Is there such a thing as too intense?

[Roger Bacon]

Is there such a thing as too intense?  As in, as long as you're making the right amount full productive reps with good form is there such a thing as too much intensity (going to heavy) for a natural bodybuilders?

In my experience, it's best to go full on as hard as possible.  Am I missing something here?

 

[Big Chiro Flex]

Is there such a thing as too intense?  As in, as long as you're making the right amount full productive reps with good form is there such a thing as too much intensity (going to heavy) for a natural bodybuilders?

In my experience, it's best to go full on as hard as possible.  Am I missing something here?

 

I'm natty, BBing for 5 years...
I think true overtraining is Extremely hard to achieve, even under calorie deficit. Most of the time it's actually a micronutrient deficiency leading to symptoms. Train balls out and periodize your splits is my .02

[POB]

Is there such a thing as too intense?  As in, as long as you're making the right amount full productive reps with good form is there such a thing as too much intensity (going to heavy) for a natural bodybuilders?

In my experience, it's best to go full on as hard as possible.  Am I missing something here?

 

I think you should set a goal to have a work out like that every time. There will be days you can't and have to lighten up/lower intensity so enjoy them when you can. When you start feeling weak/tired more than one day in row consume more carbs and take a day off if needed.

[240 is Back]

I'm sure there's a flash magazine ad about training to failure every set of every workout.  Doesn't really work like that in real life.

Train heavy, do a little better every week, and make safe consistent progress.

[dj181]

I'm natty, BBing for 5 years...
I think true overtraining is Extremely hard to achieve, even under calorie deficit. Most of the time it's actually a micronutrient deficiency leading to symptoms. Train balls out and periodize your splits is my .02

so you are making progress on a regular and steady basis? ie progress=getting bigger lean muscles

[dj181]

and when you say too intense, do you mean with the work set/cycle?

if yes, then the answer is yes

i believe that working til failure within the 5-8 rep range is IDEAL

forced reps, drop sets, and negatives could be too intense (depending upon some other factors)

[Radical Plato]

[Roger Bacon]

and when you say too intense, do you mean with the work set/cycle?

if yes, then the answer is yes

i believe that working til failure within the 5-8 rep range is IDEAL

forced reps, drop sets, and negatives could be too intense (depending upon some other factors)

Thanks, I guess I'm referring to going as heavy as possible for a standard 5-8 like you've recommended.  I do drop sets occasionally (not sure if this is worthless, but it is enjoyable to me).

[dj181]

Thanks, I guess I'm referring to going as heavy as possible for a standard 5-8 like you've recommended.  I do drop sets occasionally (not sure if this is worthless, but it is enjoyable to me).

the key is to make progress ie. more weight on the bar (if you're training to get bigger muscles)

so whatever method allows you to do this is the right method

p.s. it's not fucking easy to add weight to the bar, believe me i know tis all too well

[Tito24]

[BigCyp]

Lot of flaggers and failers in this thread lol

[wes]

NATURAL BODYBUILDING is like saying JUMBO SHRIMP.

[Tito24]

[DroppingPlates]

High intensity is good

[Tito24]

[Big Chiro Flex]

so you are making progress on a regular and steady basis? ie progress=getting bigger lean muscles

Never hit a single plateau in 5 years. (I'm 24yo). At least at my age where your body has decent test levels, your body does not simply choose not to adapt to new stimulus and just refuse to add muscle. Thats the biggest crock of shit ive ever read about natural training. And ive seen 5 years of steady progression with my own physique. I am however one of the few I know who still weighs/portions every meal, periodizes their training and follows to a tee, etc...I think being diligent and working hard actually pays off. I'm certainly not gonna be one of those guys who say they "plateau" after their first 18 months of training. F*** that!!! I swear i grow better and respond better each year since I was 19.

I also know 28-30 yo competitive natties who continue looking better every year as well.

[Big Chiro Flex]

the key is to make progress ie. more weight on the bar (if you're training to get bigger muscles)

Or increases in intensity or frequency...not just "load".

Think it's called F.I.T. principle in exercise physiology texts

[DroppingPlates]

Intensity rules

[dr.chimps]

Wasn't Coach 'Mr. Intense?' In any case, that account burned out.

[HTexan]

Yes. When your injured yourself. 

[Man of Steel]

I trained and trained and trained like a beast for years...as intense as possible every session every time.  It got me two things:  great results and great injuries.  The results were awesome and temporary and the injuries persist to this day and some will for the rest of my life.  Better to train with moderate intensity for the sake of health and longevity....cause when it's gone, it's frickin gone.

[DroppingPlates]

I trained and trained and trained like a beast for years...as intense as possible every session every time.  It got me two things:  great results and great injuries.  The results were awesome and temporary and the injuries persist to this day and some will for the rest of my life.  Better to train with moderate intensity for the sake of health and longevity....cause when it's gone, it's frickin gone.

Words of wisdom

[wes]

I trained and trained and trained like a beast for years...as intense as possible every session every time.  It got me two things:  great results and great injuries.  The results were awesome and temporary and the injuries persist to this day and some will for the rest of my life.  Better to train with moderate intensity for the sake of health and longevity....cause when it's gone, it's frickin gone.

You probably went to heavy MOS......heavy doesn`t always mean intense.

try training moderately heavy with very little rest between sets then you will know what intensity is in one of its forms.

[Big Chiro Flex]

lol, most people here dont even come clse to overtraining state ever.

factors leading to overtraining arent training too much or training too intense, it more like bad food, lack of sleep and brutal calorie deficit

but its not that hard to work physicaly at construction site and do a hard diet and train hard every day on a little bit of juice.

if one actualy is dedicated.

so yeah, for most, overtraining is an excuse.

i sometimes trained every day on very low calories for 60 days straight and didnt burn out.

lol at people being afraid of overtraining, esp as long they look like shit.

if you want muscle, eat and train alot, for starters it dont even matter what they eat at all.just eat alot.dont read anything about training and nutrition theories, go to the gym instead and work hard there and make sure to inject the appropiate hormones.

a bodybuilder musnt be stronger every next workout in order to make progress, just train.

Good post.

Drugs or not, it is extremey hard to get to a true state of "overtraining." especially if you have a normal job but "do battle with the iron" for 90 mins a day 6 days a week lol. Try pouring concrete for 10 hours a day and trying to squat or deadlifts after work, THAT is called pushing your body to its limits.  The body's ability to adapt to stress is perhaps its most magnificent function.

[Big Chiro Flex]

yeah, i work on construction site and its very hard, the training is actualy the easy part of the day.

still train every day.

lol at unemployed "bbuilders" thinking "i have to sit at home and rest enough or overtraining will occur"

i was like that too, ill admit.

however, i dont do squats anymore.

LOL

I just remember for my last contest, the last 6 weeks I was doing 70 mins cardio every day, lifting hard 6 days a week, and dropping calories fast. I was hypo between every single meal, would wake up after my first REM cycle every night with hunger pains, was just as miserable as could be. And even after 12 weeks I thought to myself, "that was it?". I still had gas in the tank mentally and physically and could have done another 12 weeks, and I'm not saying I'm the toughest son of a bitch out there, but that it's amazing what you can accomplish under bad circumstances.