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High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way
A PAPERBACK ORIGINAL High-intensity bodybuilding advice from the first man to win a perfect score in the Mr. Universe competition This one-of-a-kind book profiles the high-intensity training (HIT) techniques pioneered by the late Mike Mentzer, the legendary bodybuilder, leading trainer, and renowned bodybuilding consultant. His highly effective, proven approach enables bodybuilders to get results--and win competitions--by doing shorter, less frequent workouts each week. Extremely time-efficient, HIT sessions require roughly 40 minutes per week of training--as compared with the lengthy workout sessions many bodybuilders would expect to put in daily. In addition to sharing Mentzer's workout and training techniques, featured here is fascinating biographical information and striking photos of the world-class bodybuilder--taken by noted professional bodybuilding photographers--that will inspire and instruct serious bodybuilders and weight lifters everywhere.
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 2002
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1251 people want to read
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December 22, 2022
Fellas, I'll level with you. I'm utterly Mentzerpilled. The first three quarters of this book is Mike Mentzer systematically deconstructing every broscience myth you learned from the kid who "taught you lifting" at the field house.
"1g/lb of body weight? That's arbitrary. Use reason. Use Objectivism. A muscle is 22% protein. Eat 22% protein, and 63% carbs, and 15% ice cream."
"Muscle confusion? A muscle does not have an identity. It cannot be confused. Ridiculous."
"The bodybuilding industry is full of hucksters who want to sell you fraudulent supplements. A logical bodybuilder will trust their higher reasoning and stick with staple and empirically tested supplements from the Golden Era of Bodybuilding, such as creatine, horse steroids, and good old fashioned methamphetamine."
He talks about how so much of bodybuilding training amounts to folklore, and how the idea "everyone responds to different training methods" doesn't make sense from a medical standpoint. He also took issue with people taking successful bodybuilders' words as gospel, but had the class not to point out that the primary authority on bodybuilding lore, Arnold Schwarzenegger, lied compulsively and for fun all the time.
Look at the evidence (as Mike would no doubt implore you). Pumping Iron is a video confessional of Arnold Schwarzenegger gaslighting his friends. Arnold excelled at bodybuilding, at acting, at governating, ESPECIALLY at PR, but his first and truest love was always recreational psyops.
Mentzer's empirical answer? Go balls-to-the-wall in the gym to the point of absolute muscular failure. If muscle increases size through repairing these microtears, make as many microtears as you can by pushing yourself to your physical limit. This is the premise of high-intensity training. Then, once you've done your whopping 25 minutes of 2 agonizing sets to failure per body part? Go home for a week. Don't come to the gym for 7 days. Read a book. A philosophy book. Start a salsa company. Hug your dog. Get a hobby that doesn't involve having the fellas oil you up. Cultivate your mind.
"7 days, Mike? Won't I lose my gains?"
Dom Mazetti is not an empiricist, or even a bodybuilder. He's technically not even real, and everything he says is satire. So you can't treat him as a source of lifting knowledge. Muscle and Fitness magazine is actually a worse source, because, like Mike Matthews said in Bigger, Leaner, Stronger, if they told you the truth you'd never have to buy more than one magazine.
Recent studies have vindicated Mike Mentzer, of course. A man who trains regularly can coast on three or more weeks of complete inactivity without any loss in muscle or strength.
By working yourself to absolute muscular exhaustion, doing the most damage you can to your tissues while staying out of the hospital, then taking 4-7 days off, you give yourself plenty of time to recover and avoid the risk of the dreaded (semimythical) CNS fatigue, which leads to overtraining, catabolism, bad dreams, income inequality, world hunger, climate change, whatever.
He also pushes negative reps and pre-exhaustion, which is real counterintuitive for me, but makes sense from a hypertrophy perspective. The numbers are irrelevant in mass-building. The damage you do to the muscles is what results in more mass, and eventually, greater strength. Knocking 20 lbs off your bench set because you pre-exhausted with flies is a devastating blow to the ego, but well worth the trade of greater muscular activation and, consequently, more growth.
The last 25% of the book he talks about being a bodybuilder, likening it to being a warrior, and an Olympian, and reading Nietzsche for five hours precontest to get himself pumped up.
Mike Mentzer was a huuuuuge dweeb. Like a jacked Ben Shapiro. Curlbros SMASHED with EMPIRICISM and LOGIC! But, he did the work, and he's coming from an era when dweebs used to be smart, instead of just really into collectibles and Disney IPs. Not to mention that perfect 100 in Mr. Universe. Really no arguing with that.
So he's a dork, but he's credentialed. Let's give it a try. I'll hop on High Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer way for a few months, and if I'm shredded to the bone and 5'8" by June, we'll know it worked.
And if my resounding success gets me suicided by Big Whey, know this: I'm really happy all the time and definitely wouldn't suicide. Also, my vitals are perfect, so don't buy the 'heart attack' line. Follow the money. Trust no one. The truth is out there.
"1g/lb of body weight? That's arbitrary. Use reason. Use Objectivism. A muscle is 22% protein. Eat 22% protein, and 63% carbs, and 15% ice cream."
"Muscle confusion? A muscle does not have an identity. It cannot be confused. Ridiculous."
"The bodybuilding industry is full of hucksters who want to sell you fraudulent supplements. A logical bodybuilder will trust their higher reasoning and stick with staple and empirically tested supplements from the Golden Era of Bodybuilding, such as creatine, horse steroids, and good old fashioned methamphetamine."
He talks about how so much of bodybuilding training amounts to folklore, and how the idea "everyone responds to different training methods" doesn't make sense from a medical standpoint. He also took issue with people taking successful bodybuilders' words as gospel, but had the class not to point out that the primary authority on bodybuilding lore, Arnold Schwarzenegger, lied compulsively and for fun all the time.
Look at the evidence (as Mike would no doubt implore you). Pumping Iron is a video confessional of Arnold Schwarzenegger gaslighting his friends. Arnold excelled at bodybuilding, at acting, at governating, ESPECIALLY at PR, but his first and truest love was always recreational psyops.
Mentzer's empirical answer? Go balls-to-the-wall in the gym to the point of absolute muscular failure. If muscle increases size through repairing these microtears, make as many microtears as you can by pushing yourself to your physical limit. This is the premise of high-intensity training. Then, once you've done your whopping 25 minutes of 2 agonizing sets to failure per body part? Go home for a week. Don't come to the gym for 7 days. Read a book. A philosophy book. Start a salsa company. Hug your dog. Get a hobby that doesn't involve having the fellas oil you up. Cultivate your mind.
