This list digest contains the following message subjects:
>Here is part of what he said...
> >Poliquin quote:
> >The only people I've seen who've made significant gains training to absolute failure had the following in common:
<snip comments about training to absolute failure >
> >I have a hard to time believing he said this with a serious look on his face. ESPECIALLY, if any of you have seen what is under the readers comment section on Cyberpump! On the same Muscle Media site, you have one of the WINNERS of the EAS contest saying he trained using HIT. Yet, Brad Wadlow had to pass a drug test for the contest!
I don't think we can safely equate HIT with absolute failure. What Poliquin appears to be talking about is training to positive, isometric AND negative failure. That's his definition of absolute failure. Most HIT trainees (at least I think) train to positive and *maybe* to isometric failure (i.e. you push into the weight for 10" after positive failure and then do a slow negative). This is much different than having someone THEN spot you through several forced negative to fully exhaust negative strength (where you can't even lower the bar safely under control).
I do agree that Poliquin has a bit of a problem with HIT though.
I have heard many people on the Hit Digest talk about this "Zone Diet". Can someone please briefly fill me in on what it consists of or where I can find info. on it?? thanks, chase torres, New Orleans La.
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>Hi guys
> >I have got some questions according to Heavy Duty.
> >1. Mentzer recommends not to switch exercises mentioned in his book. I can't do dips (no equipment). Is there any good substitution for dips ?
> >2. What is pullover (as a warm-up for back), how one should perform it, I mean pullover mentioned in Mentzer Heavy Duty II System ? I can't do it on Nautilus because I'm working at home.
Dips are very similar to bench press or decline bench press. Chest and tris. I do weighted dips but sometimes I switch it up with bench press and find that the total weight/rep range that I need for failure is about the same. IMO the big advantage to dips is that you spot yourself.
Pullovers (a nautilus machine) are essentially chin ups that take the bicep out of the picture because the force is applied under your tricep. From a seated position pretend you are doing a chin up and then imagine that the force is applied under your elbow. I'm not familiar enough with Mentzer to know why he likes one and not the other. Its sounds like maybe its a pre-exhaust technique. Or maybe your bis are being worked somewhere else? I have seen people approximate pullovers by using a single dumbell (with both arms at the same time) while lying on their back on a flat bench. The range of motion isn't anywhere near the same and the dumbell is travelling in an arc so the resistance isn't very good. I don't like it at all. Maybe its suitable as a pre-exhaust/warmup though.
> > >
> > > One other question. Are there any HITers out there that are using "The Zone" diet advocated by Dr Barry Sears with success for gaining mass? I was thinking of following this diet to cut back bodyfat levels some (and less painfully than the ketogenic diets!), but I'm wondering if's perhaps suboptimal for muscle mass gain? Ideas anyone? A Zone or ISO-type diet can do very well for mass gains. I believe nitrogen retention should be higher (than a higher-carb diet), but so too may fat accumulation (as excess fat is easily stored).
I'm not to keen on the use of the "Zone" as a diet optimal for mass and strength gains. Dr. Sears's caloric recommendations are way too low for gaining muscle size. I remember trying the "Zone" 2 years ago. Through his recommendations, I was eating only 2200-2400 kcal/ day. Needless to say I lost weight.
More information on Hammer sale: Life Fitness is the company who is buying them and rumor has it we might just see a stack line in the next few years... The HT newsletter should continue at its current pace of one a year! Blame Teddy!
[Moderator's note: We don't want to point fingers. I heard the HT Newsletter has been printed and waiting for months. This sale has held it up.]