51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Muscle Logic: New and Old, Simple and Complex, January 23, 2006
This review is from: Muscle Logic : Escalating Density Training (Paperback)
I liked Muscle Logic as a book, and it appears to make a decent workout program when you use the principles outlined therein. This is unlike a lot of workout books in that it is not presenting a number of workout routines to follow, as many (most?) do, it shows the reader a novel system that is easy to judge progress, guarantee progressive overload in most workouts (all?), and how to manage the progression of weights, as well as a system that can prevent or stop overtraining.
New and Old
The basic principles used in EDT are old ones: Progressive overload, controlling the tempo of your lifting, attention to form, measuring progress.
The questions most amateur (and some pro's no doubt) lifters have that this system addresses:
- How long should you lift? (and "I don't have 2 hours a day to do this!")
- How can you guarantee progressive overload?
- How can you measure progress?
- When is it most effective to increase or decrease weight?
- How many reps are the best?
Muscle Logic has a novel system that answers these questions and does it is a simple manner that is both easy to track, and simple to do.
I won't spoil the system (you have to get the book for that!) but I will present some highlights:
- You lift weights for a predetermined time (15 minutes is his suggestion)
- You use moderate weights lifted explosively and with perfect form
- You work antagonistic pairs (supersets)
- You lift as many sets of small reps as you can
- When you reach a certain number of total reps (up or down) you change weight
This is a very simple and very effective system, though you may not think so when reading it!
Simple and Complex
The book has a few negatives: The concept is so simple, that the author has a hard time putting it into words. When reading it, I got the distinct impression it could be summarized on a couple of pages in a brochure, though the author was not able to do so for whatever reason.
When in the "Menu" section of the book (all these sorts of books seem to have this) I got the distinct impression it was "tacked on" since the book seems to be more about crafting your own workout routine rather than following the author's.
Conclusion
This book is worth the price of admission. The system seems to work - using this I can get the same result as some of my best workouts much more consistently, and the results seem to be more assured since these principles will all but guarantee progressive overload and make progress tracking (& adjustment) much easier.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Few Inconsistencies, March 9, 2006
This review is from: Muscle Logic : Escalating Density Training (Paperback)
Overall, the book seems to make perfect sense. And like the author asks, I'm giving him 8 weeks on his program. However, the math in some of his workout routines as far as total time goes is off and the comparison of his system to the old 3/10 method has some math errors in it too. A few of the reviews I read about this book made it sound easier to understand than it really was... for me anyway.
Anyway, 4 weeks into the system and I have to agree that recovery is faster, fatigue is lower, sorness is minimal and it's a gem of system for time management. I hope at the end of my 8 weeks that I can tout the success of my muscle development.
The only downside I can see to his suggestions is access to equipment and the need to track your progress on paper as you exercise. I'm not one to carry paper and pencil around with me, but trying to remember 8 sets, how many reps. and at what weight is a bit difficult. Also, the equipment in my gym in not set up to perform his suggested exercise routines efficiently.
Overall, the lack of fatigue and sorness and speedy recovery time was worth the price of the book. If the end result is what he promises, then my hat is off to the author.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Controlling fatigue at 72 Years old., April 10, 2007
This review is from: Muscle Logic : Escalating Density Training (Paperback)
I have been following the EDT program since early March...3 days a week for 45 minutes of intense exercise. I am 72 years old and have been weight training since I was 66 years old to stay fit, battle the bulge, and maintain better health.I really like the intensity, the time limits, and the need to plan a routine. Most importantly I am much less fatigued than the traditional pump and grind program caused. I recommend the book and the program highly.Great for home work outs and for time short persons.
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