how many sets?

andyboro · 05-12-2006, 04:35 PM

Ive been getting a bit of a hammering recently because apparently im doing too many sets per workout.. just thought i'd ask how many sets you guys do?

for me its usually around 15 on chest & legs days & closer to 20 on back/shoulders..

mrhulahoop · 05-12-2006, 05:20 PM

Never ever more than 12 sets per body part for me. So If I was doing chest, I'd do maybe four sets on three excersizes. When you say 20 for back and shoulders, you dont mean you do twenty on your back AND twenty on your shoulders do you? Thinking about it Im sure you can't mean that.

I find I grow much quicker if I keep sets down to 12 maximum.

andyboro · 05-12-2006, 05:33 PM

lol 20 all in bud - even im not that crazy!!

i do 3 sets of 8 reps so 5 exercises on chest days & 7 for back/shoulders..

written like that my chest seems a bit like overkill....

crazycal1 · 05-12-2006, 05:35 PM

pmsl

i do no more than 5 sets per body part which usually equates to 10-11 sets per workout once every 4 days
legs get done every time :twisted:

mrhulahoop · 05-12-2006, 05:43 PM

Yeah, I realised when I wrote it that you couldnt be doing twenty sets!

Squatty · 05-12-2006, 06:23 PM

You know what i think mate. As you're definately growing then you cant be overtraining that much. i'd wait until you hit a plateau and then review things

Young Gun · 06-12-2006, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squatty

You know what i think mate. As you're definately growing then you cant be overtraining that much. i'd wait until you hit a plateau and then review things

Good point. 16 sets 4 times a week for me

**LeeB** · 06-12-2006, 10:52 AM

it all depends on how your body responds... some people respond to lots of sets (high volume) some people respond to few sets (low volume)..

at the end of the day as squatty says if its working then theres your answer.. if it aint broke dont fix it!!!!!

the main point is that throughout your session you have enough energy to lift a heavy weight with each working set and pump the muscle up fully... if your finding your getting fatigues during your training tehn lower the sets.. as long as you consistently have enough energy to take each muscle group to failure... and beyond when neccesary... theres not a problem.

also.. as long as your not sore for any more than 2-3 days after a particular muscle group then your body should be healing ok too!

no reason why you cant throw in a low volume workout here and there tho!!! with low volume you need to make ure that with every set you take every single muscle fibre to failure!

andyboro · 06-12-2006, 11:10 AM

cheers for the replies guys..

thats my problem with low volume workouts tbh - i tried one on monday because i was training at a differnt gym with a guy who trains there regular & trained his way which was easily halfg what id do.. Walked out thinking 'is that it!!'

on the strength of that im leaving as is until my body tells me otherwise..

thanks guys..

mrhulahoop · 06-12-2006, 12:27 PM

In responose to what Lee B was saying:

I do 12 on chest, and train to failure each time on a heavy weight and it works fine for me, and at the end I feel as if Ive done enough.

I train the same way with other parts of body, but with shoulders I always feel as If i could do a lot more. Even though i am training to failure each time and it burns like hell I always feel as if I could pick up those dumbells again and do another solid set to failure. Are you saying that if I went ahead and did that, then that would be OK? Normally when I feel like that Id up the weight, but cant seem to on shoulders at the moment. :?

05-12-2006, 04:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
andyboro Making Progress Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 200 Rep Power:	how many sets? Ive been getting a bit of a hammering recently because apparently im doing too many sets per workout.. just thought i'd ask how many sets you guys do? for me its usually around 15 on chest & legs days & closer to 20 on back/shoulders..

05-12-2006, 05:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
crazycal1 Illuminati Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Posts: 2,910 Rep Power:	pmsl i do no more than 5 sets per body part which usually equates to 10-11 sets per workout once every 4 days legs get done every time :twisted: ______________________ einsteins mind was the key to all things...to understand more than to know. www.englishmuscle.co.uk www.extremenutrition.co.uk

06-12-2006, 10:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
LeeB Moderator Musclechat Icon Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,991 Rep Power:	it all depends on how your body responds... some people respond to lots of sets (high volume) some people respond to few sets (low volume).. at the end of the day as squatty says if its working then theres your answer.. if it aint broke dont fix it!!!!! the main point is that throughout your session you have enough energy to lift a heavy weight with each working set and pump the muscle up fully... if your finding your getting fatigues during your training tehn lower the sets.. as long as you consistently have enough energy to take each muscle group to failure... and beyond when neccesary... theres not a problem. also.. as long as your not sore for any more than 2-3 days after a particular muscle group then your body should be healing ok too! no reason why you cant throw in a low volume workout here and there tho!!! with low volume you need to make ure that with every set you take every single muscle fibre to failure! ______________________ If your not a part of the greatest... you got to be the greatest yourself! For the best supplements: www.extremenutrition.co.uk

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05-12-2006, 05:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
mrhulahoop Making Progress Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 350 Rep Power:	Never ever more than 12 sets per body part for me. So If I was doing chest, I'd do maybe four sets on three excersizes. When you say 20 for back and shoulders, you dont mean you do twenty on your back AND twenty on your shoulders do you? Thinking about it Im sure you can't mean that. I find I grow much quicker if I keep sets down to 12 maximum.

05-12-2006, 05:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
andyboro Making Progress Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 200 Rep Power:	lol 20 all in bud - even im not that crazy!! i do 3 sets of 8 reps so 5 exercises on chest days & 7 for back/shoulders.. written like that my chest seems a bit like overkill....

05-12-2006, 05:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
mrhulahoop Making Progress Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 350 Rep Power:	Yeah, I realised when I wrote it that you couldnt be doing twenty sets!

05-12-2006, 06:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Squatty Legend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: www.counselling-for-men.co.uk Posts: 651 Rep Power:	You know what i think mate. As you're definately growing then you cant be overtraining that much. i'd wait until you hit a plateau and then review things

06-12-2006, 11:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
andyboro Making Progress Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 200 Rep Power:	cheers for the replies guys.. thats my problem with low volume workouts tbh - i tried one on monday because i was training at a differnt gym with a guy who trains there regular & trained his way which was easily halfg what id do.. Walked out thinking 'is that it!!' on the strength of that im leaving as is until my body tells me otherwise.. thanks guys..

06-12-2006, 12:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
mrhulahoop Making Progress Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 350 Rep Power:	In responose to what Lee B was saying: I do 12 on chest, and train to failure each time on a heavy weight and it works fine for me, and at the end I feel as if Ive done enough. I train the same way with other parts of body, but with shoulders I always feel as If i could do a lot more. Even though i am training to failure each time and it burns like hell I always feel as if I could pick up those dumbells again and do another solid set to failure. Are you saying that if I went ahead and did that, then that would be OK? Normally when I feel like that Id up the weight, but cant seem to on shoulders at the moment. :?