MIKE MENTZER: YOUR RECOVERY ABILITY DETERMINES YOUR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

To learn more about Mike Mentzer's life, legacy and teachings, please visit: www.hituni.com/about/mike-men...
In this video Mike Mentzer explains why "cookie-cutter" or "one-size-fits-all" training programs are largely doomed to failure. The reason, he says, is that each of us has our own unique tolerance for exercise. If this is not accounted for, then you are merely engaging in bodybuilding training as a social ritual rather than as a productive discipline. He covers topics such as exercise tolerance between different people, how to determine personal recovery ability, why bodybuilders are confused, overtraining and overlapping muscle exercises.

Пікірлер: 104

  • @Gonzalomentzer
    @Gonzalomentzer9 ай бұрын

    I am Argentine, and although I speak a different language, I understand Mike perfectly, so wise and so humble, an inspiration not only for training, but for life as a whole, greetings to all the people who take the time and They listen to every word of this teacher.

  • @lucasmolina1202

    @lucasmolina1202

    9 ай бұрын

    Yeah me too, im brazilian. The way he speaks is so easy for me to understeand

  • @BullyBreaker

    @BullyBreaker

    9 ай бұрын

    In the early 2000s I stayed in Argentina visiting for 3 weeks, and the surrounding cities as my father was coaching his college team internationally plying in a tournament there. Also got to see BOCA Juniors play a home game. Got to train in the facilities around the cities, visit the beach, and eat some fine foods for a good balanced diet. Literally changed my view on training and how to say properly. Much blessings to y’all 🙌🏾

  • @josemariaambiado8165

    @josemariaambiado8165

    7 ай бұрын

    Para mi tambien compa

  • @nikokoch

    @nikokoch

    4 ай бұрын

    As a fellow argentinian I also find mike inspiring, I wish i could find another mentzer follower where I train.

  • @eriktheprayer

    @eriktheprayer

    2 ай бұрын

    I am Amerikine

  • @tanman966
    @tanman9669 ай бұрын

    ... not only when you train to failure, you physically *can’t* perform many sets, you can’t train more frequently than 2/3 times per week!!

  • @HDLifter
    @HDLifter9 ай бұрын

    Exactly! Mike's #1 aim was to get everyone to learn their body, so they could become their own personal trainer.

  • @99allthetime

    @99allthetime

    9 ай бұрын

    That's why the 80's Mr Olympia was stolen from him, there was no money in his success

  • @HDLifter

    @HDLifter

    6 ай бұрын

    @@Master__D Great thanks! I'm back to my Heavy Duty roots, Torso/Legs/Delts + Arms. With 2 days off between workouts. My progress is amazing ... today I did 22 leg sled reps ... 4 new reps with 5k more! Mike, as usual, was 100% right about added time off as we advance. How are your workouts going?

  • @Chris-ro7mn
    @Chris-ro7mn9 ай бұрын

    This channel is gold. Gold i tell ya!!

  • @shaunigothictv1003
    @shaunigothictv10039 ай бұрын

    Mike was soooo intelligent!

  • @BryanMacGarry
    @BryanMacGarry7 ай бұрын

    Thank you for posting this. Mike Mentzer’s philosophies were way ahead of his time!

  • @GokuSilver337
    @GokuSilver3379 ай бұрын

    5'11 and an all natty 200lbs at 16% bf. I STARTED HIT at 180lbs after 14 years of training 2-3 years ago. Gaining 20lbs in 3 years after milking your noob gains is HUGE gains

  • @andypicken7848
    @andypicken78489 ай бұрын

    Well John, Mike certainly was a thinker. As I get older his thoughts are influencing my actions more. Quite frankley I feel better off for having been exposed to him. I think you should right his biography. All the best from Birmingham UK, Andy

  • @HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE

    @HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE

    9 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the kind words. Interesting you should mention that, as I am presently writing his biography for ECW Press here in Canada. It’s a lengthy process, requiring a lot of supplemental research, but I think it will be worthwhile when it’s complete.

