Friday, September 23, 2011

More Burn More Muscle - Muscle Building Sets

If you've ever had a good pump during your training session I'm sure you know how rewarding a feeling that is. Even though it's short-lived, it feels good while it lasts. Outlined in this article are a few different techniques for getting that muscle pump it only a few sets Expect to have a love-hate relationship with these techniques. You'll hate the burn, but love the pump. You may love the results too much, these techniques aren't to be used all the time because they are hard on your body and eventually slow your muscle growth.

There is a great deal of versatility making use of these strategies. These techniques can also be successfully done with a bodyweight workout routine.  Though you can use them for other things like powerlifting and transforming your boy into the Celebrity Hollywood look but I would advise against it.  Your best best is to apply it to a mass building program.

Extended sets for muscle building

Extended sets are strategies of getting more reps done in you set once you have hit muscle failure.

Listed below are a handful of alternate techniques to help you do this...

negatives
drop sets
partial reps
tri sets
rest pause

Given that these methods are different they allow you to spur new growth in the event you stall in your muscle building. Be sure to hang in, these routines are short, but intense. Your muscles will burn, but you will get a great pump. When muscle growth slows you can also use these methods to spur new growth.

Drop sets

I would have to say that this is one of the most popular techniques. All it takes is one or two sets. Quick and effective, maybe that is why this technique is one of the most popular To do a drop set start with a weight that you can do about 5 times. Do as many reps as you can, than reduce the weight. Again get as many clean reps as possible before dropping the weight.

Repeat this for a predetermined number of reps, or until you reach a cretin weight. A total of 6 drops in weight is good and there isn't much need to do more than 30 reps. I like to go until I reach a minimum weight. If I do a drop set with barbell curls I will load the bar up with 5 pound plates, taking one off until the am left with 10 pounds on the bar. Play around with how much weight you drop for each set, and different the different methods.

Rest Pause Method

I like this method because it allows you to go heavy but still get some volume in. You can think of this method as doing a bunch of mini sets.

This Is How To Do It...

For this method it is best to use an example. You want to get a good chest workout in and decide to try this exercise out on the bench press. Load the barbell with your bench eight or nine RM. Now this is where the fun begins. You’re going to get 12 reps with your nine rep max. To do this you’re going to do multiple sets of three or four reps. Start by doing three reps. Rack the weight and take a 15 second break. Unrack the weight in another three reps, rack again and rest. Repeat 2 more times for a total of 12 reps to make one set.

Partial Reps

This may be my least favorite method of extended sets. When you get tired, your range of motion will decrease. Think of squats, when it is easy and light people squat to the floor, then when they get tired and things get heavy they start to quarter squat. The board press works well with this method. When you hit your reps add a board, this will make the lift easier each time you add a board. Start off doing regular bench, hit your reps, then add a board, repeat adding a board each time. Work your way up to 3 boards. One set of this exercise is enough to burn anyone's triceps.

Negatives

You going to need a training partner for this technique. Start out as you would in a regular set. But once you’ve reached fatigue have your partner assist you lift the weight, the lower it by yourself slow and controlled. Keep going until you don't have full control of the weight as you lower it. You’re able to get an extra reps this way because you’re stronger with eccentric motions.

Tri sets

To do tri-sets you will be doing 3 different exercises for the same muscle. Kind of like a superset on steroids. The key here is to select exercise that allow you to use the same weight for the entire set. The weight is to remain the same but the exercises will change. Start with the most difficult exercise, when you fatigue move to the next exercise in difficulty, then when you burn out there finish with the easiest exercise of the 3. If you want to get a killer leg pump and have trouble walking, give this a try next leg workout. I have a great example for you, though it is not the ideal tri-set as laid out, but it is close enough and you get the idea.

Start with front squats and push yourself to the limit. Follow that up with back squats, don't change the weight, go to the limit then end with sissy squats. As you can see this is not exactly as I have laid out the tri set. Because it is too difficult to do proper sissy squats holding a bar you have to drop the weight. Typically you would keep the same weight throughout.

Take a look at this true tri set using biceps.

Your three exercises.

reverse curls
regular curls, palms up
hammer curls

Because each one of these exercises gets easier you will not need to change weight.

