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You are here: Home / Fitness / M6:D80 (D558) Compound or Isolation: Does it matter?

M6:D80 (D558) Compound or Isolation: Does it matter?

May 6, 2009 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT Leave a Comment

The Muscle Building Fat Burning Video Blog #39
May 5, 2009

 

         

 


What's on my mind today?

Read almost any bodybuilding forum on the internet today and you will see people on both sides of this issue passionately stating their case.  Should you stick to just compound movements or is it ok to add in some isolation exercises for good measure?  My answers may surprise you.

I was once a “compound only” defender.  I know that compound movements recruit more of your muscles than isolation exercises.  I worked hard and used compound movements. I heard all about how you don’t have to train biceps directly as they will grow from just compound movements.  Being a proponent of the Experiment of One, I quickly learned that this is not true for me.  I get my best growth in my biceps when I train them directly. 

At the same time, I truly believe that if you focus too much on isolation movements you are shortchanging yourself.  Compound movements should dominate your routines.  Isolation movements should be there to assist.  In fact, if you are working on building strength and increasing mass, I’d focus mainly on compound movements.  They will give you the most bang for the buck.

The system I am using now mixes compound movements with isolation movements, resulting in some of the most brutal workouts I’ve ever experienced.  The pain that comes along with biceps exercises is exquisitely intense.  I love the feel of the pump in my biceps at the end of a hard fought set of curls.  There is no other feeling quite like it.

On the other hand, when you just finish blasting out a heavy compound set you feel like Hercules.  That feeling carries you through your workout with the knowledge that you can and will lift anything.  It is amazing!

Execute the Experiment of One.  Find out what works best for you and then work it hard.  You won’t be sorry. 

 

 
Find out what I'm doing to my body!

 

When I originally read through this workout my thoughts were “Not that big a deal” but after yet another brutal beating of my body, I don’t think that any longer.  Matty and I simply blasted ourselves again today.  When we leave the gym we laugh about how hard we worked.   
 
Exercise the brain with the Thought of the Day!

Make sure to use the Experiment of One to determine the various factors that can effect your workouts. 
 
Get a discussion started by answering the question!

What percentage of your workouts contain isolation movements?  Comment this post to answer the question. 
 

 
 

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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