  • @carlesbotifollpinya2243

    @carlesbotifollpinya2243

    9 ай бұрын

    In the biography could you also talk about Ray? I find him very smart, charismatic and interesting but i can't seem to find much about him online.

  • @francescodp1506
    @francescodp15069 ай бұрын

    Excellent point. Principles are true for everybody, but they apply differently for every person, depending on genetics, natural recovery abilities, training level and other factors. About rest: some will need more, some will require less, but everybody needs proper rest to allow muscle growth.

  • @therockiscooking4119

    @therockiscooking4119

    Ай бұрын

    Perfectly said

  • @GokuSilver337
    @GokuSilver3379 ай бұрын

    To train once every 48 hours is a mistake on HIT. Waiting until day 4 or 5 minimum works better. This violates a lot of rules previously attributed to volume training but it just works Better and ironically FASTER by adding more rest days compared to more training days

  • @99allthetime

    @99allthetime

    9 ай бұрын

    I've found that my golden zone is 72 hours in between (M-Th Sun-Wed) My cousin however (the freak) has a better recovery effect than me and can do a regime every 48hrs

  • @ezekiellyngdoh6210

    @ezekiellyngdoh6210

    9 ай бұрын

    I usually rest 7 -14 days between workouts

  • @mattlenton2012

    @mattlenton2012

    9 ай бұрын

    I'm at 5 days between sessions.

  • @dennisrkb
    @dennisrkb9 ай бұрын

    Almost finished the book, amazing read! Now to put theory into practice in the coming years..

  • @99allthetime
    @99allthetime9 ай бұрын

    Thank you for keeping this amazing archive, I've been able to have real conversations about working out with gym guys because of these videos and the Heavy Duty Method.

  • @dangerdavefreestyle

    @dangerdavefreestyle

    9 ай бұрын

    ive found it to be almost bad luck to talk about it with other guys because it is so radically different and so enormously logical that it sounds foreign. Knowing "the way" is as debateable as religion and its better for me to keep it to myself and lead by example. Mike is right and is what ive been yearning for.

  • @99allthetime

    @99allthetime

    9 ай бұрын

    @@dangerdavefreestyle It's a great Litmus test for guys at the gym who are worth talking with and those who are not. Considering I'm lifting heavier/look better than any of the guys who have disregarded this info is evidence enough for me to just ignore them. It's the same with all uncomfortable truths, they help you find decent acquaintances to discuss them with.

  • @giakhanhthehinhcoban
    @giakhanhthehinhcoban9 ай бұрын

    Fewer sets per workout -> less time the body takes to recover and grow, the shorter the interval between training sessions. So by training less, you are going to be able to do more, actually. I learned the lines above the hard way, even though I am a HIT advocate.

  • @susanwojcickisnicetwin

    @susanwojcickisnicetwin

    9 ай бұрын

    Due to the intensity it takes me 3 days to fully recover from my previous workout. Best gains ever.

  • @giakhanhthehinhcoban

    @giakhanhthehinhcoban

    9 ай бұрын

    @@susanwojcickisnicetwin lucky guy, for me 5 days is the sweet spot.

  • @user-vh2bh2qo2h

    @user-vh2bh2qo2h

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@@giakhanhthehinhcobanэто долго 5 дней?

  • @baronmeduse

    @baronmeduse

    17 күн бұрын

    You say: "Fewer sets per workout -> less time the body takes to recover and grow, the shorter the interval between training sessions." So why are you waiting 5 days between sessions if it's 'shorter'? I'd say rather that intensity, despite the fewer sets, means the body takes MORE time to recover. Hence the longer rest periods advocated by Mentzer.

  • @michaelmanzi8810
    @michaelmanzi88108 ай бұрын

    THIS MAN IS THE FITNESS G.O.A.T.

  • @dubbled7286
    @dubbled72869 ай бұрын

    I stretch from the chin up bar on my many off days. It’s the perfect augment to Mikes HD training! 💪🏆💯🥇

  • @winexprt

    @winexprt

    9 ай бұрын

    I do the same.

