Morphing How the Original Greats Trained

Hence the timeless logo of FatManUnleashed.com, the brain is without a doubt the optimal muscle when it comes to growth. Public opinion on the frequency of working out has changed quite a bit over time. Steve Reeves employed the whole body workout method which didn’t allow for training more than three times a week. That was the 1940’s and legendary physiques such as John Grimek and Reeves swore by it. My high school football team’s antiquated workout routine was similar. It was a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday deal with Bench, Shoulder Presses(seated, military) and most importantly the Squat: KING OF ALL EXERCISES. A very effective training schedule for beginners and building that all important base. Israel was a starting Guard, Defensive End, and Captain on that team. It was the FAT MAN’S hey day so to speak folks.

In the 1950’s the very popular “split-routine” training became all the rage. The fuel behind the phenomenon was the belief that you can train muscles full blast if you divided the training days into “muscle groups.” So you were training on more days but concentrating on specific muscles. And who can forget how Arnold Schwarzenegger evolved the “split” into the “double-split” method. The “double-split” theory involves training a lot: two or even three daily workouts.

Arthur Jones took the 1970’s by storm with the introduction of the Nautilus exercise machines. He accompanied his latest invention with a endorsement of short intense workouts. Intensity was the key a semi-throwback to the 1950’s and Grimek and Reeves. Arthur Jones felt that all of us over-trained. Over-training thus leading to our naturally limited ability to recover to be depleted.He truly believed that all humans no matter what body type followed the same physiological laws no matter how different we were genetically. So in a sense, he tailored and touted his workouts as one size fits all remedies. Weird I know and complex, but maybe true? I don’t know. I have tried all methods and my body morphs in all different ways. So in my opinion, variety is the spice of a complete physique. Of course, we all have our favorite niche workouts and exercises.

The late, great Mike Mentzer was a Jones product and further developed his exercise theories. Mike Mentzer used Arthur Jones’ training philosophy to attain every major bodybuilding title worth having except the Mr. Olympia crown. Mentzer eventually cut back even further and became a proponent of training muscle groups once a week or less. At that point intensity has to be on animal-istic levels: I likey!

That’s it for now. Tomorrow I delve further into brain power…