Working out 5 hours a day

[MonztaProducts]

Im 27 years old....have recently made the decision to pursue natural bodybuilding.

I was in the Army for 7 years so am used to constant physical training. I have read the popular programs like 5x5 Strength training, 3 days per week with HIT programs and I cant help but feel i am wasting my time having so many days and hours resting.

Arnie trained for 5 hours a day in the gym. And we all know he is the greatest of all time. Why then do so many people promote such short workouts and so many days off? I understand recovery is needed. But what about adaptation? At times in the Army i went without food and sleep for up to 6 days straight. During that time i worked incredibly hard both physically and mentally. Under normal circumstances this would be ludicrous to attempt. But when i had no choice, my body adapted and overcame the challenges.

Shouldnt then my body be able to adapt and overcome the stresses of 5 hours in the gym per day and ultimately end up being far better off for it?

I dont want to go over the top. But i have a tenacity to work harder than everyone else that im up agaisnt. I cant stand the thought of someone im competing against working harder than me.

Any thoughts?

[Mdenatale]

I cant speak to to possibility of working out 5 hours a day, but I you do realize Arnold was not a "natural" body builder.

[chrissypoo13]

Most of us dont have time to workout 5+ days a week for 5 hours a day. Also what was said above, arnold wasnt natural. If you do it, post your results. We will see if you make gains quicker than the noob who does a 3 day a week beginner program.

[MonztaProducts]

I cant speak to to possibility of working out 5 hours a day, but I you do realize Arnold was not a "natural" body builder.

Certainly realise Arnie wasnt natural. But i admire his drive and commitment.

[VIsland]

Lulz 5 hours a day.

[coolwavy]

ray lewis worked out 8-10 hours a day. go for it

[MonztaProducts]

Most of us dont have time to workout 5+ days a week for 5 hours a day. Also what was said above, arnold wasnt natural. If you do it, post your results. We will see if you make gains quicker than the noob who does a 3 day a week beginner program.

No worries ill try to post some results for scrutiny over the coming weeks...ill do a weekly update

Ive been training like this for 3 months now. Unfortunately i dont have all of my retrospective workouts to post in here....but i can tell you a few stats that i have kept on record since December 2012.

1st Dec 2012 - Weight 72kg - Bodyfat 11% - Biceps 35cm - Bench 1RM 80kg - Squat 1RM 50kg - Dead Lift 1RM 60kg
10 Jan 2013 - Weight 79kg - Bodyfat 13% - Biceps 36.5cm - Bench 1RM 95kg - Squat 1RM 68kg - Dead Lift 1RM 95kg
10 Feb 2013 - Weight 80kg - Bodyfat 13% - Biceps 37.5cm - Bench 1RM102kg - Squat 1RM 75kg - Dead Lift 1RM 109kg
Feb 25 2013 - Weight 83kg - Bodyfat 12% - Biceps 38cm - Bench 1RM 109kg - Squat 1RM 81.66kg - Dead Lift 1RM 122.5kg

This is a basic summary of some stats ive kept over the last three months......sorry i dont have exact lifts. If i detailed every lift i did the workout log would be insanely long....as you just do so many lifts in 3 to 5 hours.

Ill update the above stats each week to demonstrate my progress. Ill train 5 days a week for a minimum of 3 hours per day.

Look forward to your input.

[Dano85]

No worries ill try to post some results for scrutiny over the coming weeks...ill do a weekly update

Ive been training like this for 3 months now. Unfortunately i dont have all of my retrospective workouts to post in here....but i can tell you a few stats that i have kept on record since December 2012.

1st Dec 2012 - Weight 72kg - Bodyfat 11% - Biceps 35cm - Bench 1RM 80kg - Squat 1RM 50kg - Dead Lift 1RM 60kg
10 Jan 2013 - Weight 79kg - Bodyfat 13% - Biceps 36.5cm - Bench 1RM 95kg - Squat 1RM 68kg - Dead Lift 1RM 95kg
10 Feb 2013 - Weight 80kg - Bodyfat 13% - Biceps 37.5cm - Bench 1RM102kg - Squat 1RM 75kg - Dead Lift 1RM 109kg
Feb 25 2013 - Weight 83kg - Bodyfat 12% - Biceps 38cm - Bench 1RM 109kg - Squat 1RM 81.66kg - Dead Lift 1RM 122.5kg

This is a basic summary of some stats ive kept over the last three months......sorry i dont have exact lifts. If i detailed every lift i did the workout log would be insanely long....as you just do so many lifts in 3 to 5 hours.

Ill update the above stats each week to demonstrate my progress. Ill train 5 days a week for a minimum of 3 hours per day.

Look forward to your input.

WTF are you gonna do in the gym for 3 hours? what do you think your workouts are going to be like exercise set rep wise? and your 27 dont you have a job or some sort of life?