  • @buckshot4569

    @buckshot4569

    9 ай бұрын

    Interesting. Hope you don’t mind me asking but what is your purpose for that please ? I like the idea. 🤔

  • @dubbled7286

    @dubbled7286

    9 ай бұрын

    @@buckshot4569 try it for yourself, and you’ll almost immediately know the answer to your own question! 💪💪💪😉

  • @winexprt

    @winexprt

    9 ай бұрын

    @@buckshot4569 Uncompresses the spine for one. Feels really good. Stretches out my back muscles as well.

  • @dangerdavefreestyle

    @dangerdavefreestyle

    9 ай бұрын

    i prefer pullups over pulldowns. i can do 5 now.

  • @dennisrkb
    @dennisrkb9 ай бұрын

    Dear John, finished the book, what a great read! One question. I understand that rest-pause is a progression of 1-set-till-failire for advanced lifters who cannot reach failure with a single set anymore because of the build-up of waste products beforehand. However, I am not quite sure where Mentzer's single-static/negative (spotter helps raise the weight, trainee holds the weight as long as they can and then lowers is controlled) come into play. Are statics and intermediate step between 1-set-till-failure and rest-pause, or are they simply a superior version of 1-set-till-failure, or perhaps something else entirely? Many thanks!

  • @earlj9888
    @earlj98883 ай бұрын

    Brilliant

  • @It-assistUk
    @It-assistUk2 ай бұрын

    Mike was legendary. Why does Bill come across as disinterested? This stuff is GOLD DUST!

  • @baronmeduse

    @baronmeduse

    17 күн бұрын

    He's not disinterested, just sighing because every time he's about to ask a question Mike steamrollers him. Bill is polite enough to let him go on for the sake of the information.

  • @Doge4587
    @Doge45879 ай бұрын

    I was wondering if there was some of those articles around that Mike made for the flex magazines, if there were any to be found or cover what was in them would be interesting.

  • @TheCensere
    @TheCensere9 ай бұрын

    To the Future Champs of BB give the OG BB credit for their philosophy so it can go to the masses. Like intermittent fasting

  • @Uhtred_o
    @Uhtred_o9 ай бұрын

    Goat 🤝

  • @diocletian607
    @diocletian6079 ай бұрын

    I imagine age would be huge here with regard to recovery ability as well. A 40 year old will most likely need alot more rest to get past plateaus than a 20 year old would.

  • @The_Berzerker_

    @The_Berzerker_

    7 ай бұрын

    I'm heading there and I actually destroy all 20yr olds at ease. Especially millennial morons that look at tiktok at the gym for they're entire workout. 😂 🤮 Sure, I felt some weaknesses at times. But, that is also partial plateau effect. When I feel sluggish, I do short cuts when I lift, change my routine around and my body always responds. Then again, both sides of my family are athletes, blessed with genetics, and longevity in our family too. May be when I'm 90 or 100, then a 20yr old punk will give me a challenge... 🎤 Drop

  • @shawnm4189

    @shawnm4189

    5 ай бұрын

    It is. At 51 I do not recover like I did in my 20s and 30s.

  • @baronmeduse

    @baronmeduse

    17 күн бұрын

    @@shawnm4189 This is a point I've been thinking about a lot at 49 (today!). It's hard to gauge because when I leave it more than 2.5 days it can feel like I've not trained for a week and I get very sore. With about 2.5 hours I don't feel like I'm back from a mini lay-off. Pressing movements also seem to suffer. It's very strange.

  • @shawnm4189

    @shawnm4189

    16 күн бұрын

    @@baronmeduse When I resumed lifting after basically skipping my 40s and shedding 125+ lbs, I returned to training heavy duty style. In my 30s, I was training three times a week. Now, I would focus on once every 6-8 days because I suspected my recovery would not be what it once was. It did not take me long to move to a full upper body workout alternated with a full lower body workout every 6-8 days. I also started taking creatine at this time. After a couple months on that protocol (where I made progress on almost every work set), I realized I wanted to do more frequency but without sacrificing the high intensity methodology. So after a programmed two week layoff, I sketched out a summer protocol in two parts (June 4th-July 18th; August 1st-September 30th) broken up with a two week reprieve in the middle. I had not trained chest and back apart since the early 1990s but this time, I broke my workouts into push and pull workouts and completely recast my leg workout. I curb kicked the leg extension/leg press superset by bringing in a new isolation exercise (reverse nordics) and returning to an exercise I last dabbled with over 30 years ago: Anderson squats. I now work out every four days (increased frequency) on a push/legs/pull/legs protocol. On my new training split, each workout is three total work sets all trained to at least positive failure if not beyond. It has cut down on overlapping a lot. I find I usually look forward to each session now and the progress to be made. Although right now I am looking forward to a two week layoff which comes after Thursday's leg workout 🙂

