how many

[KAM]

OK guys how many working sets should you do per bodypart,  opinions?   I've always heard 12 -16 but no more.

[alexxx]

OK guys how many working sets should you do per bodypart,  opinions?   I've always heard 12 -16 but no more.

Anywhere from 1 to 100 is fine for muscle growth!

[Bluto]

well depends 

[gibberj2]

yea little guys like me can't handle as much as bigger guys like the fabulous and recently "out" alexxx. for complete beginners just a few sets does the trick.

[KAM]

ok how about not for beginners

[alexxx]

yea little guys like me can't handle as much as bigger guys like the fabulous and recently "out" alexxx. for complete beginners just a few sets does the trick.

Actually I am only doing one set pet bodypart But thanks for the props!

[KAM]

one set seriously, hows that working for you.

[gibberj2]

it's all about intensity with alexxx

[alexxx]

one set seriously, hows that working for you.

Pretty well so far. Gonna do it for another two months and will report all at the same time as dieting.

[runnerbabe]

On upper body days for example

I do mainly supersets --say--chest with back so I usually do 2 warm up sets with lighter dumbells then can do 4 or more sets incrementally increasing the weight with a few less reps and alternating chest and back. Mostly I do 3 sets with challenging weight and get it done.

If I do rest pause for the bench instead --I do 2 warm up sets then maybe 3-4 solid and brutal rapid fire sets with that technique and I am usually fried.

I keep my workouts to 45 minutes or under for the lifting part so I usually do no more than 2 different exercises each for chest, back, or shoulders.

One exception is a routine I do ---5-6 different shoulder moves x 3 sets using lighter weight that really works all angles and burns out my shoulders.

I agree -- if you do less intensity-- you can do many more sets.. but mixing it up works for me.

[JackCheze]

Don't ask other fucking people for shit like that!

Here's what you NEED to know. The body adapts to what you decide to give it.

If you do a shitload of reps you'll thin out like an endurance athlete.

If you want mass train for power. Warm up however you really feel warm, but for work sets fuck yourself up. I mean that if you can lift something really heavy for two and feel okay after drop the weight until you can smoke yourself on another weight for low reps.

It's all power man, don't worry about reps and sets, just output

[pumpster]

Here's what you NEED to know. The body adapts to what you decide to give it.

If you do a shitload of reps you'll thin out like an endurance athlete.

If you want mass train for power. Warm up however you really feel warm, but for work sets f**k yourself up. I mean that if you can lift something really heavy for two and feel okay after drop the weight until you can smoke yourself on another weight for low reps.

It's all power man, don't worry about reps and sets, just output

All true, except training for power. Don't go lower than moderate reps 6-12. Go lower than that  and strength is maximized but not development, plus lower reps with higher weight is harsh on the joints, warmup or not.

[JackCheze]

yeah yeah... it's magic, it's a formula...

lift for YOUR body, not for what other guys say

[pumpster]

No idea what that means but keep the reps moderate.

[JPM]

I'm not sure what JC means either.

 For general BB'ing, anywhere from 2 to 6 sets a muscle group. Larger area's like legs or back do not need any more work than any other body part. If you can't get a outstanding muscle building workout, along with a great pump, with-in 6 sets (or less) a muscle group than it's time to replan your whole outlook on training. Time of a workout can be between 30 to 45 minutes. Runnerbabe comes nearest the truth. Intense training in the shortest period of time for pure BB'ing. The old Time under Tension (TUT) method. 60 seconds between set's. 120 seconds between exercises when working a muscle group. And if anyone works well past a great pump(4-6 sets) than their just wasting their time.

Exceptions to the 6 set muscle group max, of course. I cycle GVT (10X10's) for 6-8 week cycles from time to time. I also do heavy power and partial push/pulls on a power rack for 6-8 weeks. Where the set's may be between 1 to 4  a muscle group. Not for everyone, of course. Good Luck.