What is to be gained by using extended sets in your workout

Extended sets are great for muscle building because the include:

  • recruit more muscle fibers
  • time under tension

All good things do have a negative side. This type of training is hard on your body and you can easily over do it. It is not necessary to do these all the time, when you do, do them limit your sets. One maybe two sets, once or twice a month is all any muscle group needs. If the volume is low, like with the rest pause, you can get a way with 3 sets, but that's the limit. Be sure you get plenty of nutrition and lots of rest.

Consuming wholesome foods is generally boring however there are excellent wholesome weight lifting meal selections. You need to follow a rough exercise routine of this nature with no shortage of carbs as well as healthy proteins. And get a healthy bodybuilding meal.

We've included a handful of different variants of extended sets. You'll want to include a few of these into your mass building routine for some variance and / or times when you need a nice pump.

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Monday, December 13, 2010

Bodybuilding Workout Routines for a Big Chest

Muscle building chest workout routine

Building A Big Chest

Chest and arms have to be the most trained body parts in the gym.  Every Monday you can be sure that every bench press in the place will will be taken.

Since chest workouts are so popular I thought a would post a few good bodybuilding chest workout routines.  There are a few different chest workouts to choose from depending on your bodybuilding experience.  There is a workout routine for every level all the way from the beginner to the workout routine for a bodybuilder that competes. Be sure to select the routine that is right for you.

To get the most out these workouts be sure that you are eating to build muscle. If you need some some ideas of how to eat to gain muscle and not fat enter you name and email below and I will send you FREE bodybuilding recipes and meal tips.



I have to stress how important nutrition is...
these routines will add size to your chest, but only if you follow a proper bodybuilding diet. Training alone is just part of the equation.


Beginners' Bodybuilding Chest Workout

Since you are new to bodybuilding and weight training the volume and frequency is higher.  Your main goal at this stage is to get stronger and bigger so there isn't a need for  the smaller assistance chest exercises.

This is just the chest portion of the workout, but these exercises should be part of a full body workout. Superset with a back exercise.  No rest is needed, move from one exercise to the next.

Monday
Incline Bench Press
Dumbbell Bench Press

Wednesday
Dumbbell Incline Bench Press
Box Push Ups

Friday

Flat Bench Press
Parallel Bar Dips


Be sure to get a couple of warm up sets in and follow up with 2 working sets per exercise. Keep the reps in the 10-12 range and ensure you have good form.

Be sure to use controlled movements, full range of motion, pause at the bottom then explode back up to the starting position.



Intermediate Bodybuilding Chest Workout

  With the intermediate chest exercises be sure to move the weight as fast as possible on the consentric portion of the exercise.  Lowering the weight should be controlled with a pause at the bottom.  This fits well into a 4 day split, upper and lower.  Superset all exercises, resting 30 seconds between them.

2 warm up sets followed by 1 work set of 12 followed by 1 work set of 10


Monday
High Incline Dumbbell Press
Flat Dumbbell Press
Incline Flyes

Thursday
Incline Bench Press
Parallel Bar Dips
Flat Dumbbell Flyes


Advanced Bodybuilding Chest Workout

When you reach this stage straight sets are not your best choice to gain size and strength.  Instead periodization works best.

Monday
Incline Barbell Press 5 sets x 10, 8, 6, 6, 4 (90 sec rest)
Flat Dumbbell Bench Press 5 sets x 10, 8, 6, 6, 4 (90 sec rest)

Thursday
Flat Bench Press 5 sets x 10, 8, 6, 6, 4 (90 sec rest)

Incline Dumbbell Press 5 sets x 10, 8, 6, 6, 4 (90 sec rest)


Competitive Bodybuilding Chest Training Routine

By now you know what your recovery capabilities are, you can periodize your workouts based on how your body feels. These repetition ranges are meant to give an idea of what a competitive bodybuilding chest routine looks like.

Chest Workout
Incline Dumbbell Press 4 sets x 6-8 reps
Flat Bench Press 4 sets x 8-10 reps
Chest Dips 3 sets x 10-12 reps
Incline Flyes 3 sets x 12-15 reps
High Pulley Cable Flyes 3 sets x 15-20 reps
Dumbbell Pullovers 3 sets x 15-20 reps

Rest 60-90 seconds in between sets.

Use slow and deliberate movements, pause at the contracted position for a couple of seconds and then quickly come back to the starting position.

Feel free to play with the chest workout routines laid out here.  These routines are meant to be a guide, a place to start or give your chest workout a fresh start.