meeting you last April. Good to see you again." It dawned on
me that he didn't notice any change in my body. So now I realized it.
I sacrificed an entire summer in the gym and had nothing to show for it.

At first I scoffed at the Mentzer system and the idea of one set to
failure. I surely needed a change so sent-away for his course (Why not?
I did the same for the Arnold, Franco, Frank Zane, and Robbie Robinson
previously). A wonderful thing happened. I started making gains. An
even more wonderful thing happened. I started to have a life. I soon
developed other interests such as music, sports, and literature. I met
a girlfriend (Whom I would eventually Marry) at a Church function (My
prior Sunday's were spent in the gym). I also enrolled in University.
Morever, I kept making gains. I would arrive at the gym and the others
were already well into their workout. I would leave and those same
dudes were still going at it. Yet I was the one making gains. Rather
than those gym rats exploring the Mentzer system they would scorn me.
Even after I beat them in a contest, they would tell me that I shouldn't
be allowed to compete because of, get this, "My bad attitude toward
training." I guess 45-minutes in the gym, once every three days is a
bad "Attitude," Six-days-a-week and two or more hours is a good attitude.
I soon realized that 12-weeks of preperation for one night of glory on a
stage in front of several hundred might not be as good a deal as
wrestling five-nights a week in front thousands. The time saved
with the Mentzer system allowed me to continue making gains (or at
least maintaining) while on a tight traveling schedule.

The crux of my testimony is this. Forget the science supporting which
systems - Heavy Duty vs. Multi-sets - garners the most gains. The
Mentzer Heavy Duty system works and it saves time. Lot's of time.

General Guidelines for Heavy Duty Training

1. Perform only one set to failure for each exercise.

2. Use a level of resistance that will allow for the performance of
between 8 and 12 repetitions.

3. Increase the resistance by approximately 5 percent whenever 12
repetitions can be performed in strict form.

4. Move slowly enough to maintain strict control over the movement
and to be able to reverse directly smoothly. Avoid fast, jerky
movements.

5. Use a full range of motion.

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Easy Fat Loss Tips

1. Walking

Numerous studies prove that walking will lead to fat loss. The key
to success when walking for fat loss is consistency, not intensity.
To achieve fat loss all you need to do is walk at a comfortable
pace for 30 minutes a day. Walking is a great exercise and is a great
addition to any fat loss program. Walking is not only one of the
best ways to lose fat, it will also improve your overall health
and help to reduce stress and fatigue.

2. Drinking Water

I know you have heard it a million times before but here goes again,
drink 8 glasses of water a day. As repetitive as that is, water really
has magical properties. Drinking water will help you lose fat and
then maintain your fat loss. Water is irreplaceable. It is a natural
appetite suppressant and fat burner. Water helps keeping your stomach
feeling full and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Water is also
the best treatment for fluid retention. So in other words, drink water
to lose fat.

3. Setting Goals

When starting a fat loss program, it is important to set goals.
The best way to stay motivated is to break up your final goal weight
into smaller goals. For example if you want to lose 20 lbs, set 4
5 lbs weight loss goals. By setting smaller goals, your real
objectives will seem more achievable and you will also benefit
from a real sense of accomplishment every time you reach your
smaller goal weight.

4. Be Prepared

Never leave meals up to chance. Keep your kitchen stocked with healthy
snacks. You also always want to take some food with you when you go out,
so if you get hungry you won't be tempted to cheat. Always being
prepared will help you avoid set backs.

5. Rebound to Success

Following a fat loss program isn't easy and sometimes we get off
track. The key to success is not to let a moment of weakness turn
into a week of overeating. If you stray, don't be too hard on
yourself. Instead get right back on track and rebound quickly.

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