"7 days, Mike? Won't I lose my gains?"
Dom Mazetti is not an empiricist, or even a bodybuilder. He's technically not even real, and everything he says is satire. So you can't treat him as a source of lifting knowledge. Muscle and Fitness magazine is actually a worse source, because, like Mike Matthews said in Bigger, Leaner, Stronger, if they told you the truth you'd never have to buy more than one magazine.
Recent studies have vindicated Mike Mentzer, of course. A man who trains regularly can coast on three or more weeks of complete inactivity without any loss in muscle or strength.
By working yourself to absolute muscular exhaustion, doing the most damage you can to your tissues while staying out of the hospital, then taking 4-7 days off, you give yourself plenty of time to recover and avoid the risk of the dreaded (semimythical) CNS fatigue, which leads to overtraining, catabolism, bad dreams, income inequality, world hunger, climate change, whatever.
He also pushes negative reps and pre-exhaustion, which is real counterintuitive for me, but makes sense from a hypertrophy perspective. The numbers are irrelevant in mass-building. The damage you do to the muscles is what results in more mass, and eventually, greater strength. Knocking 20 lbs off your bench set because you pre-exhausted with flies is a devastating blow to the ego, but well worth the trade of greater muscular activation and, consequently, more growth.
The last 25% of the book he talks about being a bodybuilder, likening it to being a warrior, and an Olympian, and reading Nietzsche for five hours precontest to get himself pumped up.
Mike Mentzer was a huuuuuge dweeb. Like a jacked Ben Shapiro. Curlbros SMASHED with EMPIRICISM and LOGIC! But, he did the work, and he's coming from an era when dweebs used to be smart, instead of just really into collectibles and Disney IPs. Not to mention that perfect 100 in Mr. Universe. Really no arguing with that.
So he's a dork, but he's credentialed. Let's give it a try. I'll hop on High Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer way for a few months, and if I'm shredded to the bone and 5'8" by June, we'll know it worked.
And if my resounding success gets me suicided by Big Whey, know this: I'm really happy all the time and definitely wouldn't suicide. Also, my vitals are perfect, so don't buy the 'heart attack' line. Follow the money. Trust no one. The truth is out there.
December 14, 2017
This is a book about becoming a multi-dimensional human being. It will teach you about weight-lifting principles and work-outs, but it is so much more than that.
I started reading this book around Thanksgiving. I had for several years accepted the idea that my athletic peak was in high school and in a rare moment of doubting that idea I got this book on a whim. I breezed through this book and in the process was inspired to hit the gym. HIT suits my busy lifestyle and brought me shocking gains in my first few weeks working out.
This book encourages you to dream. It is the mind, at the end of the day, that allows you to achieve your objectives and growth. It is empowering because it teaches you principles and gives you a starter deck that you are encouraged by Mike to doubt and challenge. Your development is placed in your hands, not the hands of a personal trainer. You call the shots.
One of the great lessons of this books is the importance of process and valuing small victories. We are trying not to be perfect but to constantly work at perfecting our process. We aren’t competing with anybody in the gym, we are competing with history and that narrative of our ego that makes us doubt ourselves.
I started receiving Zen instruction around the time I started weight-lifting. It was so strange because in Zen you are encouraged to focus on action and the body whereas Mike Mentzer in this book about weight-lifting is telling you to focus on your mind. It’s a great combination.
If you are interested in this method practically or are curious about starting your weight-lifting adventure I recommend that you read this book.
I started reading this book around Thanksgiving. I had for several years accepted the idea that my athletic peak was in high school and in a rare moment of doubting that idea I got this book on a whim. I breezed through this book and in the process was inspired to hit the gym. HIT suits my busy lifestyle and brought me shocking gains in my first few weeks working out.
This book encourages you to dream. It is the mind, at the end of the day, that allows you to achieve your objectives and growth. It is empowering because it teaches you principles and gives you a starter deck that you are encouraged by Mike to doubt and challenge. Your development is placed in your hands, not the hands of a personal trainer. You call the shots.
One of the great lessons of this books is the importance of process and valuing small victories. We are trying not to be perfect but to constantly work at perfecting our process. We aren’t competing with anybody in the gym, we are competing with history and that narrative of our ego that makes us doubt ourselves.
I started receiving Zen instruction around the time I started weight-lifting. It was so strange because in Zen you are encouraged to focus on action and the body whereas Mike Mentzer in this book about weight-lifting is telling you to focus on your mind. It’s a great combination.
If you are interested in this method practically or are curious about starting your weight-lifting adventure I recommend that you read this book.
September 29, 2023
Mike Mentzer was an incredible man, and his philosophy has fundamentally changed the way I view exercise after reading his book. I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion that something like his Heavy Duty strategy was the way to do things. It just makes sense, achieving total muscular failure due to exhausting the central nervous system and its ability to force tendons to contract as fast as possible. Mike seems like a great guy, well spoken and personable with the reader. He’s extremely educated (must be from all of the time he spends outside the gym) and made a couple of wild callbacks to Objectivist axioms. You can see the weight room as a place that caters to the cold, uncaring reality objectivism offers.
I subtracted a star because a lot of this book could be described by a less respectful person as “filler”. It could probably be a 50 page pdf. Mike will tell you over and over now you don’t need to spend hours in the gym like Arnold does. I would say 33% of it is essential reading, including the sample workouts you *finally* slog towards at chapter 15. An additional 17% is good “accessory reading” including the first few chapters where Mike explains that you have genetic potential for body building despite how hard you train. The other 50% of the book could be severely trimmed back.
I’ll be following the heavy duty model in my gym routine for a month or so, maybe I’ll update this review with the result.
Rest in peace, Mike Mentzer!
I subtracted a star because a lot of this book could be described by a less respectful person as “filler”. It could probably be a 50 page pdf. Mike will tell you over and over now you don’t need to spend hours in the gym like Arnold does. I would say 33% of it is essential reading, including the sample workouts you *finally* slog towards at chapter 15. An additional 17% is good “accessory reading” including the first few chapters where Mike explains that you have genetic potential for body building despite how hard you train. The other 50% of the book could be severely trimmed back.
I’ll be following the heavy duty model in my gym routine for a month or so, maybe I’ll update this review with the result.
Rest in peace, Mike Mentzer!
