Professor X Ramping Thread?

Training Bodybuilding
101

[quote]Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
General guideline nr. 1)

If you worry about shit like “TUT”, “optimal hypertrophy stimulation”, “is this too little?”, “the 25 rep rule”, “SOME do it, so it must be a great idea to do it as well”, “slow/clean bulking” and whatnot, stay the fuck away from standard modern bodybuilding techniques and routines.

You are likely incapable of using intuition and deductive reasoning and will fail miserably when it comes to applying simple concepts to your training and diet, but of course you’ll still blame them and not yourself for your failure.
Besides, as soon as you hear a different opinion on the matter, you’ll likely end up second-guessing yourself, resulting in you ditching your current approach completely to switch to the “new” approach… Or turning it into one huge clusterfuck.

Instead I recommend that you purchase all Poliquin books, read through them, ignore all 9000 spelling mistakes and several mis-printed diagrams and use the routines and diet(s) provided by Charles.

Every detail up to tempo on the respective phases of a rep is addressed in there. Can’t get more cutting edge than that. You’ll feel safe and secure in your knowledge that you’re using a program based on the most recent scientific findings, guaranteeing optimal results.

And you can then stop looking for that handful of pro’s who don’t ramp weights just so you can say: “hey, they exist! Not everbody does it! Hurray! (so… what now?)”, can stop posting 900 questions per day about a concept as simple as progressive warm-ups… And save a few of us from developing high blood pressure issues.

[/quote]

I was basically going to type this…only with several more obscene words and a questioning of intellect, but I guess your way isn’t that bad.

I am still in awe, however at that TUT question. There are simply too many huge fuckers around who DO ramp up in weight for someone to come to that conclusion. It is like they miss out on making more progress…by being overly obsessed with what MIGHT be optimal…and while completely missing the concept of basic training. They try to show off their attempt at a Master’s degree when they haven’t even graduated high school.

102

Most powerlifters, olympic lifters and strongmen competitors train this way. I personally cannot stand to do the same weight for two sets in a row!!!

As PX said, it is NOT ‘only one set’… just because a set is not maximal, doesn’t mean that it has no training effect. In fact, with my clients, when I want to build up volume I often do so by ramping up the weight more slowly rather than by doing more maximal sets.

103

[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
Most powerlifters, olympic lifters and strongmen competitors train this way. I personally cannot stand to do the same weight for two sets in a row!!!

As PX said, it is NOT ‘only one set’… just because a set is not maximal, doesn’t mean that it has no training effect. In fact, with my clients, when I want to build up volume I often do so by ramping up the weight more slowly rather than by doing more maximal sets.[/quote]

I just trained chest this morning. While my last set of 450 was my heaviest weight used, it is like some of them are thinking the previous two sets didn’t do anything at all. I just don’t understand that if the person thinking like this has actually been in a gym before.

Yes, my first set of 270lbs may not be the most I can lift, but does anyone really think it has no growth effect?

My next set of 360lbs wasn’t my maximum weight used either…but does anyone think 360lbs doesn’t help your chest grow?

These questions are a clear sign of people not lifting but wanting to TALK about it like that makes up for lack of experience.

104

I thought this thread would end after the first post…but it has 103

105

In the program i was provided with i’m ramping backwards :stuck_out_tongue:

So i can fully attest to lesser weights do make a difference lol and Prof. X 450lb Bench Press mother of god nice job.

106

[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
Most powerlifters, olympic lifters and strongmen competitors train this way. I personally cannot stand to do the same weight for two sets in a row!!!

As PX said, it is NOT ‘only one set’… just because a set is not maximal, doesn’t mean that it has no training effect. In fact, with my clients, when I want to build up volume I often do so by ramping up the weight more slowly rather than by doing more maximal sets.[/quote]

So why do you prescribe straight sets in nearly all of your articles…?

107

[quote]That One Guy wrote:
I thought this thread would end after the first post…but it has 103[/quote]

I never knew people didn’t ramp until I read this thread and started to pay attention to other guys in the gym. I was taught to use advanced techniques to squeeze everything you can out of every set. For example, First set could be a rest pause set. Second set would concentrate on muscle contraction. Third set would be all about bringing the weight up with power and quickness. I don’t do this every workout but it has been a great bit of advice.

108

[quote]Needmassquick wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
Most powerlifters, olympic lifters and strongmen competitors train this way. I personally cannot stand to do the same weight for two sets in a row!!!