[DetMatthews]

http://www.jimwendler.com/2012/11/lo...otball-player/

The gist is that you don't decide to become a bodybuilder and then jump into 5 hour workouts. Let's look at Arnold:

- UNBELIEVABLE genetics
- chemical assistance
- top notch nutrition (for his time)
- A LOT OF TIME SPENT IN A GYM BEFORE HE WAS WORKING OUT FOR 5 HOURS A DAY

One of the ideas promoted pretty heavily here is that you add stimulation when you need it and when you can take advantage of it. You could work out 5 hours a day, but you could also get good results doing full body workouts and giving your body some rest. Then, when you're ready, add in more volume per workout, and more workouts per week. By the time you need those 5 hours in the gym in order to make gains, you'll know, and you'll probably have the time for it since you'll have quit your job to pursue professional bodybuilding.

I believe Arnold was actually doing full body 3x a week programs before doing all sorts of body part splits anyway. So if you want to do what he did, start where he started.

You don't have unbelievable genetics, you don't wish to go the route of chemical assistance, and you don't have the need for such stimulation or even the work capacity to go that long with any kind of intensity.

[MonztaProducts]

WTF are you gonna do in the gym for 3 hours? what do you think your workouts are going to be like exercise set rep wise? and your 27 dont you have a job or some sort of life?

I start with compound movements. Mon Wed Fri i start with Squats......Tue Thur i start with Dead Lifts......after those big compounds i go onto isolations doing drop sets to failure. I fill 3 hours easily.

Lol....yes im 27....have wife, 2 kids, and own a sports supplement business....im lucky....i have the privelage of being able to live off the profits of my business. So i have the time to be in the gym that often.

[MonztaProducts]

The gist is that you don't decide to become a bodybuilder and then jump into 5 hour workouts. Let's look at Arnold:

- UNBELIEVABLE genetics
- chemical assistance
- top notch nutrition (for his time)
- A LOT OF TIME SPENT IN A GYM BEFORE HE WAS WORKING OUT FOR 5 HOURS A DAY

I dont doubt his genetics dominate mine. But mine are pretty sweet. Im not going for the chemical assistance.....my nutrition is squared....(proabably better than Arnies thanks to todays advancements in nutritional studies and availability) and im not starting out in the gym. I have been in the gym my whole life....its just i have had different goals at different times. I was a top 5 nationally ranked tennis player as a 17 year old. I joined the Army at 18 and held Army fitness records for core body strength, and own bodyweight benchpress (at the time i was 65kg and had a 1RM of 135kg) and am a qualified personal trainer. So im no stranger to th weights room. Its just that now i have decided to stop pursuing cardio fitness and strength to weight ratios like i used to and pursue size and symmetry instead.

[MonztaProducts]

One of the ideas promoted pretty heavily here is that you add stimulation when you need it and when you can take advantage of it. You don't have the need for such stimulation or even the work capacity to go that long with any kind of intensity.

Thing is for me i have always trained constantly. As a tennis player i trained 4 hours on court per day and 1 hour gym per day. As an Army Officer we had PT every morning for 2 hours followed by skills training all day which was physical followed by my own gym session in the evening.

I understand that you add stimulation as you need it, but for so long i have done such high levels of activity that i feel if i wind it all back to 3 one hour sessions per week id go backward

[ODoyle99]

The reason pharmaceutical assistance is necessary is because your body can only synthesize skeletal muscle at a certain rate. (and the chemicals increase that exponentially).
Without steroids no matter how driven you are, all you're doing is tearing down muscle fibers and not letting your body repair and improve. Again: no matter how focused you are your body can only synthesize skeletal muscle at a very slow rate.

EDIT: Also, when you're describing your past exercise level, it seems that most of it is entirely cardio (or something like "active recovery.") You can easily offset enormous amounts of cardio with calories, that's why you were able to handle it. Intense weight training for that long will NOT have the same effect as tennis.

[Tomohawk92]

who the f*ck lifts 7 days a week?

[MonztaProducts]

who the f*ck lifts 7 days a week?

Im 5 days....id love to go seven.....but gotta spend time with the wife and kids

[Musclemadeeasy]

This is the main reason half of you guys never see any real results. Training only 3 days a week? LOL. Good luck reaching super saiyan training like that.

[Musclemadeeasy]

who the f*ck lifts 7 days a week?

I do mate. That's what separates the boys from the men.

If you look at the guys on here running their mouth about people who train everyday, look in the mirror, the results speak for themselves.

[VIsland]

This is the main reason half of you guys never see any real results. Training only 3 days a week? LOL. Good luck reaching super saiyan training like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=fYxCrugJj_o

[MonztaProducts]

[QUOTE=VIsland;1031033023[/QUOTE]
Loved the super sayin video......