June 13, 2014
I do not agree with other reviews that Mike Mentzer was dogmatic in his approach to bodybuilding. His advice changed little from the 1970's to the 90's and only because his was a work in progress. He trained literally thousands of clients during these years and amassed himself countless experiences and results during this time. This book is the culmination of these experiences. If dogma exists, it is purely in the mind of the beholder as time and time again, Mentzer gives explanation and reason to why SOME people are able to gain on high sets and most don't. Just read - and understand! The basis is this - some people MAY gain from 6 workouts a week - EVERYONE can gain from the High Intensity Routines in this book - period !
October 15, 2011
Mike Mentzer was one of the all-time greats in bodybuilding. He was also a great writer, and a deep thinker. His ideas on training were a bit rigid to say the least. He was a "my way or the highway" kind of guy, but they are a must read if you're at all serious about training with weights. This book was Mike's masterpiece. It's been more than ten years since Mike Mentzer passed away, and his ideas still spark heated debate among bodybuilders.
January 30, 2024
conclusiones:
-debo entrenar menos tiempo pero más intenso.
-debo dejarme bigote.
-debo entrenar menos tiempo pero más intenso.
-debo dejarme bigote.
May 13, 2025
The best book I’ve ever read on muscle training and basic diet.
This should honestly be taught in schools.
What I thought I knew about training is probably what 99% of people hear every day—just noise. There’s so much misinformation out there. I started applying these principles (even before finishing the book) and saw drastic results by doing way less. Now I train 2–3 times a week for under 30 minutes—or sometimes just once a week—and I keep getting stronger.
Key lesson: If you train with high intensity, you can’t train long or often.
Training doesn’t make you stronger. Feeling pumped or sore? That’s not progress. Rest—after real effort—is what builds muscle. Think you already knew that? Maybe. But how much rest do you actually take? 24h? 48h? Until you feel ready? That’s probably not enough.
Doing 3 sets? Why? One set done right is often enough. Not growing? Not getting stronger? The problem likely isn’t your routine—it’s overtraining. But no one tells you that. Meanwhile, some YouTuber hopped up on gear is pushing 4-day splits and 12 exercises per muscle group.
Overtraining is the most ignored danger in fitness.
Rest isn’t just 8 hours of sleep. Rest is strategic. This book will rewire your thinking.
Be ready to have your mind blown.
This should honestly be taught in schools.
What I thought I knew about training is probably what 99% of people hear every day—just noise. There’s so much misinformation out there. I started applying these principles (even before finishing the book) and saw drastic results by doing way less. Now I train 2–3 times a week for under 30 minutes—or sometimes just once a week—and I keep getting stronger.
Key lesson: If you train with high intensity, you can’t train long or often.
Training doesn’t make you stronger. Feeling pumped or sore? That’s not progress. Rest—after real effort—is what builds muscle. Think you already knew that? Maybe. But how much rest do you actually take? 24h? 48h? Until you feel ready? That’s probably not enough.
Doing 3 sets? Why? One set done right is often enough. Not growing? Not getting stronger? The problem likely isn’t your routine—it’s overtraining. But no one tells you that. Meanwhile, some YouTuber hopped up on gear is pushing 4-day splits and 12 exercises per muscle group.
Overtraining is the most ignored danger in fitness.
Rest isn’t just 8 hours of sleep. Rest is strategic. This book will rewire your thinking.
Be ready to have your mind blown.
July 18, 2023
Dove head-first into this book along with Mike Mentzer's audio tapes, thinking that I would only become more knowledgeable about the body, training, and bodybuilding.
Boy, was I wrong. As it turns out, 80% of what is discussed is straight-up philosophy - even better than half of the philosophical literature currently on my bookshelf. Here are two snippets from the first few minutes of the tapes:
"As wonderful as it may be to have a well-developed physique, without the ability to think logically and effectively about a subject to which you have been passionately committed, you are, in effect, consigning yourself to living as one half of a human being."
"Specifically, I value reason, objectivity, logic, knowledge, science, human progress, and happiness. [...] If you are sincerely interested in developing your body, the most vitally important aspect is, of course, the brain. Bear in mind that bodybuilding does not exist in a vacuum apart from the rest of life and that as a human being, knowledge is the means of achieving your goals."
Boy, was I wrong. As it turns out, 80% of what is discussed is straight-up philosophy - even better than half of the philosophical literature currently on my bookshelf. Here are two snippets from the first few minutes of the tapes:
"As wonderful as it may be to have a well-developed physique, without the ability to think logically and effectively about a subject to which you have been passionately committed, you are, in effect, consigning yourself to living as one half of a human being."
"Specifically, I value reason, objectivity, logic, knowledge, science, human progress, and happiness. [...] If you are sincerely interested in developing your body, the most vitally important aspect is, of course, the brain. Bear in mind that bodybuilding does not exist in a vacuum apart from the rest of life and that as a human being, knowledge is the means of achieving your goals."
November 5, 2023
Mike Mentzer's high-intensity training seems to be a great, rational and proven way to gain muscle. I love the principles stated in the book. I learned a lot about muscle functions and specific exercises to train the muscles fully, but also proper rest periods to respect the body's ability to recover. Mike Mentzer also puts great emphasis on actualizing oneself and the mentality to be successfull, which is the aspect I loved the most. I am excited to try out his training method for myself and inspired to change my mentality for greater success in life in general.
May 23, 2025
A fascinating read over Mentzers training philosophy with some practical application. I think there was a lot of fluff and glorification of mentzers training that has been taken at face value and adopted by many and works for many. Although I disagree with some of his training methods, I still think this is well worth the time for anyone interested in how to train and think like a great of the sport.
March 31, 2024
Am I menterzerpilled? Perhaps. But this is an astoundingly unique piece of work covering a celebrated successful body builder and athletes mental approach. It's not his workout tips(though they are good) which is so interesting: it is his mental attitude and philosophising about his own Nietzscheian will to Hero.
October 22, 2023
Todo bien, salvo porque es demasiado repetitivo, la verdad el libro pudo ser la mitad de largo si hubiera sido mejor editado.
June 28, 2025
Clinical psychologists have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the human nervous system cannot tell the difference between an actual experience and an experience imagined vividly and in detail.
February 29, 2020
The Best of the book are the 7 priciples of hight intensity trainning
The Best of the book are the 7 priciples of hight intensity trainning. They workout proposed bye Mike are extremely spaced.Leaves me with some doubts
The Best of the book are the 7 priciples of hight intensity trainning. They workout proposed bye Mike are extremely spaced.Leaves me with some doubts
June 30, 2022
Майк Менцер е културист от времето на Арнолд и е известен повече с либертарианските си възгледи и любовта към Айн Ранд. Книгата му е главно нещо като лична философска биография, въпреки заглавието си.
