Heavy weights and low reps build hard, dense muscle without excessive size. In addition the strength gains from heavy, low rep training are huge.
By training with low reps you can build incredible relative strength which is one of the key components to the Kinobody physique.
My low rep strength training strategy is outlined here -> Workout Routine for Strength and Density
With that being said, I DO like to incorporate higher rep training into my routine every few months.
Once you make the shift to higher rep training you will notice your muscles look fuller and more vascular.
As well the quick increase in muscle size from high rep training will cause the “shrink wrap effect” where your skin gets super tight around your muscles.
Advantages of High Rep Training
1.) Quick Increases in Muscle Size
When you initially train with a high rep / high volume routine you will experience rapid muscle growth. This is the result of increased glycogen storage capacity in your muscles as well as an increase of fluid in your muscles via sarcoplasmic growth.
Unfortunately there is an upper limit to how much muscle you can gain from this type of training based on your current level of strength. The stronger you are the more potential growth you can experience from this pump training. By alternating periods of strength training and pump training you can keep muscle gains humming along.
2.) Easier on Your Joints
Lifting weights close to your 1RM can be stressful on your joints overtime. Switching to lighter loads for a few weeks can let those joints heal.
3.) Gives Your CNS a Break
Heavy weights really stress and sap your nervous system. You see your nervous system is what allows you to contract and utilize a high threshold of muscle fibers. With lighter loads there is much less neural demand.
Repeated drain on your nervous system will lead to low energy and plateau’s. Switching to higher reps can act as a back off week without having to stay out of the gym.
When you go back to the heavy strength training you may even notice you feel refreshed with a new vigor allowing you to quickly surpass your previous personal records.
The Upper-body Workout (Perform 2x per week)
ROUND #1:
a.) Incline Barbell Bench Press: 4 x 8-12 reps (2 mins rest)
b.) Pull ups: 4 x 8-12 reps (straight to lateral raises)
c.) Lateral Raises: 4 x 8-12 reps (2 mins rest and then back to pull ups)
ROUND #2:
a.) Close Grip Bench Press: 3 x 8-12 reps (straight to curls or rows)
b.) Barbell Curls or Cable Rows: 3 x 8-12 reps (2 mins rest)
ROUND #3:
a.) Triceps Rope Extensions: 3 x 8-12 reps (straight to curls)
b.) Incline Dumbbell Curls: 3 x 8-12 reps ( 1 minute rest)
ROUND #4:
a.) Swinging Side-to-Side Bent Knee Ups: 100 reps per side (as many sets as it takes)
Workout Notes:
Perform this workout 2 times per week with at-least 2 days of rest in between. For exercise pairs you will alternate between exercise A and exercise B.
For every exercise I recommend stopping 1-2 reps shy of failure. This will allow you to avoid burnout and maintain higher performance throughout the whole workout.
Since you will be depleting a fair amount of muscle glycogen it is advisable to eat plenty of carbs post workout. This will allow you to maximize muscle growth.
Also, this is not a workout to perform when you are dieting and eating low calories.
Minimal Effective Dose:
Most people that follow workout programs do way too much volume. Beginners desperate to add muscle are the most guilty of this taking on advanced bodybuilding routines. These beginners don’t realize that it takes very little volume for them to trigger muscle growth.
By far exceeding the minimal effective does to build muscle you are not going to see better muscle gains. In fact all you are doing is making your muscles more resilient to muscle growth.
Therefore I recommend sticking to the workout above without trying to add more sets or exercises. Doing more will only hurt you in the long run.
NEW Article - Get Shredded on 2 Workouts Per Week
How I stayed lean while gaining muscle traveling Europe this summer, training just 2 times per week. You need to try this. Click Here to Read...
*Training just 2 times per week has allowed me to gain strength and muscle at rate I never knew was possible.
Makes it easier to stay lean as well. I know this sounds counterintuitive, but let me show you precisely the body part split I’m using.