I’m really interested as to whether any non-juicer that is avg size starting out gains in any unusual way using HIT. If any of you fit that criteria I think the community would be well served with Pics and stats before and after.
oh yea and…
Pics or it didn’t happen!
Can anyone show an example of the body THEY have built using solely or at the very least predominantly H.I.T?
I made some gains trying the original 3 day split Mentzer proposed in his 1st book. I will point out though, that it was after several years of training 7 days a week, with way too much volume, and totally subpar nutrition.
Years later, after my volume returned to a more traditional amount for a while, I revamped my training based moreso on Yates’ approach, in that I did less volume, with more focused intensity in each set, and again made some gains.
I will note that I never stayed with any approach for years on end, as I maintain that the body adapts to any approach. The bottom line I feel (and I think someone else mentioned this) is that the whole HIT approach works for folks whose bodies are in need of more recovery than they are currently getting. Similarly, when I took a 2 week break from training a few years back, my arms grew 1/4 of an inch -lol.
S
[quote]stevo_ wrote:
Can anyone show an example of the body THEY have built using solely or at the very least predominantly H.I.T?
[/quote]
This seems to be a big question, and I think to answer it you would probably be best suited to look at some of the photos from Ellington Darden’s site, drdarden.com. Even then, I don’t know whether you will find anything satisfactory.
To me, a better approach is to examine people who have gone as far as they can go on their current program and then switch to HIT. That seems to be a better indicator of its effectiveness. Anything works when you haven’t done anything. From my personal experience, I went a long time doing multiple sets of various exercises, upper and lower body spits, etc. for a long time and I progressed for a while. Then I hit a brick wall. Since doing HIT I have gained immense strength and size, not to mention cardiovascular endurance.
Look, I’m not going to tell people its the only way because I don’t know that to be the case. In fact, I’m sure there are many other effective programs out there. Most of them I haven’t tried and have no desire to try, just like most people don’t have a desire to try HIT.
Yet, you’re unwilling to post one picture of yourself. Funny, that.
I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to H.I.T
[quote]futurepharm wrote:
Since doing HIT I have gained immense strength and size, not to mention cardiovascular endurance.
Yet, you’re unwilling to post one picture of yourself. Funny, that.[/quote]
not once, but twice. Well technically once he said no, the second time he pretended not to see the post
HIT was a dead end for me when I tried it back in '99.
Initially I followed Mentzer’s late 90’s Heavy Duty to the letter. In 3 months I gained 15 lbs. This was new size, not re-gained from previously. Half of that gain was fat. Over time, and following Mentzer’s prescription for more time off, I became badly deconditioned, which led to shoulder and lower back injuries. When I contacted Mike about it, I never heard back.
HIT may be useful in short cycles throughout one’s career. But it certainly isn’t the be-all-end-all that Mentzer promoted.
This article makes more sense in using HIT:
http://www.T-Nation.com/free_online_article//pump_down_the_volume
[quote]Chris Austere wrote:
stevo_ wrote:
Can anyone show an example of the body THEY have built using solely or at the very least predominantly H.I.T?
This seems to be a big question, and I think to answer it you would probably be best suited to look at some of the photos from Ellington Darden’s site, drdarden.com. Even then, I don’t know whether you will find anything satisfactory. [/quote]
It would be interesting if someone posted some “before HIT” pics of Dr Darden together with the very best “after HIT” pic of him that they could find.
[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
HIT was a dead end for me when I tried it back in '99.
Initially I followed Mentzer’s late 90’s Heavy Duty to the letter. In 3 months I gained 15 lbs. This was new size, not re-gained from previously. Half of that gain was fat. Over time, and following Mentzer’s prescription for more time off, I became badly deconditioned, which led to shoulder and lower back injuries. When I contacted Mike about it, I never heard back. [/quote]
At least he did not threaten to have your kneecaps broken, as he did to me. Without my even bothering to contact him.
An unusual personality, to be sure.
I think borrowing some of the principles of this program and incorporating them into your current routine may help you, but I would not suggest switching up altogether. If you’re truly curious, try it after this contest. I don’t know anything about you OP but I have noticed many of the HIT naysayers are not walking pharmacies like Mentzer was. Training so infrequently may not be optimal for you is what I’m saying.
[quote]Bill Roberts wrote:
At least he did not threaten to have your kneecaps broken, as he did to me. Without my even bothering to contact him.
An unusual personality, to be sure.
[/quote]
Haha, what happened?
