How much is to much??

[BlackSheep]

Hey guys, I've been having troble gauging were to end my sesions latetly. I've been BBing for 8 years, I've been doing it as a way of life for the last 2-3 years. I'm 27 now and I've been doing some type of BS weight lifting since 13-14 years old so I've tried it all pretty much. My question I guess, is how many sets should I do in a workout??
Right now I'm training in the higher repp range (12-15 reps) doing 3-4 moves for most body parts and 12-18 sets. Also I train 5 days a week with each body part having it's own day.
I don't often train in this repp rage but I've been lifting Heavy for the last 2 months so I wanted to give my joints a break and give my muscles some new pain!!! I just ended my chest session at 12 sets today and felt like I had alot more in the tank. I don't like feeling that way leaving the gym but I'm one of those stimulus addicts who'll stay there for an hour and a half and fcuking destroy myself before I'm allowed to leave.
So if you have experience, please help me out with a vote or a word of advise................Thanks bros!!

[Squires]

Number of sets is directly related to level of intensity. The higher the intensity (higher % of max) the fewer sets needed. If you are recovering adequately from your currently workload your volume is ok.

To change things up and give your joints a rest, do a different split for a few weeks. Try training each body part twice a week with less volume per session for higher weekly volume. Maybe switch to three whole body days, or just a simple upper/lower split.

The real questions are; how long have you be on your current training plan, and are you still getting results?

[pantera101]

Good question man.I never count how many sets I do.I know that sometimes I feel like I may be doing too much,so I cut back.Then other times I feel like maybe I need more,so I do more. I always change and think this is why I'm not as big as that guy!Then after a while of that,I say no,this is why!

[thundergod]

Hey bro! Subbed to the dubbed!! I didn't vote in your poll man, because I didn't see the range where I train or, think maybe you should try to train. I train somewhere in between a Branch Warren and a Dorian Yates. After a couple of warm-up sets, I'll go straight to my heavy weight and do only 2 work sets!! That's right ....2!! If you'll pour your heart and soul into those 2 sets, you won't need or desire any more!! For major bodyparts (legs, back, and chest) I'll use 5 different excercises for a total of only 10 work sets. But these are BRUTAL work sets! For smaller body parts like delts, bi's and tri's I'll use 3 different excercises for a total of only 6 work sets. But my reps are usually only between 10 or 12. So with your higher reps for right now, you could use maybe 3 work sets of each excercise. But not 5 worksets for 4 or 5 excercises! I think you are using too much volume. I learned years ago, we can't train the way the pros train, because we're not on the gear that they're on! We can't recover like they do. You grow when you're resting!! Cut back and grow bro! THE THUNDERGOD

[crader]

I train in the 15 rep range and we do 5 exercises that are supersetted and do 4 sets.

[BlackSheep]

Well Squiers thanks for the responce man. And I just started this regiment a week ago to take a break from the heavy lifting I've been doing for the last 10 weeks and I am seeing good results from this. I'm probably only working in the 75%1RM now as opposed to the 85-90%1RM I was doing before. After this I have a week of "active" rest planned.
I have been considering the Upper-lower split though working everything twice a week, mainly because I have never tried it but I think that might be suited better for the heavier faze of Periodization?

[pantera101]

I used to love doing full body wo's from time to time untill I did the upper lower split.Mon,Tues,Thur,Fri.I love it!I like basic heavy lifts only,and keeping the wo for each muscle short and sweet,yet intense.Cause it's now time for the next muscle,and it will be hit again this week!An example I would do for bi's would be chin ups one day,and bb curls the next,pull ups for back,then bb rows next.Dips for tris,then close grips.I think I'm growing just talking about it!

Full bodies 3 x's a week are nice too though.Exercises are Mon,Wed,Fri.I like inc bench,flat bench or dips,inc bench again to bring up upper chest(probably my favorite part).Deads,pull ups,bb rows.Close grip,dips,skull crushers.I just like that it's easier to get a real leg wo on lower day on the upper lower.

