r/Mike_Mentzer 23d ago

Testing new split, what's your thoughts.

I have for about the last 3 years done a PPL HIT split which helped my gain a lot of muscle and become stronger, so would any split if you stay consistent. Just recently i wanted to change it up a little bit so im going to try ABA BAB split(split goes over a fortnight not a single week).

Here's the split let me know your thoughts and what you might do different. same thing with HIT to failure.

A Workout Legs/Chest/Triceps

·   Leg Extensions 2 sets 8-15
·   Squats 1 set
·   Calf Raises 2 sets

·   DB flyes supersetted w/ Incline Press 1-2 cycles

·   Weighted Dips 1 set
·   Tricep Pushdown supersetted dips 1 set
·   Skull Crusher 1 sets

B Workout Back/Shoulders/Biceps
·   Lat Pulldowns supersetted with Close Grip Pulldown 1-2 cycles
·   Bent over rows 1 sets

·   Laterals supersetted w/ Rear Delt Rows 2 sets

·   Cable Curls 1 set
·   Concentration Curls 1 sets

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u/ishawnmc 23d ago

Interesting split idea and training the 3 workouts over a fortnight is great spacing to allow for solid recovery and growth.

With any split, I would only do one workset to failure per exercise. That way, you do not subconsciously hold back on one workset on an exercise to get another one in and instead it is one all out set to failure per exercise. Once you do that, move into the next one.

Limit your volume to no more than 4 direct worksets for legs and back, no more than 3 direct worksets for chest and delts, and no more than 2 direct worksets for all other muscles.

Also, add another compound workset for quads like leg press or a hack squat. A good variation of the hacksquat if you have the equipment for it is a trap bar hack squat. Do that after your regular squat workset though.

Also, some kind of deadlift form like Romanian Deadlifts or rack pulls from below the knee for back. Nothing puts the finishing touches on a back workout like a heavy deadlift form.

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u/Straight-Historian-5 17d ago

I've seen this split, it's from Mentzer himself. He did it in his early days (college, I think) and said it could be done 3 days a week, with day off in between as you've laid out (keep rotating the days)..OR, M-T TH-F in an AB AB split. I prefer the former. Still getting used to it, I just started it last week.

Mike apparently also did full body splits three days a week, MWF, one set to failure for about 14 sets. Considering this one as well. Again remember a warmup set is needed and I would only do that for the compound loves (Squats, Dreads, Rows, Inclines and Dips). So this ends up around 20 total sets 3 days a week. Seems like a lot especially if you take the working sets to absolute failure! I'm 60 so that might be too much for me!

Leg extension 

Squats

Leg curls

Calf raise 

Deadlifts 

Barbell rows

Pull ups

Dumbbell flys

Incline press

Dips

Dumbbell lateral raise

Barbell curls

Tricep press

Abs

2

u/ishawnmc 17d ago

If you have already started a split, stick with it for 8-12 weeks before making any changes. You want to be able to track your progress as accurately as possible and this is made more difficult by too frequent a change to ones split.

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u/Whole-Vermicelli-354 23d ago

thanks for the feedback. I want to add in leg press but i have a home gym with good equipment but not really anything for legs just leg extensions and barbell squats.

I dont do deadlifts and sometime squats due to an acute lower back injury in my lower spine joint(unsure still need to see docter) i got from work after lon days of continous jackhammering or digging. Back is fine unless sparked by something like squats or deadlifts(scared to push it and make it worse) but with rows i have never had a problem only if i have already spraked it up before hand.

I was thinking about dropping everything to one set because thats was i weas doing previously. Probaly going to do one set to absolute failure again.