Самите методи на тренировка, проповядвани от него са любопитни, като разбира се трябва да се има предвид, че Менцер е използвал почти смъртоносни дози анаболни стероиди, заради които умира на 50 годишна възраст.
Самите методи на тренировка, проповядвани от него са любопитни, като разбира се трябва да се има предвид, че Менцер е използвал почти смъртоносни дози анаболни стероиди, заради които умира на 50 годишна възраст.
September 21, 2020
I came into this book looking for a comprehensive way to train. Until recently I didn't have a foundation to lose the weight and keep it off after a few knee injuries saw my weight balloon.
With gyms re-opening I wanted to find a new way to weight train, while moving away from standard "bro" splits but something familiar enough that I could supplement my knowledge of weight training with it. It doesn't disappoint I came in looking for good advice from a legend, and was left with more knowledge and a new outlook on how I train.
After years of essentially starting and stopping again and being bored with weight training reading this book reignited that love I had for weight training and the allure of bodybuilding. The book at first is what you expect from a weight training guide. For the most part its a book about lifting advice and principals. But unexpectedly the book then morphs into an almost philosophical insight into the mind of a bodybuilder.
In the two weeks I've been back in the gym I've put some of the principals Mike wrote about into practice and with tracking I've seen some decent gains and a lot more explosive strength. My attitude has shifted a bit and I've also taken a more aggressive approach to training as well as pushing myself to failure on both negative and positive movements. There's also the fact that quarantine has limited the amount of free time I have (two kids, one of which is doing home learning), I need to make the most of my workouts within a small window of time and this book has given me the tools needed to do so.
Not all of Mike's teachings are backed by science and some of it as actually been debunked by science, but with some supplementary research the reader should be able to come to a conclusion of what works for them and what doesn't. The real value here is the more philosophical and mentality people should take with them into training as well as learning the principals and function of HIT. Can't recommend this book enough.
With gyms re-opening I wanted to find a new way to weight train, while moving away from standard "bro" splits but something familiar enough that I could supplement my knowledge of weight training with it. It doesn't disappoint I came in looking for good advice from a legend, and was left with more knowledge and a new outlook on how I train.
After years of essentially starting and stopping again and being bored with weight training reading this book reignited that love I had for weight training and the allure of bodybuilding. The book at first is what you expect from a weight training guide. For the most part its a book about lifting advice and principals. But unexpectedly the book then morphs into an almost philosophical insight into the mind of a bodybuilder.
In the two weeks I've been back in the gym I've put some of the principals Mike wrote about into practice and with tracking I've seen some decent gains and a lot more explosive strength. My attitude has shifted a bit and I've also taken a more aggressive approach to training as well as pushing myself to failure on both negative and positive movements. There's also the fact that quarantine has limited the amount of free time I have (two kids, one of which is doing home learning), I need to make the most of my workouts within a small window of time and this book has given me the tools needed to do so.
Not all of Mike's teachings are backed by science and some of it as actually been debunked by science, but with some supplementary research the reader should be able to come to a conclusion of what works for them and what doesn't. The real value here is the more philosophical and mentality people should take with them into training as well as learning the principals and function of HIT. Can't recommend this book enough.
August 1, 2016
This book needs a revision to fulfill its potential. Mike Mentzer is no longer with us, so I implore the publisher to hire either Mike's most successful student, Dorian Yates, or the bodybuilding journalist Peter McGough to edit a new edition. Updates to three areas in particular would turn this into a 5-star training manual. The first area is training frequency. Mentzer recommended lifting as little as once per week using his methods; we've since learned that you can effectively use High-Intensity training more than four to seven times per month. A second topic that could use an upgrade is equipment. Mike's preference for Nautilus machines dates the book just as much as the numerous photos of his handlebar mustache. These days, Hammer Strength makes the best weight machines while Nautilus makes equipment best suited to the casual exercising crowd. In fact, hardcore training on most current Nautilus machines will send you straight to physical therapy. My third suggestion is that all chapters in which Mike shares his Ayn Rand-inspired philosophy be removed. These anecdotes provide nothing of use to the aspiring bodybuilder and are also dubious as far as general inspiration. Mike's clunky jargon in these chapters is such a distraction it has become too easy for his critics to dismiss him as a flake. Despite these flaws, an athlete can still learn a lot from this book. Just do the following: 1) Skip all the detours into politics and philosophy 2) Supplement the routines with articles that Dorian Yates has written for Flex and Muscular Development magazines and 3) use a Hammer Strength machine if doing forced reps or lifting extra-heavy.
April 24, 2016
I seem to be reading some very counterintuitive stuff at the moment...suits me, that's the way forward.
I enjoyed this book very much, and it is one to keep and reread now and again.
Mentzer's tips on weight training make a lot of sense, it's difficult to argue with what he says when you can see the results throughout the book, and I've started training using his method - too early to say whether it works or not, though am already stepping up the amounts of weight I can lift.
Totally recommended if you're on a training plateau...
I enjoyed this book very much, and it is one to keep and reread now and again.
Mentzer's tips on weight training make a lot of sense, it's difficult to argue with what he says when you can see the results throughout the book, and I've started training using his method - too early to say whether it works or not, though am already stepping up the amounts of weight I can lift.
Totally recommended if you're on a training plateau...
September 16, 2018
Wow, not only an outstanding set of guiding principles, to realise a champion physic, derived from a life of rigorous pushing of one’s self, but an outstanding ideology to realise a champion mindset, derived from a life of rigorous learning of one’s self.
Outstanding.
Outstanding.
November 10, 2022
Mentzer started off the book by trying to tie Objectivism with his bodybuilding approach. A bold endeavor which, to my eyes, utterly failed. Mentzer used abstract philosophical principles to try to convince the reader that by merely understanding principles and rational thinking, you will conclude that his methodology is the right one.
The irony is, of course, that Mentzer did not come to believe in HIT by rational thinking, but he is driven entirely by empirical data. He saw buffed people train in a certain way, and he got buff training this way. Mentzer came to believe in a bodybuilding approach by observation and then stumbled upon Objectivism later on, then tried to justify his belief.
He disregards the belief that people are different and get better results from different methodologies. He says no, there is an objective truth. Human beings' muscles are fundamentally the same and they all obey the same laws of nature. Therefore his approach should only be practiced since it's the only approach that's rational.
