I know I'm sounding just like Mike Mentzer himself LOL. It's because I've just read his book High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way and all the knowledge is still fresh in my mind.
Casey Viator was not the only person to ever be trained by Mentzer. You should know that he was a personal trainer for decades. He trained many people, from average man to pro BB. I know he trained Aaron Baker for a while but Baker returned to his old routine. HIT is not designed for juicers because they need to increase volume and frequency of training because of their recovery advantage.
Mike recalls his trainees as having recieving results which were "phenominal". And I'm not surprised whatsoever after having tasted HIT for the first time. With my first week of HIT completed I feel absolute wonderful. I feel bigger and stronger already and I know I will experience some of the best results I ever have. My HIT log is in the training section. Check it out.
By saying that anotomically and physiologically, every human being is essentially the same, I'm not implying that results will not vary. I'm saying that HIT is the quickest route to reaching your predisposed genetic limit. Whether you have the best genetics or the worst, HIT will ensure you're receiving optimal results.
It might seem like a religion to you only because it's based on scientific research and fact. It's the most logical approach to training there is. And that's what's intimidating to others. The fact that it is WILL WORK!
Bodybuilding is a form of exercise science, which flows directly from medical science. And medical science is a set of absolute principles that must be followed by use of strict discipline. A doctor is not going to use a different set of principles than other doctors because he thinks the medicine books are too "religious" in that they're so absolute in fact. Each certified doctor uses the same set of principles no matter what. And each bodybuilder should use the same approach to increasing the size and strength of their muscles. And there is one sure way to do that. And that's HIT. Other programs work, but not like HIT.
...all it took was one read of "HIT training the Mike Mentzer Way"?...man, you do sound like an aged Heavy Duty acolyte, that's for sure. You make the same points most HIT fans do...
On paper it sounds great. I'm glad Mike motivated you to train his way, but if you're serious about building muscle eventually you'll catch on that there is no "one way" to train. Here's a few examples why, even with the limited info you've provided on yourself....
..how long have you trained? HIT usually "works", by that I mean building noticeable muscle, on intermediate to experienced bodybuilders. Mike himself built his Mr Universe winning body mainly using tried and true high volume principles.
Yet you also state the well known fallacy that HIT is NOT designed for juicers...nothing could be further from the truth. Evidence?...Mike was as big a steroid user as ANY pro of his time...and Aaron Baker? Well, he did try HIT but didn't stick with it the way Mike prescribed it. Don't listen to the "Aaron was too weak to handle the intensity"....NOBODY can handle this mythical amount of "intensity" that Mike spoke of! Not even Dorian!
And finally, yourself. You've been doing HIT what, a whole WEEK? Not to sound condescending, but that is in no way or shape even REMOTELY long enough to assess the training pricinples of ANY program. You do have an enormous amount of faith, though, I presume. That's admirable.
Experiment with HIT, and learn from the experience. But I can save you a lot of heartaches, and possible injuries...realize that there is NO "right" way to train. There is only what you prefer, what you like, and that's subjective to each person. No amount of Mentzer Magic will change that fact.
ps....I spoke with a man who trained in Mentzer's gym back in the day...a whole gym full of people training "heavy duty style"...and only ONE person who looked like Mike, and that was Mike himself. Yet his clients rave about their strength gains...but when it comes to muscle, where was it? Only ONE Mike, with his genetics, his training style, and his drugs could do what he did. Nothing scientific about it, but he's to be commended for many more important reasons in the world of bodybuilding. Don't make the mistake of not seeing the forest for the trees...Mike was revolutionary in that he thought differently, and wouldn't accept things at face value. You should follow that example as well, not just his training style.
The bare "truth" is that Mike realized, very smartly, that you don't need to spend hours in the gym day in and out to build a great body....ESPECIALLY with anabolics! But he was also business smart enough to know that in order to make lots of money and build a legend around himself, he needed something different in order to try to chip away at Arnold's legacy. That was, and became, the HIT style. And as he got older, and went through the hard times, his eventually let his "logic" cloud the real world and finally arrived at an "ultimate HIT routine" which the person trained ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS, if need be, using a total of SIX EXERCISES. Sound strange?...well, it should!
Early HIT ideas were very useful, and led much (if not MOST) to the way we train today in that volume is no longer "king" of styles. For that alone he should be remembered for a long time, and his intelligence...but not his final HIT ideas, which bordered on lunacy.
Your choice though. Post some pics if you really want to prove to us that HIT is the "best"....I'll almost guarantee you that your results will be no more fantastic or astounding than someone using another well-thought out program. Not a challenge, but if you REALLY want to convince people, that's a great way to do it. Good luck.