He took exception to some criticism I’d posted on Usenet of his training philosophy and methods, and sent the e-mail in question to attempt to cause me to cease and desist.
EDIT:
Oh, I’d also made mention of his practice of drinking urine as a little bonus ad hominem in the criticism of his training methods. He actually took much less objection to that, really no objection other than considering me in error, and advised me that if I had tried it, I wouldn’t be knocking it.
It was rather surreal.
funny when someone champions a certain method and sells it like they’re being paid, than refuses to give before/ after stats, much less photos.
[quote]Bill Roberts wrote:
He took exception to some criticism I’d posted on Usenet of his training philosophy and methods, and sent the e-mail in question to attempt to cause me to cease and desist.
EDIT:
Oh, I’d also made mention of his practice of drinking urine as a little bonus ad hominem in the criticism of his training methods. He actually took much less objection to that, really no objection other than considering me in error, and advised me that if I had tried it, I wouldn’t be knocking it.
It was rather surreal.[/quote]
That amphetamine addiction can take years to fully recover from mentally… Maybe piss helps.
Did you just let the correspondence die at that point? I imagine it would be fruitless arguing with an erratic guy like that.
I sent him a reply – forget what I said, but I think I may have informed him that he had just committed a felony – and never heard back from him again, which was just as well.
I agree, argument or discussion would have been fruitless.
I’m all for keeping the body confused by changing training protocols but I simply refuse to place the bulk of my aspirations on both HIT or DC. I’ve got jack diddly shit from both. Sure, I you would call it overtraining if you saw me hitting chest but thats what works time and time again. I go as far as considering DC or HIT training protocols only ment to be implemented when injured. Not a fan boys, simply not a fan.
Dorian Yates did perform less volume than his fellow competitors but he didn’t follow HIT in the Ellington Darden, Mike Mentzer, or Arthur Jones Style at all.
I have always been a huge Dorian fan since I started training and have referred to his book, A Warrior’s Story, and his film, Blood and Guts, several times. So, I actually remember how his training started and evolved. Here it goes:
One month in 1983:
TBT workout to get acclimated to weight training and learn basic exercises.
One set per muscle group for 3 straight sets per exercise
1983 - 1987:
An AB routine performed three times per week
Day A: Quads, hamstrings, calves, triceps, biceps
Day B: Chest, back, shoulders, abs
Warmups and 2 to 3 exercises per muscle group for 3 straight sets
1987 - 1991:
Each muscle group was trained once every five days
Day 1: Chest, arms, abs
Day 2: Quads, hams, calves
Day 3: off
Day 4: Back, shoulders
Day 5: Off
Repeat 5 day cycle
2 to 3 exercises per muscle group with warmups and two straight sets
1992 to 1997
Each muscle group is now trained every 6 to 7 days
Day 1: Chest, biceps, abs
Day 2: Quads, hams, calves
Day 3: Off
Day 4: Shoulders, tris, abs
Day 5: Back
Day 6: off
Repeat cycle; an extra rest day was taken if needed
2 to 5 exercises per muscle group for warmups and one all-out death set!
Clearly, this is very different than what HIT Jedis have done. Dorian was INFLUENCED by HITers but didn’t practice HIT it as prescribed by its creators and promoters. But then again, this is how most advanced, very strong men wind up training anyway. They only have an hour or so to train and as they get stronger, they split up the bodyparts more in the routine, and need more warming up for each exercise. So the actual work sets are decreased as well because 1) they can’t perform as many all-out sets anymore because of their efficiency and intensiveness and 2) there is less time for work sets.
I say look at bodybuilders that are or were similar to you in genetic makeup and structure and look at how they did things. Use what you think could work and make changes as you go.
[quote]Growing_Boy wrote:
I’m all for keeping the body confused by changing training protocols but I simply refuse to place the bulk of my aspirations on both HIT or DC. I’ve got jack diddly shit from both. Sure, I you would call it overtraining if you saw me hitting chest but thats what works time and time again. I go as far as considering DC or HIT training protocols only ment to be implemented when injured. Not a fan boys, simply not a fan. [/quote]
Where was DC mentioned in this thread?
[quote]Growing_Boy wrote:
I’m all for keeping the body confused by changing training protocols but I simply refuse to place the bulk of my aspirations on both HIT or DC. I’ve got jack diddly shit from both. Sure, I you would call it overtraining if you saw me hitting chest but thats what works time and time again. I go as far as considering DC or HIT training protocols only ment to be implemented when injured. Not a fan boys, simply not a fan. [/quote]
DC is VERY different than HIT.