[BlackSheep]

Hey bro! Subbed to the dubbed!! I didn't vote in your poll man, because I didn't see the range where I train or, think maybe you should try to train. I train somewhere in between a Branch Warren and a Dorian Yates. After a couple of warm-up sets, I'll go straight to my heavy weight and do only 2 work sets!! That's right ....2!! If you'll pour your heart and soul into those 2 sets, you won't need or desire any more!! For major bodyparts (legs, back, and chest) I'll use 5 different excercises for a total of only 10 work sets. But these are BRUTAL work sets! For smaller body parts like delts, bi's and tri's I'll use 3 different excercises for a total of only 6 work sets. But my reps are usually only between 10 or 12. So with your higher reps for right now, you could use maybe 3 work sets of each excercise. But not 5 worksets for 4 or 5 excercises! I think you are using too much volume. I learned years ago, we can't train the way the pros train, because we're not on the gear that they're on! We can't recover like they do. You grow when you're resting!! Cut back and grow bro! THE THUNDERGOD

Well the man himself is up in hur!! Yea bro I used to follow some of Arnolds wo's! I remember there was one I used to do for arms that was five exercises for bi's and five for tri's with five sets each all in different rep ranges!!!! Sometimes I would have to call in sick for work cause I couldn't even pick up "Little BlackSheep" to take a piss the next day.
I guess I'll keep it at around 12 sets after my initial 2, 25-30rep pre exhaustion sets. I'll try the 9 sets Just for you BIG Bro!!, but I'm going to have to superset the whole wo when I do!! What I generally do during "normal" (nothing I like to do is normal...blah) wo's at a heavier weight is I'll either do 3 exercises for 4 sets each or I'll do 4 exercises for 3 sets each and stay in the 5-9 rep range. Why 5-9.........cause everyone else does the 6-10
Thanks for stopping in Crader That's more of the volume I like to do!!!! Your one kickass chick
O' and your a kick ass chick to pantera thanks for showin up guys. I love you all lol......

[BlackSheep]

I used to love doing full body wo's from time to time untill I did the upper lower split.Mon,Tues,Thur,Fri.I love it!I like basic heavy lifts only,and keeping the wo for each muscle short and sweet,yet intense.Cause it's now time for the next muscle,and it will be hit again this week!An example I would do for bi's would be chin ups one day,and bb curls the next,pull ups for back,then bb rows next.Dips for tris,then close grips.I think I'm growing just talking about it!

Full bodies 3 x's a week are nice too though.Exercises are Mon,Wed,Fri.I like inc bench,flat bench or dips,inc bench again to bring up upper chest(probably my favorite part).Deads,pull ups,bb rows.Close grip,dips,skull crushers.I just like that it's easier to get a real leg wo on lower day on the upper lower.

I'm seriously thinking of trying the upper-lower split bro cause I 'like the idea of hittin it twice a week instead of just the one wo per bp. I've always loved high volume wo's though GVT is one faves of my for sure 10 straight sets of heavy bench!!! Forget about it nothing makes me feel that good after wards except marathon sex.... Like I said I'm a stimulus adict man I go until I can't bench the fcuking bar for more than 2repps!!!
But I will dedicate my next wo, (tomorrow's actually) to TG and do just 9 sets. I'll be doing legs and I'll superset the whole wo between squats, the leg press, and stiff leg deads!!!!
BRING IT!!!!!! And of course that doesn't include my 8 sets of calf work right?? Say no............

[pantera101]

O' and your a kick ass chick to pantera thanks for showin up guys. I love you all lol......

I just wanted to add that i too have trouble picking up little blacksheep.So it's not just the sore arms guys!

[pantera101]

I'm seriously thinking of trying the upper-lower split bro cause I 'like the idea of hittin it twice a week instead of just the one wo per bp. I've always loved high volume wo's though GVT is one faves of my for sure 10 straight sets of heavy bench!!! Forget about it nothing makes me feel that good after wards except marathon sex.... Like I said I'm a stimulus adict man I go until I can't bench the fcuking bar for more than 2repps!!!
But I will dedicate my next wo, (tomorrow's actually) to TG and do just 9 sets. I'll be doing legs and I'll superset the whole wo between squats, the leg press, and stiff leg deads!!!!
BRING IT!!!!!! And of course that doesn't include my 8 sets of calf work right?? Say no............

No way man!!!I personally hit calves other days of the week instead of leg day.

[BlackSheep]

I just wanted to add that i too have trouble picking up little blacksheep.So it's not just the sore arms guys!

LMFAO......I gotta lock my doors at night since I met this mofo lol......He's the aggressive type too......
I can see myself at couples therapy with pantera now.......... Sceen 1:

Shrink: BlackSheep what happened to your face?

Me: I fell down the stairs again. I fall alot these days..

