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You are here: Home / Fitness / M4:D38 (D338) Increase Intensity With Super Sets

M4:D38 (D338) Increase Intensity With Super Sets

September 28, 2008 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT Leave a Comment

  

What's on my mind today?

When trying to increase intensity, one of the most common methods is using super sets.  A super set involves a number of different exercises for two or more body parts one after another.  Body part number one is exercised and then body part number two, etc.  You would use a moderate to heavy weight with minimal rest between exercises.  The rest between the sets is between 2 to 5 minutes.

This method is one of the most commonly used methods for upping the intensity of a lifting workout.  If you were working your arms, you could efficiently use super sets to work your biceps and then your triceps.  You could start out working your biceps by doing alternating dumbbell curls and then immediately go to skull crushers to work your triceps.  When you complete one set of each exercise you have completed one super set and you would then rest  before starting another super set.

This methodology is common with workouts today because it allows you to get more done in a shorter amount of time.  It makes your gym time more efficient and the intensity level much higher.

You can then take the first two methods of increasing intensity and apply them to the super set technique.  It is possible to use a drop set as part of the super set.  You can also use timed repetitions with the super set.  Coupling either of those two methods with the super set is going to give you one very intense burn in your muscles.

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Find out what I'm doing to my body!

Today I made a modification to my cardio training the way I had mentioned I would.  My new plan is simple. I will do cardio only two times per week during my bulk.  I will do a steady state session on Tuesday and then a spinning class for my intervals on Saturday.  

Today I took my first spinning class.  It was intense.  I was sweating profusely and my heart rate remained high the entire time.  At the same time, when you do the spinning correctly, it works your legs, hamstrings and glutes.  It was a massive cardio workout. 

Additionally, after consulting with Carlos DeJesus about the lack of fire in the belly during Friday's lifting, I have decided to cut back to two days a week lifting.  Carlos had told me originally that this might happen.  He warned me that recovery would eventually become an issue.  To quote Carlos:

"The stronger you get, the harder you can train
That's what intensity is.
If you are stronger and can train harder, you will still need recovery time.
And as you get stronger and can train harder you will still need more time for recovery.
There is no guarantee that three days should be your Training Model with this type of intensity.
There should be no assumption that 3 is better than 2 days."

My Experiment of One continues.

 
Exercise the brain with the Thought of the Day!

Never be afraid to make changes to your program when your results indicate that change is required.
 
Get a discussion started by answering the question!

Have you tried out any of the first three intensity methods I've mentioned and what did you think?  Comment today's post to answer the question.
 

 
  

Mission 2, Day 38: End of a lifting phase

Until tomorrow…GET BACK TO LIFTING!

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Filed Under: Fitness, Old Blog Entries

About Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT

Mike is a passionate bodybuilder, NPC Competitor and ISSA Certified Personal Trainer who is always looking for ways to do things better. He also has a passion for correcting the misinformation that is prevalent in the bodybuilding and fitness industry today. Mike is currently working on his first eBook, Get Back to Lifting, which is scheduled to be released soon. He is also working on a second book, The Average Guy's Supplement Guide, that is scheduled to be released the end of 2016.

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