[chrissypoo13]

Im waiting for this thread to blow up in arguements about frequency vs volume...

[doza808]

I don't really know how that would work out there OP. If it works for you then keep at it nomsayin? Personally, I workout 5 days a week doing two-a-days. I do my weight training for 1.5 hours in the morning and at my lunch break I do a cardio session of about 45min to an hour. It's not HIIT training but a steady pace of keeping my HR at 130-135 for fat burning (cutting).

This may seem like a lot but my meals make up for it.

[AntonisD]

Im waiting for this thread to blow up in arguements about frequency vs volume...

Not much to argue on really. Studies show that for optimal hypertrophy you need moderate volume, moderate load, moderate frequency. Its a U shaped curve with all variables... Like an ancient Greek dude said "pan metron ariston" google it

[orangegoblin]

Combat training is different. The goals are different. Soldiers train for endurance and to be able to complete battlefield missions under conditions of intense stress and exhaustion. Bodybuilding is about maximizing muscle gains while minimizing bodyfat (I realize that I am simplifying here).

Different objectives; different training.

That said, go ahead and incorporate some conditioning/functional/general preparedness stuff into your off days and see if it works for you.

[DetMatthews]

I dont doubt his genetics dominate mine. But mine are pretty sweet. Im not going for the chemical assistance.....my nutrition is squared....(proabably better than Arnies thanks to todays advancements in nutritional studies and availability) and im not starting out in the gym. I have been in the gym my whole life....its just i have had different goals at different times. I was a top 5 nationally ranked tennis player as a 17 year old. I joined the Army at 18 and held Army fitness records for core body strength, and own bodyweight benchpress (at the time i was 65kg and had a 1RM of 135kg) and am a qualified personal trainer. So im no stranger to th weights room. Its just that now i have decided to stop pursuing cardio fitness and strength to weight ratios like i used to and pursue size and symmetry instead.

Like a kid with orthopedic shoes, I stand corrected. Your genetics are pretty sweet. Top 5 in a country in a sport that's so athletically demanding is pretty damn impressive at any age. Not Arnold number one in the world for several years impressive, but impressive nonetheless.

But like Odoyle said, all that cardio is different than weights. Weights are so much more intense, that's why sets last 20-30 seconds and the rest times in between sets are quadruple that if not more depending on intensity. There's no way any mere mortal is going to be able to sustain a lot of intensity over that period of time on an almost daily basis. Judging based on your lifts, you've certainly improved, but there have been many people who have made the same, if not significantly better improvements in the first couple months of lifting seriously. I mean you're not at a bodyweight squat 1RM after a couple months. There's no way that doesn't happen with your level of athleticism on a full body plan 3 times a week.

Like I said, you can get ok gains like that and many people have, but why would you work so hard and spend so much time when you could just not work so hard and spend less time.

[chrissypoo13]

Not much to argue on really. Studies show that for optimal hypertrophy you need moderate volume, moderate load, moderate frequency. Its a U shaped curve with all variables... Like an ancient Greek dude said "pan metron ariston" google it

Haha i agree with you, but not all people see that. There are people on this thread and in the section in general that believe more is better. Like when the '7 day a weekers' and the 'workout program regulars' meet in the same thread, there seems to always be some kind of conflict

[ironwill2008]

I do mate. That's what separates the boys from the men.

If you look at the guys on here running their mouth about people who train everyday, look in the mirror, the results speak for themselves.

The reason why most people don't train 7 days a week is that it's counterproductive for the vast majority.



If it's worked otherwise for you, post some pics of the development you've achieved from such frequent training.

[chrissypoo13]

The reason why most people don't train 7 days a week is that it's counterproductive for the vast majority.



If it's worked otherwise for you, post some pics of the development you've achieved from such frequent training.

This.

Ironwill wins all!

[deschet13]

Working out 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, you averaged increases of 5.3 lbs per week in bench, 7.5 lbs p/w in squat & 11.5 lbs p/w in dl. Doing SS for about an hour 3 days a week you would have averaged better at 7.5 lbs for bench & 15 lbs for squat and dl. The real question is why wouldn't someone want to workout 3 hours a week and make better progress than someone that works out 25 hours a week? But if you enjoy it then don't let anyone stand in your way from doing what you like.

[McWinning]

pretty sure arnie went to the gym 2 times a day, not 5 hours straight, like morning night maybe?

total time of 5 hours

[ironwill2008]

pretty sure arnie went to the gym 2 times a day, not 5 hours straight, like morning night maybe?

total time of 5 hours

Pretty sure Arnie was blessed with supremely superior recovery genetics, had all day long to do whatever he chose (include taking naps), and was assisted by use of "Flintstonez Vitaminz."


None of it relevant to the vast majority of us regular people.