Is 20 sets of chest & 16 sets triceps Overtraining.

[joeybeeee]

I like to do lots of sets in my workouts, but I was told that doing 20 sets of chest & 16 sets triceps is Overtraining. For each execise i do 12, 10, 8, 12 reps. I doesn't feel like im over training, what do you think?

[Primalinstinct]

What are your goals, joey?

[joeybeeee]

i want to get ripped and gain solid muscle.

[Ronnie Rowland]

I like to do lots of sets in my workouts, but I was told that doing 20 sets of chest & 16 sets triceps is Overtraining. For each execise i do 12, 10, 8, 12 reps. I doesn't feel like im over training, what do you think?

I have learned that the muscles quit firing after about 10 work sets. After that point you are no longer doing anything positive. The secret is proper periodization. It's very simple once you begin to understand how the body reacts to outside stimuli.

I think you would do better working with less exercises and more intensity. Also, watch carb and saturated fat intake for leaner mass gains.

[joeybeeee]

Only ten sets? Would it be counterproductive to do more. I figured since each chest exercise is working a different part of the chest, it wouldn't hurt to do more, maybe even beneficial.

I like to do a lot of diff. exercises and ten sets would only allow me to do a couple diff. unless i only did a few sets per exercise. Then i would feel that each portion of the chest is not being worked enough.

[joeybeeee]

What if I reduce the time btwn sets, b/c i have noticed that i do spend a considerable time in the gym. Often 1.5-2 hours, sometimes more. Lately ive been trying to reduce the time between sets to 1:30-2:00, but then i can barely lift my target reps.

[swol_je]

My workouts average 1 and a half hours too. I dont keep track my rest time. My partner goes then I go. I do around 20 sets for chest, back and legs. and around 18 for everything else.
its all how your body responds every one is different.

[swol_je]

thats only one body part per day

[DSM4Life]

I don't think anyone can tell you how your body is going to react. You need to pay more attention to how you feel after a certain amount of work. Trial and error.

[Ronnie Rowland]

Only ten sets? Would it be counterproductive to do more. I figured since each chest exercise is working a different part of the chest, it wouldn't hurt to do more, maybe even beneficial.

I like to do a lot of diff. exercises and ten sets would only allow me to do a couple diff. unless i only did a few sets per exercise. Then i would feel that each portion of the chest is not being worked enough.

Actually, doing 4 different chest exercise does not work a different part of the chest. There have been thousands of inaccurate articles written throughout history stating that the lower and upper pectorals can be isolated with the exclusion of the other. In fact, neither of these exists as separate muscles or regions in a functional sense. The chest is like other muscle groups in that it’s one continuous muscle with a common origin, insertion, and functions as a single force-producing unit.

I would not decrease the amount of time between sets or your poundages will suffer. I know it's hard to believe that less exercises and sets will make the chest bigger, but it does!

[IronReload04]

I like to do lots of sets in my workouts, but I was told that doing 20 sets of chest & 16 sets triceps is Overtraining. For each execise i do 12, 10, 8, 12 reps. I doesn't feel like im over training, what do you think?

tell me "exactly" what kind of progress you are making

[IronReload04]

joey, imo, once the stimulis to grow has been reached, anything more is wasting valuable resources such as amino acids and glycogen......with me, that stimulis can be achieved with 2 work sets per muscle

for ex, my workout

bench press- 1 work set 325
incline bench press- 1 workset 235
close grip bench-260-1 work set
skull crushers- 125 1 workset

[IronReload04]

one more thing, if you are not gaining at least 1-2 pounds of contractile dry muscle tissue a month, you are doing something completely wrong

[joeybeeee]

well im gaining muscle, i dont know about contractile dry muscle tissue. what is that? and are you talking about gaining 1-2 lbs/month working out naturally, b/c thats where im at right now?

[Renesis]

Im going to help you out one last time since I was in a bad mood and unfairly took it out on you. 1-2 lbs/month at your weight and height is honestly poor results. I suggest you go to the diet forum and post up your diet so that it may be tweaked by the experts there. Also at your weight and height you should easily be able to gain 20 lbs within 3-5 months time. This is due mostly to your training method. Also what do you take after your workout?

[Primalinstinct]

well im gaining muscle, i dont know about contractile dry muscle tissue. what is that? and are you talking about gaining 1-2 lbs/month working out naturally, b/c thats where im at right now?

He means real, quality muscle weight from high quality protein intake over time and not water retaining creatine-bloated weight.