As PX said, it is NOT ‘only one set’… just because a set is not maximal, doesn’t mean that it has no training effect. In fact, with my clients, when I want to build up volume I often do so by ramping up the weight more slowly rather than by doing more maximal sets.

So why do you prescribe straight sets in nearly all of your articles…?[/quote]

I never prescribe straight sets… people assume that I do.

I will write down something like 5 x 5 reps and people automatically assume that all sets are with the same weight. Never will I say ‘use the same weight for all sets’.

The problem is my olympic lifting background… all my life I trained ramping up the weight on every set, and all the guys I trained with did the same. So I assumed that everybody trained this way and forgot about it.

109

So Christian / CT/ Coach …

What do you think about ramping down instead of up ?

I was put on the Big Beyond Belief Program if you have heard of it, is ramping down as effective as up if your still putting more weight on the bar ?

And by the way i am attempting to learn stuff on my own and less relying on the 2 poor people helping me (:P) your “Training for Newbies” series are well explained for a complete beginner.

Many thanks !

110

[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
Needmassquick wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
Most powerlifters, olympic lifters and strongmen competitors train this way. I personally cannot stand to do the same weight for two sets in a row!!!

As PX said, it is NOT ‘only one set’… just because a set is not maximal, doesn’t mean that it has no training effect. In fact, with my clients, when I want to build up volume I often do so by ramping up the weight more slowly rather than by doing more maximal sets.

So why do you prescribe straight sets in nearly all of your articles…?

I never prescribe straight sets… people assume that I do.

I will write down something like 5 x 5 reps and people automatically assume that all sets are with the same weight. Never will I say ‘use the same weight for all sets’.

The problem is my olympic lifting background… all my life I trained ramping up the weight on every set, and all the guys I trained with did the same. So I assumed that everbody trained this way and forgot about it.[/quote]

I never knew people were using one weight for every single set until I came here. I don’t know ANYONE big who does this in any gym I’ve been in…yet every single newbie acts like the idea of ramping up in weight is foreign.

It sounds like a reading comprehension problem. People would be more familiar with the way things are done if they actually learned to lift IN THE GYM instead of thinking they can stay at home and simply absorb the info from the internet.

111

[quote]SmallToBig wrote:
So Christian / CT/ Coach …

What do you think about ramping down instead of up ?

I was put on the Big Beyond Belief Program if you have heard of it, is ramping down as effective as up if your still putting more weight on the bar ?[/quote]

This has been explained to death, but I am going to type it one more time.

The goal with ramping up is to lift a weight so heavy on your last set, that you had to prepare your body for it. If you are STARTING with your heaviest weight, not only could you increase the chance of injury, but what sense does it make to avoid warming up?

Are all of the guys asking these questions beginners? I ask because otherwise you would be lifting heavy enough to KNOW that doesn’t make much sense.

112

Holy Shit! Wasn’t this called pyramid sets a million years ago?

Crowbar

113

[quote]Professor X wrote:

This has been explained to death, but I am going to type it one more time.

The goal with ramping up is to lift a weight so heavy on your last set, that you had to prepare your body for it. If you are STARTING with your heaviest weight, not only could you increase the chance of injury, but what sense does it make to avoid warming up?

Are all of the guys asking these questions beginners? I ask because otherwise you would be lifting heavy enough to KNOW that doesn’t make much sense.[/quote]

Apologies… i have been in the gym 12 times EVER… so i think i qualify !

And thank you for taking the time to answer, though i am lifting heavy weights for me lol i nearly decapitate myself in every bench session (up to 6 sessions now) trying to get one more rep !

114

[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:

I never prescribe straight sets… people assume that I do.

I will write down something like 5 x 5 reps and people automatically assume that all sets are with the same weight. Never will I say ‘use the same weight for all sets’.

The problem is my olympic lifting background… all my life I trained ramping up the weight on every set, and all the guys I trained with did the same. So I assumed that everbody trained this way and forgot about it.[/quote]

I probably wouldn’t be able to find it at this point but I’ve asked you in your old Q&A thread about it and you told me they were written as straight sets. You also said that you personally train with ramping sets on the bigger movements when trying to get stronger on them but when focusing on size, and always with isolation exercises, you do straight sets because you feel they’re better for hypertrophy.

115

[quote]Needmassquick wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:

I never prescribe straight sets… people assume that I do.

I will write down something like 5 x 5 reps and people automatically assume that all sets are with the same weight. Never will I say ‘use the same weight for all sets’.

The problem is my olympic lifting background… all my life I trained ramping up the weight on every set, and all the guys I trained with did the same. So I assumed that everbody trained this way and forgot about it.

