High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way Paperback – Illustrated, January 3, 2003

Thoroughly enjoying this book. Mentzer has a different philosophy about resistance training and very different than what I was exposed to and still practice to this day. I am looking forward to book completion and will post follow-ups as to how the "new" training proceeds.

I am actually quite excited to try out this "new" system. I say new because it is new to me, the info here is back from the 80's / 90's. I have been working out pretty regularly for about 10 years, I am more a fitness enthusiast than bodybuilder. I don't have any desire to get as big as possible, but more so to have a muscular physique and be in good general shape. I have been following the normal sets x reps for pretty much the entire time I've been working out with decent results. I definitely look better and am stronger than 10 years ago.The reason for looking into this was more of a time-saver. A normal workout is pretty short for me right now, say 20-30 minutes but I'm always looking for a better way to get the same if not better results in shorter time. This system focuses around really taxing the muscle in 1 set, through very slow reps up and down versus the traditional way of larger volume. It also suggests longer resting periods between workouts to really focus on recovery as we know your muscles actually grow during recovery, not training. Will this work? I believe so, it's just science. Once you really tax a muscle out to the point another rep is not possible, give adequate time to recover and then increase the intensity in the next workout through more reps or more weight, why wouldn't it? It's simply following the break it down, let it repair, and then challenge it again harder philosophy that forces muscles to change, and grow. This system just does it in a compressed manner, with more intensity.I figure worst case scenario, even if my gains are the same I am still saving time versus the longer marathon workouts some people do, and that's more time for me to focus on life.UPDATE: I got to try these principles last night as I am in the stage of figuring out which excercises / poundages to start with. I haven't been this sore in a while! This experimental workout lasted about 20 minutes only during which I tried these principles with pullups, behind the neck shoulder presses, preacher curls and side lateral raises for shoulders. Took each set to failure as recommended...what a difference. You must make an honest effort and go to true failure i.e. you cannot lift another rep, which is hard...but then boom! You're done with that exercise and on to the next....This seems to have a lot of promise!UPDATE 2: I am about 2 weeks into this new approach, and I am getting stronger every week. The key is really finding exercises you can perform under perfect control, with little to no sloppiness. That way you can really focus on the movement / intensity vs. the number of reps. I am now more sore after a singe set of this high intensity exercise than I was from 2-4 sets of the regular reps, the key being the much longer reps (4 seconds up / pause 2 seconds / 4 seconds down). It boils down to much more intensity, in much lesser time. I'm a believer!

Ah, "High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way"! Imagine, if you will, a tome that unlocks the secrets of a legendary bodybuilder's revolutionary approach to fitness. This book, penned by the illustrious Mike Mentzer, is like a map to a hidden treasure trove of strength and muscle.Within its pages lies the essence of High-Intensity Training (HIT), a method that defies the norms of traditional bodybuilding. Mentzer's philosophy is simple yet profound: shorter, less frequent workouts that push muscles to their limits, yet allow ample time for recovery. It's a dance of intensity and rest, a balance that promises results without the weariness of endless gym sessions.The book is not merely a collection of exercises; it's a journey into the mind of a visionary. Mentzer, the first man to achieve a perfect score in the Mr. Universe competition, shares his wisdom on training to failure, the importance of recovery, and the psychological aspects of bodybuilding. His words are like a coach's encouraging whisper, guiding you through each rep and set.With fascinating biographical details and striking photos, the book paints a vivid portrait of a bodybuilding icon, inspiring readers to strive for excellence. It's a blend of science and art, a guide that transforms the way one views fitness and strength.So, dear reader, let this book be your guide to a new realm of bodybuilding, where efficiency meets effectiveness, and where the pursuit of muscle is both logical and magical.

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.

This book has a lot of good information. For new lifters, it will help you avoid wasting time on fad ideas. Some of the information is outdated, and science has proven otherwise. But there is no bad information here.