He explains strength gains in the super-compensation, which is considered outdated. It's basically that in order to become stronger you need to restore the damage from the last workout and wait until your body has not only regained the strength but "super-compensated" to be better prepared for the work in the future by becoming stronger. He says you shouldn't wait until you feel restored. Wait until your muscles are itching for work and then wait another day when they're starving to get used, and then train them so hard you'll have to wait 4-7 days until the next workout. This approach is generally regarded as outdated - and the dual-factor approach is more accurate to describe adaption. Dual-factor works with fitness and fatigue, and you can think of it similar to how you get tired during a workout, you build up fatigue over a longer extent of time to create adaption on a larger time scale.
Mentzer advocates doing only 1 set of each exercise and training that set to failure with maximum intensity. But why is 1 set more rational than 2? If 1 is better than 0, why is 2 worse than 1?
Further, if one set is all you need for each exercise because multitudes aren't necessary, why are two exercises better than 1 exercise per workout?
The book contradicts itself ... on one page he says you need to be patient and expect only a couple of pounds of muscle each year, but on another place, he says you can reach your genetic potential within 1 year, which is nonsense.
High-intensity training is based on the idea that in order to grow muscles you need to train intensely to the point of failure for the body to adapt. And therefore volume is the enemy of gains. To make a dynamite explode you have to hit it hard with a hammer once, but it will never explode even if you hit it a hundred times with light strikes.
In the earlier chapters especially, Mentzer tried too hard to seem smart by using unnecessary and meaningless words with the only purpose to make the reader think of him as an intellectual superior. His attempt to tie objectivism into bodybuilding failed, and a lot of what he said did not make sense to me. Nevertheless, I gained some inspiration from the book, and I think it influenced me to try to out less volume and I'm seeing results already. Mentzer's commentary on mindset was lovely and his writing was best when he was describing the mindset of an Olympian.
The irony is, of course, that Mentzer did not come to believe in HIT by rational thinking, but he is driven entirely by empirical data. He saw buffed people train in a certain way, and he got buff training this way. Mentzer came to believe in a bodybuilding approach by observation and then stumbled upon Objectivism later on, then tried to justify his belief.
He disregards the belief that people are different and get better results from different methodologies. He says no, there is an objective truth. Human beings' muscles are fundamentally the same and they all obey the same laws of nature. Therefore his approach should only be practiced since it's the only approach that's rational.
He explains strength gains in the super-compensation, which is considered outdated. It's basically that in order to become stronger you need to restore the damage from the last workout and wait until your body has not only regained the strength but "super-compensated" to be better prepared for the work in the future by becoming stronger. He says you shouldn't wait until you feel restored. Wait until your muscles are itching for work and then wait another day when they're starving to get used, and then train them so hard you'll have to wait 4-7 days until the next workout. This approach is generally regarded as outdated - and the dual-factor approach is more accurate to describe adaption. Dual-factor works with fitness and fatigue, and you can think of it similar to how you get tired during a workout, you build up fatigue over a longer extent of time to create adaption on a larger time scale.
Mentzer advocates doing only 1 set of each exercise and training that set to failure with maximum intensity. But why is 1 set more rational than 2? If 1 is better than 0, why is 2 worse than 1?
Further, if one set is all you need for each exercise because multitudes aren't necessary, why are two exercises better than 1 exercise per workout?
The book contradicts itself ... on one page he says you need to be patient and expect only a couple of pounds of muscle each year, but on another place, he says you can reach your genetic potential within 1 year, which is nonsense.
High-intensity training is based on the idea that in order to grow muscles you need to train intensely to the point of failure for the body to adapt. And therefore volume is the enemy of gains. To make a dynamite explode you have to hit it hard with a hammer once, but it will never explode even if you hit it a hundred times with light strikes.
In the earlier chapters especially, Mentzer tried too hard to seem smart by using unnecessary and meaningless words with the only purpose to make the reader think of him as an intellectual superior. His attempt to tie objectivism into bodybuilding failed, and a lot of what he said did not make sense to me. Nevertheless, I gained some inspiration from the book, and I think it influenced me to try to out less volume and I'm seeing results already. Mentzer's commentary on mindset was lovely and his writing was best when he was describing the mindset of an Olympian.
May 29, 2025
A titan of the bodybuilding world, Mike stood and still stands as a pillar of morality amongst a sea of sellouts, refusing to bend the knee to the health and fitness industry and, presumably, paying the price for this in the 1980 Mr. Olympia contest, which many agree that he should’ve won.
Whether or not you agree with his training philosophy, Mike must be respected for his uniqueness in the bodybuilding world, embodying what it means to be a warrior-poet, a philosopher king. He was not just some meathead bodybuilder. I could feel not only his passion - but also his compassion, for his fellow human beings - in reading these last words of his.
I enjoyed reading about his scientific and logic-based workout methodology, but I also very much approached the more metaphysical aspects of his philosophy. In his writing and life, Mike evoked powerful forces from deep within our bodily carapaces, encouraging us to stir primal energies from within our souls, to drive us to greatness. His discussion on entering the gym with a “siege mindset” is a powerful one. “You’ve literally got to approach each workout like a savage warrior full of rage and fury!” (212)
It is quite profound that Mike died very shortly after finishing writing this book. It was as if his life’s works had been completed, and the story of his life had flipped through its last page. Mike encourages us all to strive for greatness, stressing that, “man’s proper stature is not one of mediocrity, failure, frustration, or defeat, but one of achievement, strength, and nobility. In short, man can and ought to be a hero” (212). What a profound message - some of the last words he ever wrote, on the last page of his book, before his body failed.
Thinking on this, I acknowledge the greatness that humans are meant - and even obligated - to achieve, but I must also remember the greatest man to ever life, Jesus Christ. It is in Christ that we achieve all that is good. Christ is the humble victor, the ultimate divine paradox of God who submitted to death. It is only in Christ that we do not have to choose between humility and heroic victory because Christ has given us both. From what I could tell, Mike did not give his life to Christ, and for all his greatness, he was unable to overcome death. It is through this lense that I lament for Mike - but also have hope - in the redeeming and healing power of Christ. Though we are called to greatness in this life, let us remember that we must be great for the right reasons.
Thinking of Mike, I often find myself recalling a particular video I had seen of Mike on social media in which the aged Mike had been asked by the videographer to, once more, “Give us the double bicep.” Thinking of him reliving his greatness in his aging and degrading body is potent. Mike was not perfect by any means, but he was a blessing to this Earth, and I pray for him, that he may experience the ultimate victory in Christ Jesus, and that he may perhaps give us once more the double-bicep in the eschaton. Kyrie, eleison. ☦️
Whether or not you agree with his training philosophy, Mike must be respected for his uniqueness in the bodybuilding world, embodying what it means to be a warrior-poet, a philosopher king. He was not just some meathead bodybuilder. I could feel not only his passion - but also his compassion, for his fellow human beings - in reading these last words of his.
