[quote]conwict wrote:
Sentoguy wrote:
conwict wrote:
Really? About periodizing? I’m surprised you’d say that. Sure, stick with what works…but for me using strength programming between hypertrophy is a natural, and fun thing. I’ve made it completely habitual.
If you keep the cals up it isn’t like you gain zero muscle during strength-focus phases.
True, but the program that I’m currently doing allows you to do both. I’ve gained about 5 lbs since starting it (which is only about 3 weeks) and improved on all of my lifts (and not small improvements either) in terms of strength.
Sure, some people might get bored easily, and if that’s the case then by all means periodize. But myself, I have no problem doing something systematically if it is giving me the results I’m after. I just love training in general, and I honestly really like the type of training that I’m currently doing.
Sure, I get you. And I have actually been thinking recently that I could stand to do training phases longer. I just kind of automatically change after 3-5 weeks. I should probably at least experiment with 8 week phases, and perhaps some minor changes WITHIN the program to extend its effectiveness.
I won’t argue with results anyhow. What are you doing that’s working so well?
Almost definitely one of the reasons I train for shorter spurts (then deload or take time off completely) is because I feel more focused. I push myself to the point of burnout, then back off, and generally get great gains in the off time…the two-factor theory or whatever you called it, apparently.[/quote]
Oh, I still take deloading/off periods after so many weeks (not a set number, just, as you said, when I’m starting to feel burn out). That’s not what I would consider periodizing though.
As far as dual factor theory, yes, it does utilize de-loading/back off periods, but that’s not the primary concept behind it.
The difference between one factor theory and dual factor theory in a nutshell is their approach towards the overload, rest and supercompensation process.
During one factor theory you overload the muscle (as in one workout), then rest, eat, and allow your body to supercompensate (by building muscle) then and only then you repeat the process.
During dual factor theory you stress the muscle, then stress it again (before recovery and supercompensation have occurred), then stress it again, and again, and again until either a certain period of time has passed (probably the less effective method) or you are well on your way to an overtrained state (joint pains, depression, problems sleeping, etc…). Then, you take time completely off from training, eat like a starving coyote and hopefully your body responds by supercompensating (building muscle).
Now one other thing you may have noticed is that with one factor theory I used the term “overload the muscle”, while with dual factor theory I used the term “stress the muscle”. The reason why I used different terms is this.
During one factor theory every time that you hit the gym it should be your goal to lift more weight, or the same weight more times (basically to beat your last performance). This is possible because you’ve given the muscle the time and nutrients to recover and become stronger.
With dual factor theory on the other hand, you’re never giving the muscle sufficient time to recover and become stronger, so (if you’re really pushing it in the gym during the first workout) there is no way that you’re going to be able to over (increase the) load that you place on your muscles. Now, the further that you continue this process the weaker you will actually become (I believe Poliquin mentioned an average 20% decrease in performance was standard for his “super accumulation” program).
Of course, when you do finally give your body the rest and nutrients it needs it will supercompensate. But, is it really going to give you that superior (or even superior at all) gains in comparison to one factor theory? Well, that’s the million dollar question now isn’t it.
Personally I say no, it won’t. Here’s my reasoning why.
So far, one of the only concrete pieces of information that we know in terms of building muscle, is that the muscle must be exposed to greater and greater demands (loads). And, not only must it be exposed to greater demands, but those demands must be in the form of greater resistance.
What I mean by that is, running a marathon places a great deal of demand on the muscles, as well as several other systems of the body. However, you seldom (if ever) see “big” marathon runners. So, clearly even though their sport/form of exercise places great amounts of demand on their muscles, it hasn’t resulted in large muscles.
With dual factor theory, even though you might argue that by training that frequently you are placing greater and greater demands on the body, those demands are not in the form of increasingly heavy resistance. Honestly I’d say that with dual factor theory the majority of the demands are placed on the nervous system and recovery systems, not the muscles themselves.
So, this may in fact result in some muscle growth, but the majority of the supercompensation is most likely to occur to the neuromuscular and recovery systems. Certainly not a bad thing, and probably great for athletes for whom performance is number one priority. But for someone who’s really looking to build maximal muscle mass, probably not optimal.
Also, even though during the next dual factor cycle you will be using heavier weights than you had used in the previous cycle, which will therefore lead to mass gains, it will have taken you much longer, used up a heck of a lot more energy, and quite possibly pissed off everyone around you
in the process.
With one factor theory, because you are allowing for recovery and supercompensation to occur, you’re continually able to increase the load (and continue that progression for a much longer period of time), thus leading to superior gains in both strength and mass in a shorter period of time.
Or at least that’s how I see it.
As far as what I’m currently doing, right now I’m experimenting with DoggCrapp training. So far I love it. Quick, concise, allows me to know I accomplished something every single workout, and most of all effective. If you’re interested there is a thread on this forum about it, and you can also find out a lot more about it at www.intensemuscle.com
But, if you are interested, I’d suggest reading up as much as you can about it before posting questions either on the forum here, or especially on the IM forum. I will also warn you that it’s probably not for everyone. I’ve personally been through some hellacious training in the past, so DC training isn’t a problem for me. If you on the other hand can’t push yourself to the absolute limit, then you might want to find a different program.
Good training,
Sentoguy