  • @ecoraiders4781
    @ecoraiders47812 ай бұрын

    Hi John, so if I understand it correctly, he made the client do full body workout consisting of 3 exercises and then after 4 rest days the same full body workout?

  • @TheCensere
    @TheCensere9 ай бұрын

    The Mad Scientist of BB Bodybuilding... HIIT KEY IS THE REST

  • @TÜRK_ALP
    @TÜRK_ALP9 ай бұрын

    personally I workout M,T off,W,T, F off,S, S off and switch the days around also depending on how my body and mind is feeling even sometimes I might have a week off or more and achieve great results everyone is different and I push my self while training and sleep 7 hours a day, eat well.

  • @TJ-xt6pc
    @TJ-xt6pc5 ай бұрын

    I am curious if yhisbis why Ive spent many years of 3 to 5x in the gym each week and Im still average sized. Im strong, but only 16 inch arms.

  • @Scndzr6
    @Scndzr69 ай бұрын

    Hey John What do u or mike think/thought about calisthetics? Still Using Mike methods like controlled neg/pos and holding for 2 sec or so. I dont like this unnatural machine movements nowadays anymore cuz its weird how someone can bench 100kg but is struggling to do 10 push ups. I think u understand my thought behind it

  • @99allthetime

    @99allthetime

    9 ай бұрын

    Calisthenics is by and large endurance training. If you want size with say push-ups then you need extreme muscle activation/mind muscle connection, intense single set workouts (press until you wobble) and then solid recovery as Mr. Mentzer has stated

  • @Scndzr6

    @Scndzr6

    9 ай бұрын

    @@99allthetimeI want size yes. I gonna do push ups , dips , spike push ups for overall shoulder, pull and chin ups. Legs are not that easy I gonna do intervals and jogging and squats hope that is enough with good intensity do u think aswell ?

  • @99allthetime

    @99allthetime

    9 ай бұрын

    @@Scndzr6 if you want size don't do endurance (endurance running for example is a no no), when you can do 30 reps of any of those exercises that's when you add difficulty/weight to the exercise (different angles or diamond hands for pushups). Squats, lunges and calf raises are my go to for my legs (then again I do gym and weights so ,🤷🏼‍♂️)

  • @Mr.HeavyDuty
    @Mr.HeavyDuty9 ай бұрын

    Hey dear John Little, I get an extra rep every workout, then increase the weight to go back to initial rep range. I wanna know is it a good progress getting AN EXTRA REP? Or i should get 3-6 extra reps,thank you

  • @thecomedian3228

    @thecomedian3228

    9 ай бұрын

    Even 1 rep is progress just make sure to use all principles

  • @Lonewolf__666

    @Lonewolf__666

    9 ай бұрын

    What rep range are you useing?

  • @HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE

    @HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE

    9 ай бұрын

    Absolutely a one rep increase is good progress. If you go up to 11 repetitions from 10 repetitions, that’s an increase in work output by 10%, which is significant.

  • @Lonewolf__666

    @Lonewolf__666

    9 ай бұрын

    @@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE that’s how I look at it John. And if he is doing lower reps it’s a even bigger increase.

  • @kamilmusalat

    @kamilmusalat

    9 ай бұрын

    JUST make sure that one rep more is to FAILURE, if you can do more continue until Failure every time! If you can suddenly do 3 more reps than you should increase the weight next time

  • @daneboro6847
    @daneboro68479 ай бұрын

    Can anyone tell me inbetween those days of rest can i do cardio?