I probably wouldn’t be able to find it at this point but I’ve asked you in your old Q&A thread about it and you told me they were written as straight sets. You also said that you personally train with ramping sets on the bigger movements when trying to get stronger on them but when focusing on size, and always with isolation exercises, you do straight sets because you feel they’re better for hypertrophy. [/quote]

You’ve got 47 posts. Would it be that hard to find?

116

[quote]sam_sneed wrote:
Needmassquick wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:

I never prescribe straight sets… people assume that I do.

I will write down something like 5 x 5 reps and people automatically assume that all sets are with the same weight. Never will I say ‘use the same weight for all sets’.

The problem is my olympic lifting background… all my life I trained ramping up the weight on every set, and all the guys I trained with did the same. So I assumed that everbody trained this way and forgot about it.

I probably wouldn’t be able to find it at this point but I’ve asked you in your old Q&A thread about it and you told me they were written as straight sets. You also said that you personally train with ramping sets on the bigger movements when trying to get stronger on them but when focusing on size, and always with isolation exercises, you do straight sets because you feel they’re better for hypertrophy.

You’ve got 47 posts. Would it be that hard to find?
[/quote]

47 posts but clicking on the threads doesn’t take me to my post so I’d be searching through hundreds of pages of info.

It’s not like I would make that up anyway, I’m just pointing it out.

117

[quote]Needmassquick wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:

I never prescribe straight sets… people assume that I do.

I will write down something like 5 x 5 reps and people automatically assume that all sets are with the same weight. Never will I say ‘use the same weight for all sets’.

The problem is my olympic lifting background… all my life I trained ramping up the weight on every set, and all the guys I trained with did the same. So I assumed that everbody trained this way and forgot about it.

I probably wouldn’t be able to find it at this point but I’ve asked you in your old Q&A thread about it and you told me they were written as straight sets. You also said that you personally train with ramping sets on the bigger movements when trying to get stronger on them but when focusing on size, and always with isolation exercises, you do straight sets because you feel they’re better for hypertrophy. [/quote]

You have 47 posts. You can’t find a question you asked him?

Edit: Damn.

118

[quote]Needmassquick wrote:
sam_sneed wrote:
Needmassquick wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:

I never prescribe straight sets… people assume that I do.

I will write down something like 5 x 5 reps and people automatically assume that all sets are with the same weight. Never will I say ‘use the same weight for all sets’.

The problem is my olympic lifting background… all my life I trained ramping up the weight on every set, and all the guys I trained with did the same. So I assumed that everbody trained this way and forgot about it.

I probably wouldn’t be able to find it at this point but I’ve asked you in your old Q&A thread about it and you told me they were written as straight sets. You also said that you personally train with ramping sets on the bigger movements when trying to get stronger on them but when focusing on size, and always with isolation exercises, you do straight sets because you feel they’re better for hypertrophy.

You’ve got 47 posts. Would it be that hard to find?

47 posts but clicking on the threads doesn’t take me to my post so I’d be searching through hundreds of pages of info.

It’s not like I would make that up anyway, I’m just pointing it out.
[/quote]

Search for your own posts and you can jump straight to YOUR post.

If he did write this he would probably need to see in what context it was written.

119

[quote]Needmassquick wrote:
sam_sneed wrote:
Needmassquick wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:

I never prescribe straight sets… people assume that I do.

I will write down something like 5 x 5 reps and people automatically assume that all sets are with the same weight. Never will I say ‘use the same weight for all sets’.

The problem is my olympic lifting background… all my life I trained ramping up the weight on every set, and all the guys I trained with did the same. So I assumed that everbody trained this way and forgot about it.

I probably wouldn’t be able to find it at this point but I’ve asked you in your old Q&A thread about it and you told me they were written as straight sets. You also said that you personally train with ramping sets on the bigger movements when trying to get stronger on them but when focusing on size, and always with isolation exercises, you do straight sets because you feel they’re better for hypertrophy.

You’ve got 47 posts. Would it be that hard to find?

47 posts but clicking on the threads doesn’t take me to my post so I’d be searching through hundreds of pages of info.

It’s not like I would make that up anyway, I’m just pointing it out.
[/quote]

Either find the quote or quit complaining. 47 posts ain’t shit.

120

[quote]crowbar46 wrote:
Holy Shit! Wasn’t this called pyramid sets a million years ago?

Crowbar[/quote]

Exactly, but when I used that term here, several people acted like they couldn’t grasp the concept.

These people are ridiculous when it comes to trying to rewrite what has worked well for decades for no damn reason.