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Heavy Duty Training by Mike Mentzer
IntermediateFree

Heavy Duty Training by Mike Mentzer

Joshua S.
Joshua S.· Jun 2024
27athletes running this program
iOS & Android

Overview

Length
12 weeks
Days / week
2 days
Level
Intermediate
Goal
Muscle, Women's
Equipment
Full Gym
Session length
60 min
This program is designed to help you reach your own muscular size and strength potential as fast as possible. For this Programm I have used The book " Heavy Duty Training " by Mike Mentzer and John little, while also implementing suggestions from Mr America Hearts YouTube channel. Important to know is that you should perform each rep controlled and slow but not so slow so as you fall asleep. This means that you raise the weight for 4 seconds, hold the contraction for 2 seconds, and lower the weight for 4 seconds. Although you may perform the raise of the weight for the lateral raise with a little swing at the bottom and for the Hammer curl you don't have to hold the contracted position, since there is no resistance at the highest position. If you want to perform the Programm to its fullest I'd still suggest you read the book by Mike Mentzer and John Little. I'm not advertising here, just suggesting something based on my own knowledge. I'd suggest you warmup up before each workout. This means warming up the joints which are stressed. For upper days this means the shoulders and wrists. And for lower days the knees and hip joints. You should also do some form of cardio for 5-10 min to limber up. Warmup sets per exercise should be performed as such: For each superset you warmup on the second exercise, so for the chest you would warm up on the incline press. Now using the deadlift as an example, if you are able to 70 kg for 7 reps, you would begin with 50 kg for 7 to reps 10 to get the blood flowing into the area, and then one more set with 60 kg for 2 or 3 reps to mentally prepare for the heavier set to follow. After a workout you should also perform a cool down stretch so that you won't damage your body and help recovery. (Hold each stretch for 30 to 40 seconds. Lastly you should also perform cardio two times a week for 30 minutes. This can be on or off your Workout days. Preferably before a workout if you do it on your workout days. And of course of the utmost importance each working set must be performed to a point of complete momentary muscular failure within the recommended rep range. If you are able to complete 10 or for the legs 20 reps of the suggested exercise, with your chosen weight, you will add 2.5 kg -5kg the next session, so that you will stay in the suggested rep range. In short you will perform progressive overload. And I guarantee that you will hit PR's every session if you follow the workout Program accordingly. Rest periods between workouts should be at least 48 to 92 hours. So for example if you start with chest and back on Monday you'd train legs the earliest on Wednesday and the latest on Friday. This depends solely on your ability to recover since this varies for each individual. On a side note I modified the program to fit my specific weaknesses. I added the Dumbell row and hammer curl, if you don't have problems in those areas you can leave them out.

Who it's for

Intermediate athletes ready for a structured program
Athletes focused on building muscle size
Athletes who can train 2 days per week
Athletes with access to a full gym (barbells, dumbbells, cables, and machines)

Muscle engagement

Front
Back
Hamstrings
12%
Quadriceps
12%
Glutes
9.5%
Chest
8.7%
Front Delts
8.2%
Abs
7.5%
Biceps
7.2%
Lats
7%
Upper Back
6.5%
Triceps
5%
Calves
5%
Lower Back
3%
Rear Delts
3%
Middle Delts
2.5%
Adductors
2%
Forearms
1%
Week 1 Workouts
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
Superset
1APec Fly (Dumbbell)16–10 reps@10
1BIncline Bench Press (Barbell)11–3 reps@10
Superset
2APullover (Dumbbell)16–10 reps@10
2BUnderhand Lat Pulldown16–10 reps@10
3Single Arm Row (Dumbbell)16–10 reps@10
4Deadlift (Barbell)16–10 reps@10
#ExerciseSetsRepsLoad
1Hack Squat18–15 reps@10
2Squat (Barbell)16–10 reps@10
3Lying Leg Curl112–20 reps@10
4Standing Calf Raise112–20 reps@10
5Hanging Leg Raise112–20 reps@10

Weeks 2–12 are in the app

Download Boostcamp to follow the full program with auto-progression and built-in coaching notes.

Common questions

Yes, Heavy Duty Training by Mike Mentzer is completely free to follow on Boostcamp. Download the app on iOS or Android, find the program, and start your first workout immediately. All 12 weeks are fully unlocked.

This program is built around a full gym. Make sure you have consistent access before starting, since the progression model assumes you can perform the same movements week over week.

Each session typically takes around 60 minutes to complete. That estimate covers your working sets but doesn't account for warm-up or rest between sets, so budget a little extra time when you're first learning the movements.

Heavy Duty Training by Mike Mentzer is structured around 2 training days per week, with rest days built in to allow for recovery. The Boostcamp app lets you reschedule sessions if your week doesn't go to plan.

The program runs for 12 weeks. The structure is designed so that each week builds on the last, with weights, volume, or intensity progressively increasing as you go.

Heavy Duty Training by Mike Mentzer is available inside the Boostcamp app, free on iOS and Android. Once you download the app, you can search for the program by name. The app tracks all your sets and weights automatically, so you always know exactly what to do next session.

Get started

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