Shrink: pantera do you Know anything about this?

Pantera: Nope, maybe he should learn to clean the house and he wouldn't fall so much..............Lazy ass bitzh!!

Me: He's right it was my fault. I should have used the Scrubbing Bubbles...........I'm so scared.....

Shrink: Is this true BlackSheep? .........Are you a lazy ass bitzh?.............LMFAO

[BlackSheep]

No way man!!!I personally hit calves other days of the week instead of leg day.

If I do a nine set wo I'll be done in like 30mins? What the **** will I do with the rest of my day? Smoke a bunch of junk and talk to you ?? I don't think so!!

Hey do you do cardio on leg day, maybe I'll throw that in there.....

[crader]

I do cardio on my leg day first to warm me up.

[BlackSheep]

I do cardio on my leg day first to warm me up.

That's a good idea. I have been implementing pre-exhaustion sets for my warm-ups to keep me on the wimpy side of the db rack so to speak lol.....My joints need this lighter weight but I'm really havin a hard time keeping the volume down....That sounded funny!

[pantera101]

LMFAO......I gotta lock my doors at night since I met this mofo lol......He's the aggressive type too......
I can see myself at couples therapy with pantera now.......... Sceen 1:

Shrink: BlackSheep what happened to your face?

Me: I fell down the stairs again. I fall alot these days..

Shrink: pantera do you Know anything about this?

Pantera: Nope, maybe he should learn to clean the house and he wouldn't fall so much..............Lazy ass bitzh!!

Me: He's right it was my fault. I should have used the Scrubbing Bubbles...........I'm so scared.....

Shrink: Is this true BlackSheep? .........Are you a lazy ass bitzh?.............LMFAO

I started laughing very hard right there!It just kept going!

[BlackSheep]

I started laughing very hard right there!It just kept going!

Haha,....O'sht bro sometimes I even crack myself up lol....That was one of those times LMAO.
You don't train calfs on leg day WTF?? When do you train 'em?

[pantera101]

If I do a nine set wo I'll be done in like 30mins? What the **** will I do with the rest of my day? Smoke a bunch of junk and talk to you ?? I don't think so!!

Hey do you do cardio on leg day, maybe I'll throw that in there.....

I have a hard time getting through leg day about 8 out of 10 times.I still strangely love it though. I usually do front or back sq's,lunges or leg extensions,stiff leg deads and or leg curls.Now I will hit my abs afterwards since I'm cutting and just do as much cardio as I can at the end.It usually doesn't go past 5 minutes or too high of intensity.Sometimes once I start I feel much better and want to keep going.Most times I hate it!I like to hit my calves atleast twice a week and I can do it easier on other days instead of legs.Thats just me though.If I do hit 'em with legs,I do them first.My wo's can last a long time though sometimes when doing this.All's well time and pace wise,untill I start with the sq's!

[BlackSheep]

I hear ya bro, I can't take my pre-wo stuff on squat day cause it usually makes me feel like I need to puke after about 3 sets! Then I do some iso's like extensions or curls and then I go back and burn out on the leg press or the sled! FTW!!!!
How often are you doing your 5 mins of cardio Mr.T? I can't believe you only do 5mins what the **** is that bro ....LMAO
I do 10mins minimum but I go with the "High-tech" bike so it's not to bad. I try to keep my target heart rate around 140.

[pantera101]

I hear ya bro, I can't take my pre-wo stuff on squat day cause it usually makes me feel like I need to puke after about 3 sets! Then I do some iso's like extensions or curls and then I go back and burn out on the leg press or the sled! FTW!!!!
How often are you doing your 5 mins of cardio Mr.T? I can't believe you only do 5mins what the **** is that bro ....LMAO
I do 10mins minimum but I go with the "High-tech" bike so it's not to bad. I try to keep my target heart rate around 140.

No thats just after legs Mr.T.I try for more but sometimes it's hell just getting 5 minutes!I do atleast 10 minutes 5 days a week after weights.I had it up to 12 at one point,but being late would cause me to do 10 or even less with higher intensity.I do the high intensity interval cardio.After a brief warm up it's 40 seconds all out,then 20 taking it easy.I think my heart rate will get up around 160 I believe.I'm going to try hard to be able and do 12 minutes from now on.I just reduced carbs a little and upped my ECA to 3 x's a day instead of 2.Changes have been slowing it seems like.