I enjoyed reading about his scientific and logic-based workout methodology, but I also very much approached the more metaphysical aspects of his philosophy. In his writing and life, Mike evoked powerful forces from deep within our bodily carapaces, encouraging us to stir primal energies from within our souls, to drive us to greatness. His discussion on entering the gym with a “siege mindset” is a powerful one. “You’ve literally got to approach each workout like a savage warrior full of rage and fury!” (212)
It is quite profound that Mike died very shortly after finishing writing this book. It was as if his life’s works had been completed, and the story of his life had flipped through its last page. Mike encourages us all to strive for greatness, stressing that, “man’s proper stature is not one of mediocrity, failure, frustration, or defeat, but one of achievement, strength, and nobility. In short, man can and ought to be a hero” (212). What a profound message - some of the last words he ever wrote, on the last page of his book, before his body failed.
Thinking on this, I acknowledge the greatness that humans are meant - and even obligated - to achieve, but I must also remember the greatest man to ever life, Jesus Christ. It is in Christ that we achieve all that is good. Christ is the humble victor, the ultimate divine paradox of God who submitted to death. It is only in Christ that we do not have to choose between humility and heroic victory because Christ has given us both. From what I could tell, Mike did not give his life to Christ, and for all his greatness, he was unable to overcome death. It is through this lense that I lament for Mike - but also have hope - in the redeeming and healing power of Christ. Though we are called to greatness in this life, let us remember that we must be great for the right reasons.
Thinking of Mike, I often find myself recalling a particular video I had seen of Mike on social media in which the aged Mike had been asked by the videographer to, once more, “Give us the double bicep.” Thinking of him reliving his greatness in his aging and degrading body is potent. Mike was not perfect by any means, but he was a blessing to this Earth, and I pray for him, that he may experience the ultimate victory in Christ Jesus, and that he may perhaps give us once more the double-bicep in the eschaton. Kyrie, eleison. ☦️
August 18, 2024
One of the best books i've read.
All the fundamental principles for proper hypertrophy training are here. I think the main thing to have in mind when you are reading Mike Mentzer's HIT is that, you'll only get to train 3 hours a week when you get as big as you possibly can. If you are starting today yes you can train mondays to saturdays, because you are doing low intensity, and your body doesn't need that much nutrients and time to recover for such workouts, in essence, the body isn't being stressed enough to activate the defense mechanism of adaptation.
This means that the rest periods are longer as long as your intensity is bigger. As the books says, novices should start their journey in a two week training program, that allows them to learn about the exercises, machines and how their body responds to such stress. You should follow the HIT principles in a very cautious way (such as any other theory of physics, economics and life!)
You can argue about the one set that Mentzer proposes, im a novice, so im doing 3 sets per exercise at least, but my workouts always have a length of 1 hour. This principle is god-revealing like, you can not train for many hours and keep the same intensity, if you want to grow, you should reach a point where intensity and volume meet in such a perfect level, that you are not overtraning or end the sessions with too much gas in the tank.
Also another thing that i don't seem to be very sure about, is that Mike claims that Chin-Ups are for the biceps, this is said by tons of people, often using gymnasts arms for a living proof of this fact, but evidence doesn't seem that clear, yes biceps are involved, but are more involved than the latissimuss dorsi? damn i don't think so. But these are details, and bodybuilders should find for their own the exercises that best stimulates the selected muscle.
The best of the book is in its final chapters. Ayn Rand's influence on Mike's view of man as whole, is beatiful, bodybuilding is the perfect example of self-actualization and self-improvement, there is a lot of deep psychological implications on the performance of tranining sessions and posing in front of an audience.
As Tom Platz said, Mike was the intellectual, what a bodybuilder should be, not only the training of the body but also the mind. As far as i know, nobody can reach such beatiful relationship with mind and body such as Mike did, maybe Yukio Mishima.
Mike observations are very eloquent, his mind and speech is a clear illustration of his devotion to objetivism and prudency. His points, opinions and knowledge is something i can be talking for hours, i can't recommend him enough not only as a bodybuilding expert but as a intelectual thinker too! (even if most intelectuals seem to hate Ayn Rand haha)
All the fundamental principles for proper hypertrophy training are here. I think the main thing to have in mind when you are reading Mike Mentzer's HIT is that, you'll only get to train 3 hours a week when you get as big as you possibly can. If you are starting today yes you can train mondays to saturdays, because you are doing low intensity, and your body doesn't need that much nutrients and time to recover for such workouts, in essence, the body isn't being stressed enough to activate the defense mechanism of adaptation.
This means that the rest periods are longer as long as your intensity is bigger. As the books says, novices should start their journey in a two week training program, that allows them to learn about the exercises, machines and how their body responds to such stress. You should follow the HIT principles in a very cautious way (such as any other theory of physics, economics and life!)
You can argue about the one set that Mentzer proposes, im a novice, so im doing 3 sets per exercise at least, but my workouts always have a length of 1 hour. This principle is god-revealing like, you can not train for many hours and keep the same intensity, if you want to grow, you should reach a point where intensity and volume meet in such a perfect level, that you are not overtraning or end the sessions with too much gas in the tank.
Also another thing that i don't seem to be very sure about, is that Mike claims that Chin-Ups are for the biceps, this is said by tons of people, often using gymnasts arms for a living proof of this fact, but evidence doesn't seem that clear, yes biceps are involved, but are more involved than the latissimuss dorsi? damn i don't think so. But these are details, and bodybuilders should find for their own the exercises that best stimulates the selected muscle.
The best of the book is in its final chapters. Ayn Rand's influence on Mike's view of man as whole, is beatiful, bodybuilding is the perfect example of self-actualization and self-improvement, there is a lot of deep psychological implications on the performance of tranining sessions and posing in front of an audience.
As Tom Platz said, Mike was the intellectual, what a bodybuilder should be, not only the training of the body but also the mind. As far as i know, nobody can reach such beatiful relationship with mind and body such as Mike did, maybe Yukio Mishima.