  • @user-lu9wj5oh2w

    @user-lu9wj5oh2w

    9 ай бұрын

    Not intense cardio but walking and cycling is good tho

  • @susanwojcickisnicetwin

    @susanwojcickisnicetwin

    9 ай бұрын

    Depends on how much muscle you want to gain.

  • @daneboro6847

    @daneboro6847

    9 ай бұрын

    @@user-lu9wj5oh2w so like twice a week of cardio would be enough, if was doing high intensity?

  • @MikeJohnMentzer

    @MikeJohnMentzer

    9 ай бұрын

    If I am not wrong , Mike recommended avoiding cardio for some time if you are serious about building muscle But I love to do both and do cardio on rest days

  • @daneboro6847

    @daneboro6847

    9 ай бұрын

    @@MikeJohnMentzer I think he said 2 days a week is ample amount of cardio if your doing HIIT weight training 🤔

  • @neokorteks2009
    @neokorteks20099 ай бұрын

    Mike Mentzer frequency

  • @Major.Tom.1973
    @Major.Tom.19739 ай бұрын

    Genes... and magnesium !!!

  • @menrbuiltnotborn6241
    @menrbuiltnotborn62418 ай бұрын

    Increase intensity , decrease sets , increase rest , decrease frequency, see what happens ! Proof is in the pudding!😮and don’t forget your diet and protein!

  • @user-xh3lb1ov3t
    @user-xh3lb1ov3t8 ай бұрын

    The holy grail this is why 97% of gym rats never look any different

  • @magnuscroify

    @magnuscroify

    7 ай бұрын

    I see this one dude at the gym every time I go, and I know he's probably there every day. He's in there before I get there and after I leave. He's got decent size but can tell he's got to be frustrated by the fact he looks no different from a year ago. I get some people like going to the gym just for the routine/endorphin rush, but I'm so tempted to go there and tell him he is massively overtraining, haha. Take a break, man! Take up guitar or something.

  • @robm6803
    @robm68039 ай бұрын

    I really like MM and HIT style training. But As logical as he sounds, there are some more reasons when someone doesn’t make progress. E.g. a medical condition like testosterone deficiency or simply bad nutrition or lack of sleep.

  • @h3yimskept826

    @h3yimskept826

    9 ай бұрын

    If u have a balance diet like he said you would the sufficient amount of testosterone needed for muscle recovery and strength gain

  • @dennisrkb

    @dennisrkb

    9 ай бұрын

    Exceptions prove the rule.

  • @susanwojcickisnicetwin

    @susanwojcickisnicetwin

    9 ай бұрын

    Intense, brief, and infrequent. If you aren't making progress you are most likely breaking one of the 3 key tenets of High Intensity Training.

  • @GG-wg1yh

    @GG-wg1yh

    9 ай бұрын

    That is true but that wasn't even a thought back then to that degree. And in the end Mike is still pretty much proving his point because if you aren't recovering, why are you training again? The notion that everyone has to do a 7-day workout split meaning they work out within the 7-day Gregorian calendar is just a complete farce. Some people's bodies might not be able to recover like that. You might not be able to do a Monday, Wednesday, Friday workout split and come Monday again. Be ready and improve. You might need to come back Tuesday or Wednesday. Have that extra day or two. The biggest principle of hit besides the intensity is the recovery. If you are not recovered, you are simply wasting your time.

  • @BigV24

    @BigV24

    9 ай бұрын

    Mentzer is assuming you are doing everything else correctly. We can't hold these against him

  • @jeremythompson1199
    @jeremythompson11999 ай бұрын

    Bill has to be the most boring interviewer ever. Sounds like he’s bored.

  • @susanwojcickisnicetwin

    @susanwojcickisnicetwin

    9 ай бұрын

    He sounds like he's trying to not interrupt his subject and be very polite.

  • @GG-wg1yh

    @GG-wg1yh

    9 ай бұрын

    Mike like to talk like a lot so this guy's probably just letting Mike talk and you know watch any of his other interviews with John. Little John doesn't talk too much at least in the recordings he post. I'm sure they had conversations on personal levels but most of the time it was just interviews or Mike being asked questions. So yeah

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