I am now doing a 3x8, needsize style.

[RusPA81]

2 weeks ago I started doing a 3x8, following the same principals as in needsize's 5x5. I had been doing 5x5,3x5,5x3 for over a year now and I just felt that I need to do a different rep range as the heavy weights from sets of 5 and 3 were too taxing on the body. I actually originally wanted to do a 4x8, but that was to hard. The sets of 8 were hard the first few weeks as I had not done anything above 5 for a long time, but they are getting easier each week. I plan to go back to 5's in about 4-5 weeks again. I am doing 4x3 for deads, but I am doing them every other week. When I am not doing deads I am rack pulls at 3x8. Anyways I just wanted share and see if anyone had any opinions on this. I see no reason why this would not work at 8 reps if it works for 5 and 3. It is still pretty early, but so far I am enjoying the change.

 

[ffknight84]

i have always used 3x8 as maintenence, i can gain off of it, but not nearly as well as sets of 3 or 5, just my $.02

 

[MrTrap]

2 weeks ago I started doing a 3x8, following the same principals as in needsize's 5x5. I had been doing 5x5,3x5,5x3 for over a year now and I just felt that I need to do a different rep range as the heavy weights from sets of 5 and 3 were too taxing on the body.

Hey Rus, how did that compare to just going straight 5x5? Did you make better progress with the changing sets and reps? Which way was rougher on the body?

Traps

 

[RusPA81]

Re: Re: I am now doing a 3x8, needsize style.

Hey Rus, how did that compare to just going straight 5x5? Did you make better progress with the changing sets and reps? Which way was rougher on the body?

Traps

I am finishing my 3rd week right now, so I am still not sure how good the gains are, but my body is feeling much better which is good in its self. I am also just getting used to doing sets of 8 at high reps. I will post in a week or two about my progess again. i do of course plan to go back to sets of 5 as I make great gains off it. I just needed to do something different for a while.

 

[MrTrap]

Re: Re: Re: I am now doing a 3x8, needsize style.

I am finishing my 3rd week right now, so I am still not sure how good the gains are, but my body is feeling much better which is good in its self. I am also just getting used to doing sets of 8 at high reps. I will post in a week or two about my progess again. i do of course plan to go back to sets of 5 as I make great gains off it. I just needed to do something different for a while.

Rus sorry, I meant how did going 5x5, 3x5, 5x3 compare to sticking to 5x5?

Traps

 

[RusPA81]

Re: Re: Re: Re: I am now doing a 3x8, needsize style.

Rus sorry, I meant how did going 5x5, 3x5, 5x3 compare to sticking to 5x5?

Traps

It worked good actually. I feel that you should spend the bulk of you time on the 3x5, although I spent a few months on the 5x5 with good success too. My best size gains were when I did a 3x5 followed by a 1x8 for the same exercise. Then I would do my accessory work.

 

[MrTrap]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: I am now doing a 3x8, needsize style.

It worked good actually. I feel that you should spend the bulk of you time on the 3x5, although I spent a few months on the 5x5 with good success too. My best size gains were when I did a 3x5 followed by a 1x8 for the same exercise. Then I would do my accessory work.

Thanks Rus, great info.

Traps

 

[mr. sparkle]

I'm not really that knowledgeable about the differences between amounts of sets/reps because I'm a beginner, but what are the routines that you guys feel produce the most growth?

I'm currently doing a 3x8-10 routine and was thinking of switching to a 5x5. Is that a good idea? And if I do switch, should I up the weight since I'm not doing as many reps?

I'd really appreciate your input...Thanks

 

[ffknight84]

5x5 is really good, try it out for a few months and see how you do, just remember to start out about 30 pounds lower then what you can do for 8 reps.