This post is for John Stone and others that may want to comment on 8x8 sets and reps and the other training methods Vince advocated.

I am wondering if you have tried the Vince Gironda way of training. It would seem the Max OT and heavy weight increasing program you are on has it's drawbacks as injuries are popping up. I read back in your daily updates to when you first posted about your shoulder injury and came up on the weighted dips as what I thought was the cause, then I read the post after that and found you attribute the injury to that excercise too. It would seem a good time to experiment with this method as it uses only 60% of your maximum 6 rep weight.

I'm 46 years old and just getting back into BB, When I was 21 I was 155lbs and ripped, got married and kids are getting over 18 now and I started feeling way to old, I started saying things like "a big fat guy like me..." and had to toss my weight back and forth to get up off the couch. Also had trouble reaching behind me with the toilet paper so I said enough is enough.

5' 11" I was 235 lbs Feb 1st and down to 210 as of today using 40,40,20 P,C,F. I started lifting again with 150lb bench 3 weeks ago and am up to 205 now for 2 reps, However after reading of your injuries and having some close calls allready (to heavy dumbells on front laterals pulled a muscle in forarm a tad and then using 50lb dumbells for arnold presses lost controll for a sec and pulled a tad in my right lat behind the shoulder blade) I plan on testing this out. My Bicep measures 16" and the last arm routine I did was preachers using up to 95 lbs on a ezcurl bar 8 reps using rest pause then superset lying tricep with the same weight, my triceps are still sore 7 days later but a noticable size look to my arms even though they measure the same 16". by the way I bought the Vince stuff back in the 70s and I plan to look for it in my old boxes in the attic, they sell for $175.00 today!, I started with Vince and I think it's somewhat interesting that bodybuilding.com would have a 2 part series on him and his methods on the day I read that you have another injury and as I sit and wonder just when I am going to overdo it. My wife moved her piano from its spot downstairs to the third floor so I could put in a new Hoist Hack and leg press because she new I was going to wrench my back with those squats. I suspect too heavy of deadlifts or squats could be the possible cause here as a shot in the dark.

I am taking weekly pictures so I can do a movie like you have done as it has really helped me in assessing how long it should take to see changes as I go forward. At a later date I plan to post about the weight loss platos I am having on the way down and I hope to get a better answer as to what exactly causes them to hold for 11 days or so and then drastically drop and stop again.

Shooting for ripped abs where ever that puts my weight at in the next 10 weeks as the boating season takes off up here in Minnesota.

http://www.bodybuildinglive.com/vincegironda/

Girl using Vince Methods with pictures
http://www.sportlabdirect.com/teamsportlab/dicaire_2004fitness_countdown/index.html

Remembering the Guru at bodybuilding.com
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/guru.htm

I feel your pain! I knew I was too fat when I had to grab the top of the car door to pull myself out of the car.

I don't know anything about Vince Gironda but Max OT is definitely not for the beginner! Like me, you've been out of body building for so long that you really are a beginner, at least in terms of muscle and joint strength. I've chosen to use pyramid training until I reach an unsurpassable plateau.

The theory behind Max OT sounds good to me but I'm rather conservative. I'll redevelop my strength using the older methods and evaluate Max OT when the time comes.

Hi metron, i have all along been fasinated by Vince's training method but never managed to grab hold of his books, even tried ordering at Amazon.com and they made me wait for more then 6 mths before they review that it's out of print.

Anyway, care to share in details hw to used the 8x8 systems? is it 1 exercise for all 8 sets? or 2 exercise 4x2each?

Anyway, care to share in details hw to used the 8x8 systems? is it 1 exercise for all 8 sets? or 2 exercise 4x2each?

According to this link (http://www.seriousaboutfitness.com/detail/detail_20031001.htm) on the "Girl using Vince Methods with pictures" page:


Whether you do "10 of 10" or "8 of 8," the concept is the same:

One exercise is chosen per body part, and it’s usually an exercise that will involve the entire muscle. For chest it will be something like flies or presses using free weights; for biceps it will be some kind of curl, most likely with a barbell; and for legs it will be something like barbell squats or leg presses with a machine. In a nutshell: big exercises that hit the whole muscle.

The exercise is performed with good form, and is done only with the strength of the person doing the lifting -- there are no forced or assisted reps, and there should be no cheating!
The two toughest things with "8 of 8" or "10 of 10" are: 1) actually completing all the sets and reps under your own steam, and 2) picking the correct weight that will allow you to do just that, but also tax the muscle sufficiently.

Sounds real cool. :db:

Among all the "good" exercises which Vince preached i only have doubts on his recommendation of the Barbell NECK PRESS for chest. Personally, i dont have such flexibility to do a neck press and i dont think it is a safe exercise for yr rotator cuff.

Comments r welcum! ;)