[Renesis]

He means real, quality muscle weight from high quality protein intake over time and not water retaining creatine-bloated weight.

I don't know about you but Creatine Ethyl-Ester (CEE) has never bloated me and I get quality gains from it that stay, along with great strength boosts.

[joeybeeee]

20lbs of solid muscle in three months working out naturally w/o gear? Renesis Did you mean while stacking Deca, Sust, and Test at the same time?

As for a diet, i dont follow any specific diet, but i do stay away from junk food and cokes. I take adderall so unfortunately my appetite is always suppressed. Even if i wanted to i couldnt, my diet is very poor since often I only eat once or twice a day. So i try to drink a lot of Nitro Tech Protein shakes. For one month i was eating a steak after almost every workout, i saw my best bulking gains during that month.

[Renesis]

LOL! No the reason you aren't gaining is because you aren't on a specific diet and your appetite is suppressed. You should be eating 6 times a day. My weight fluctuates between 130-160 depending on what time of the year it is. It only took me 6 months to naturally go from 120-155. I am 5'5 just for your information though as to not think that 155-160lbs for my height is light :P. Certainly no giant though...

[joeybeeee]

Damn bro, your weight varies 30 pounds during the year? is that due to losses after cycles? Yeah i wish i could be eating 6 meals per day, but even if i try to force it down my throat i cant do it.

[IronReload04]

well im gaining muscle, i dont know about contractile dry muscle tissue. what is that? and are you talking about gaining 1-2 lbs/month working out naturally, b/c thats where im at right now?

yes, i am natural

when i mean dry contractile tissue, i just mean non crap weight......so many people gain fat/water/glycogen, and think thats muscle mass

for ex, in 15 weeks, i gained 15 pounds.......maybe 7-9 is real muscle tissue (7-9 pounds of contractile muscle tissue), the rest would be fat and water




I want you to be more specific, how do you know you are gaining muscle?

[IronReload04]

I don't know about you but Creatine Ethyl-Ester (CEE) has never bloated me and I get quality gains from it that stay, along with great strength boosts.

that really wasnt the point.......being bloated and watery is a good thing.....its anabolic....the body prefers this state when growing muscle, at least imo...


the bottom line, scale weight means nothing....gaining real muslce does

[IronReload04]

20lbs of solid muscle in three months working out naturally w/o gear? Renesis Did you mean while stacking Deca, Sust, and Test at the same time?

As for a diet, i dont follow any specific diet, but i do stay away from junk food and cokes. I take adderall so unfortunately my appetite is always suppressed. Even if i wanted to i couldnt, my diet is very poor since often I only eat once or twice a day. So i try to drink a lot of Nitro Tech Protein shakes. For one month i was eating a steak after almost every workout, i saw my best bulking gains during that month.

**** bro, your crazy high volume workouts and piss poor diet is a recipie for body composition disaster

[Renesis]

Damn bro, your weight varies 30 pounds during the year? is that due to losses after cycles? Yeah i wish i could be eating 6 meals per day, but even if i try to force it down my throat i cant do it.

No my body varies 30lbs because I play soccer. I bulk during the off-season and then lose most of it during season. Sprinting is very bad for keeping muscle. I haven't done any cycles im all natural.

[joeybeeee]

oh ok, you must play a lot of soccer

[Ronnie Rowland]

Damn bro, your weight varies 30 pounds during the year? is that due to losses after cycles? Yeah i wish i could be eating 6 meals per day, but even if i try to force it down my throat i cant do it.

Can you drink hydro whey protein shakes along with some smart balance peanut butter or some raw nuts between meals? Like IronReload4 stated you cannot grow a lot of muscle eating only 2 meals per day. The body needs protein every 3 hours.

[joeybeeee]

havent tried hydro whey protein, does it require 5 scoops per serving.

Yeah i tend to snack on some peanut butter & jelly, yeah i could do nuts too. i just dont do much grocery shoppin, mostly eat out or order chinese food.

i tried protein bars but they taste like crap, especially when your not hungry

[DSM4Life]

havent tried hydro whey protein, does it require 5 scoops per serving.

Yeah i tend to snack on some peanut butter & jelly, yeah i could do nuts too. i just dont do much grocery shoppin, mostly eat out or order chinese food.

i tried protein bars but they taste like crap, especially when your not hungry

Without a diet you are nothing and "mostly eat out or order chinese food" doesnt count.

[joeybeeee]

thanks dude