Mike observations are very eloquent, his mind and speech is a clear illustration of his devotion to objetivism and prudency. His points, opinions and knowledge is something i can be talking for hours, i can't recommend him enough not only as a bodybuilding expert but as a intelectual thinker too! (even if most intelectuals seem to hate Ayn Rand haha)
September 15, 2022
“The bodybuilder at the peak of the pyramid, a Mr. Olympia, does not fear success or failure because he has learned to be a self-motivator. He has developed the liberating knack to compete with himself, or with something abstract like history. For the Olympian, success no longer depends on winning and losing, nor on the extrinsic rewards that come from winning contests (fame, trophies, money). To buttress his self-esteem, the Olympian becomes a self-actualizer, one who looks increasingly to intrinsic rewards for his motivation. His desire to gain inner mastery—by proving his excellence and competence to himself—makes him immune to the routine anxieties and pressures that often attend success.”
I found this book to be enlightening and extremely motivating. Prior to this, I did not know much about exercise physiology and basically just blindly followed programs I was recommended from friends or found on Reddit. While reading this I started a new gym and began on the program Mentzer suggests in Chapter 13. This book filled a lot of gaps in my knowledge. It also gave me insight into why previous attempts of higher volume training stagnated or plateaued. This book educates and equips you to build your own program when you understand the principles.
As other reviewers have suggested, some level of temperance of the program with modern updates from Dorian Yates or others is advisable for completeness of modern understanding however the core training principles are rock solid in my opinion. I found this book from Andrew Huberman’s recent podcast with Jeff from AthleanX.
On the Ayn Rand stuff: Some other reviewers mentioned the philosophy being a downside, I enjoyed it. I just imagined it being like a real life coach may have some strong beliefs or convictions. You don’t have to buy it wholesale just because he likes it. Take what serves you and leave the rest. I do think Mentzer does a better job selling Randian ideas than she did herself lol. Overall I highly recommend this book for people who want to get better results from their training and a better understanding of why and what to train in a specific high intensity manner.
I found this book to be enlightening and extremely motivating. Prior to this, I did not know much about exercise physiology and basically just blindly followed programs I was recommended from friends or found on Reddit. While reading this I started a new gym and began on the program Mentzer suggests in Chapter 13. This book filled a lot of gaps in my knowledge. It also gave me insight into why previous attempts of higher volume training stagnated or plateaued. This book educates and equips you to build your own program when you understand the principles.
As other reviewers have suggested, some level of temperance of the program with modern updates from Dorian Yates or others is advisable for completeness of modern understanding however the core training principles are rock solid in my opinion. I found this book from Andrew Huberman’s recent podcast with Jeff from AthleanX.
On the Ayn Rand stuff: Some other reviewers mentioned the philosophy being a downside, I enjoyed it. I just imagined it being like a real life coach may have some strong beliefs or convictions. You don’t have to buy it wholesale just because he likes it. Take what serves you and leave the rest. I do think Mentzer does a better job selling Randian ideas than she did herself lol. Overall I highly recommend this book for people who want to get better results from their training and a better understanding of why and what to train in a specific high intensity manner.
June 30, 2023
High-intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way
By Mike Mentzer
Non-fiction
Finished 23.04.23
From reading this book I learned about Mike Menzter’s 'achieving failure’ philosophy with lifting weights. He advocates for only doing six to twelve reps per exercise but with a very heavy weight. This is because research suggests that taking a muscle to failure creates more micro tears in the muscle, resulting in increased growth. This is shown when he says, “You have to achieve failure, you have to take it that far, but nobody wants to go that far, it's too scary.” He doesn't use failure with a negative connotation, instead, after each workout template he says, “Congratulations, you have achieved failure.”
Mike Mentzer was a revolutionary in the bodybuilding world because he was the first to introduce concrete science. Even with a heart condition he was the only person to ever get a perfect 300/300 score at the Mister Olympia. He wrote the series to put an end to the ridiculous three hour workouts most people were doing at the time. This is why he advocated for taking every exercise to failure because it meant you only had to do one set not five.
This concept of 'achieving failure’ doesn't just apply to bodybuilding. When muscle gets ripped it grows back stronger, in the short term you might be weak, but next time you workout you can lift more. This is the same for people as a whole, failure can be a scary thing to face, but sometimes it is necessary in order to eventually beat the challenge next time. In our hyper connected world, more than ever, it feels like everyone is looking on and judging you. So in order to avoid embarrassment we shy away from challenges: physical, mental and especially social. In the same way Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’ isn’t just about military tactics 'High-Intensity’ isn’t just a bodybuilding book, the concepts which apply to our muscles apply to the rest of us as well.
By Mike Mentzer
Non-fiction
Finished 23.04.23
From reading this book I learned about Mike Menzter’s 'achieving failure’ philosophy with lifting weights. He advocates for only doing six to twelve reps per exercise but with a very heavy weight. This is because research suggests that taking a muscle to failure creates more micro tears in the muscle, resulting in increased growth. This is shown when he says, “You have to achieve failure, you have to take it that far, but nobody wants to go that far, it's too scary.” He doesn't use failure with a negative connotation, instead, after each workout template he says, “Congratulations, you have achieved failure.”
Mike Mentzer was a revolutionary in the bodybuilding world because he was the first to introduce concrete science. Even with a heart condition he was the only person to ever get a perfect 300/300 score at the Mister Olympia. He wrote the series to put an end to the ridiculous three hour workouts most people were doing at the time. This is why he advocated for taking every exercise to failure because it meant you only had to do one set not five.
This concept of 'achieving failure’ doesn't just apply to bodybuilding. When muscle gets ripped it grows back stronger, in the short term you might be weak, but next time you workout you can lift more. This is the same for people as a whole, failure can be a scary thing to face, but sometimes it is necessary in order to eventually beat the challenge next time. In our hyper connected world, more than ever, it feels like everyone is looking on and judging you. So in order to avoid embarrassment we shy away from challenges: physical, mental and especially social. In the same way Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’ isn’t just about military tactics 'High-Intensity’ isn’t just a bodybuilding book, the concepts which apply to our muscles apply to the rest of us as well.
October 6, 2024
A Counterintuitive Approach to Bodybuilding
If you are curious about high intensity training, this book is a great starting point. I was very skeptical at first as I only ever knew the high volume approach to weight training, but as I've started training with this method, I can definitely feel and see a difference and I no longer feel drained from marathon workout sessions. This type of training would benefit almost anyone I think but can be especially helpful if you have low recovery ability, are a slow gainer, or are even pressed for time (what led me to try it eventually).
The first part or so of the book may be boring and slow for some readers, but I would say bear with it because you really need to grasp the principles Mike taught to get the full effect of the workouts. Anyone who says they didn't see results with his program, I believe either they never tried it or they did try it but weren't doing it correctly.
As others have said, I appreciate how Mike also emphasized building character. I was very surprised to read how well he spoke about Arnold after their rivalry. It made me respect him even more.
