Beyond-Brawn-2nd-Edition

ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT TRAINING INFORMATION
than in this illustration. With time, the weights will come back, and may be
accompanied by size gains.
21.56 When you make a shift from a strength focus to a size focus (or from a
strength focus to an equal-strength-and-size focus), you may notice a dramatic
effect on how your muscles feel as you train. If you have not been
experiencing much soreness in your muscles from strength-focus training,
if you switch to a size focus or equal-size-and-strength focus, you may be in
for substantial soreness in the days following your revised workouts.
Important supplementary notes
21.57 What is excessive abbreviation of training for some trainees may be just
the ticket for others. Different trainees need different interpretations of the
same basic principles, and may need different variations at different stages
of their training. But just because a bit more training volume and frequency
can be good (if you have cut back excessively previously), that does not mean
that a lot more will be better. Training is more an art than a science, and
sensible experimentation is needed if you are to find what works best for
you. You must, however, keep your training abbreviated, as typical trainees
do not have the ability to deal with the type of routines that the gifted and
drug-enhanced folk use and prosper on.
21.58 Do not misinterpret my advice and go jacking up your training to such an
extent that you kill progress in all areas. If you have been using conventional
training methods, the last thing you need is to increase your training frequency or
volume. You need to abbreviate.
21.59 Full satisfaction of recovery is vital for optimum strength gains on a very
abbreviated program, but it becomes even more critical on a less abbreviated
size-focus or size-and-strength-focus program. If you have trouble satisfying
recovery on a strength-focus program, do not switch to a different focus
until you can get recovery in 100% good order (as outlined earlier in this
chapter), or otherwise you are going to be disappointed.
21.60 I am not saying that light-weight pumping exercise on a daily basis will build
a great physique. You still need to use some impressive poundages and have
more rest days than training days. But how you use those weights—frequency
of training, and set-rep format and style—can greatly affect how
much size those weights deliver. If you are satisfied with the results you are
getting from your training, do not change anything. But if you are not sat-
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