Our training articles are always underpinned by research, often detailed at length. But sometimes we ask you to trust us because we know a program works. How can we be certain? In the case of this program, our male staffers, from the pencilneck to the hardcore lifter, gym-tested it. Lo and behold, a month later, our editors were sporting arms cocked-and-loaded enough to hold a casting call for Planet of the Apes in our conference room. So here's what to do, short and sweet. Now go apeshit in the gym.
* Do two sets with pins set in the top half of the range of motion.
On the third set, remove pins and do full-range reps.
** Choose a weight heavier than that which you can lift for one rep and
have a partner help you force-rep the positive portion of the exercise
while you resist the negative portion on your own. After completing the
third set, strip the weight and rip out as many as you can unassisted.
[dagger] Load a bar with 10-20-plus pounds more than you can lift for
4-6 reps of normal barbell curls. Sit on a flat bench and rest the bar
on your thighs. Using a shoulder-width, underhand grip, curl the weight
toward your shoulders.
[double dagger] On the last set do 6-8 reps, drop the weight 30% and rep
until failure.
[dagger][dagger] Drop the weight by 5-10 pounds each set. Don't rest
between sets.
[double dagger][double dagger] For each set, do 8-12 reps, drop the
weight, rep until failure, and then drop a second time and rep until
failure again.
RELATED ARTICLE: TRAINING Splits
WEEKS 1 + 2
Monday
Chest: 8-10 sets total
Arm Workout 1
Tuesday
Off
Wednesday
Arm Workout 2
Legs: 8-10 sets total
Thursday
Off
Friday
Back: 8-10 sets total
Shoulders: 8-10 sets total
Arm Workout 3
WEEK 3
Monday
Chest: 10-12 sets total
Tuesday
Back: 10-12 sets total
Shoulders: 8-10 sets total
Wednesday
Off
Thursday
Arm Workout 4
Friday
Legs: 10-12 sets total
WEEK 4
Monday
Chest: 10-12 sets total
Tuesday
Back: 10-12 sets total
Shoulders: 8-10 sets total
Wednesday
Arm Workout 5
Thursday
Off
Friday
Legs: 10-12 sets total
Saturday
Arm Workout 6
BY JIM STOPPANI, PHD
COPYRIGHT 2005 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group