Give this book a shot if you are into bodybuilding or weight training. Even if you don't fully subscribe to Mike's school of thought, there is still a lot of good information in this book.
If you are curious about high intensity training, this book is a great starting point. I was very skeptical at first as I only ever knew the high volume approach to weight training, but as I've started training with this method, I can definitely feel and see a difference and I no longer feel drained from marathon workout sessions. This type of training would benefit almost anyone I think but can be especially helpful if you have low recovery ability, are a slow gainer, or are even pressed for time (what led me to try it eventually).
The first part or so of the book may be boring and slow for some readers, but I would say bear with it because you really need to grasp the principles Mike taught to get the full effect of the workouts. Anyone who says they didn't see results with his program, I believe either they never tried it or they did try it but weren't doing it correctly.
As others have said, I appreciate how Mike also emphasized building character. I was very surprised to read how well he spoke about Arnold after their rivalry. It made me respect him even more.
Give this book a shot if you are into bodybuilding or weight training. Even if you don't fully subscribe to Mike's school of thought, there is still a lot of good information in this book.
January 16, 2024
Mike Mentzer was an interesting guy with a pretty unique training philosophy and methodology which can be summed up as "less is more, as long as the less is INTENSE."
This book dives into the science (real science and a bit of bro science too) behind "High Intensity Training," provides a workout programme and rounds out with chapters specific to the hardcore bodybuilder and a couple of decent motivational promos. It is also full of posing and workout pics of Mentzer. Performance enhancers or not, dude was an absolute monster!
Mike Mentzer was definitely a tragic figure. He died too young when he had so much more to offer to the world and by all accounts was a decent human being despite his faults. I recommend reading the book after watching a couple of his videos, that way you'll read the words in his style of speaking, which is very good.
I will continue to experiment with his one set to failure heavy duty workouts and revisit his motivational promos when I need them, if I ever get serious about it!
This book dives into the science (real science and a bit of bro science too) behind "High Intensity Training," provides a workout programme and rounds out with chapters specific to the hardcore bodybuilder and a couple of decent motivational promos. It is also full of posing and workout pics of Mentzer. Performance enhancers or not, dude was an absolute monster!
Mike Mentzer was definitely a tragic figure. He died too young when he had so much more to offer to the world and by all accounts was a decent human being despite his faults. I recommend reading the book after watching a couple of his videos, that way you'll read the words in his style of speaking, which is very good.
I will continue to experiment with his one set to failure heavy duty workouts and revisit his motivational promos when I need them, if I ever get serious about it!
August 5, 2023
Mentzer's book inspires to put one's mind into full use in bodybuilding. The part of the book that I enjoyed the most was the analogy with NASA: putting a man on the moon was a result of careful preparation and planning - so should also one's attitude be towards bodybuilding.
The book breaks down the high intensity system into details. However, sometimes it seems to be hard to see what is the recommended system to use. Mentzer himself trained two hours per week - four thirty-minute workout - before Mr. Olympia, but the consolidated program seems to be much less than that. Neverhteless, the book is very helpful in explain the high-intensity system.
The sad detail about the book is the shadow of bitterness of the 1980 Mr. Olympia, mentioned at the end of the book. Over and over again does Mentzer motivate to overcome oneself, with valiance and virtue. If only he would have put behind him the disappointment of the outcome of 1980, he could have risen to even higher planes.
The book breaks down the high intensity system into details. However, sometimes it seems to be hard to see what is the recommended system to use. Mentzer himself trained two hours per week - four thirty-minute workout - before Mr. Olympia, but the consolidated program seems to be much less than that. Neverhteless, the book is very helpful in explain the high-intensity system.
The sad detail about the book is the shadow of bitterness of the 1980 Mr. Olympia, mentioned at the end of the book. Over and over again does Mentzer motivate to overcome oneself, with valiance and virtue. If only he would have put behind him the disappointment of the outcome of 1980, he could have risen to even higher planes.
March 12, 2025
High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way is a revolutionary bodybuilding book that challenges conventional training methods, advocating for brief, ultra-intense workouts to maximize muscle growth. Mentzer, a former Mr. Universe and proponent of Arthur Jones’ High-Intensity Training (HIT) principles, refines the approach by emphasizing low volume, high effort, and long recovery periods. He argues that traditional bodybuilding routines lead to overtraining and that one or two sets to failure per muscle group, performed infrequently, are more effective for muscle hypertrophy. The book covers his scientific reasoning, workout routines, and personal experiences, offering a structured method for those seeking efficient and sustainable muscle growth. While some critics argue his approach lacks volume for optimal results, many lifters have found success with his “less is more” philosophy. A must-read for those looking to rethink their training strategy and push their limits. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5).
October 23, 2025
An excellent book! It met all of my expectations and even exceeded them.
I've been a fan of the HIT training style for around 4 months now and I've been following one of Mentzer's workout plans. The results I see are insane. My pure strenght has more than doubled with only 2 workouts a week of roughly 30 minutes a piece.
The book has great insights into the details regarding how to properly train with low volume and in my oppinion is a hidden gem.
The last sections of the book goes a bit outside the pure training talk and are also interesting, providing a view of what mattered to Mentzer outside of the workout sphere.
In my oppinion, this is by far the best workout advise I've recieved and the sad part is that many poeple are not ready to give it a shot. The same people who go to the gym day in, day out, have an amazing pump and haven't made any progress in the past 10 years.
I've been a fan of the HIT training style for around 4 months now and I've been following one of Mentzer's workout plans. The results I see are insane. My pure strenght has more than doubled with only 2 workouts a week of roughly 30 minutes a piece.
The book has great insights into the details regarding how to properly train with low volume and in my oppinion is a hidden gem.
The last sections of the book goes a bit outside the pure training talk and are also interesting, providing a view of what mattered to Mentzer outside of the workout sphere.
In my oppinion, this is by far the best workout advise I've recieved and the sad part is that many poeple are not ready to give it a shot. The same people who go to the gym day in, day out, have an amazing pump and haven't made any progress in the past 10 years.
January 14, 2024
The book does not force its opinions onto you and that is Mentzer’s whole philosophy when it comes to the science behind his training. He wants you to learn the science behind the muscle building process and then make informed decisions based on that. The only problem I ran into in his explanations is that the science can sometimes be vague, but following his logic makes a lot of sense for his training methodology. Although his approach to training can be extreme in certain aspects, pulling training information from this book can be useful when applied to your own training leading me to confidently say this book is worth reading.
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