Is T.H.T. a good workout program?

Redneck001 · 2015-08-04T19:16:36+00:00

If you have to ask, then you're better off doing compound lifts. They will give you the best results, you'll learn proper form, and you'll increase your strength.

A good rule of thumb when starting out is to look after the bigger muscle groups, and the smaller ones will look after themselves.

The main thing is to do something, anything, for at least 6 months. Then evaluate. But unless you're benching 2 plates, squatting 3, and pulling 4, it doesn't really matter what routine you do.

Find a routine that will give you that base level of strength, then you can worry about isolation and hypertrophy.

recon_johnny · 2015-08-04T19:46:17+00:00

Holy fuck, that sounds like a lot of math.

Here's a good way to look at it. when someone says something is superior, or objectively better..

Ask them how much better?

Chances are, the best answer you'll get is something that ends in 'bro' and you can laugh and move on. Most of this stuff may apply to the top 1% of weightlifters/bodybuilders out there. It's that cherry on the top.

Know what? you're not going to be at 5% BF all year, thats borderline unhealthy. you won't be winning competitions, powerlifting events, or swimming triathalongs. But we are lucky. Most people are fatbodies, you get a six pack, you're already in the 1%

You are busy building your value as a man professionally, romantically, and socially. And you don't have the time to play mad scientist with your weights. You can get 90% of the way to an arnold physique. Want that other 10%... Be prepared to become a monk, never leave, just eat, sleep and workout. And you'll get there too...

Also, that 5 rep vs 8-12 stuff is largely 80s pseudoscience. The time under tension (TOT) is the measure of a weights effectiveness, and it only builds in two distinct ways. The muscle protein fibres multiplying (strength,hyperplasia) or the glucogen stores (strength, hypertrophy) causing large individual fibres. if you want the former, just go on HGH and work on your gorilla belley. If you want the latter, just lift with intensity.

Heres the way I look at it personally. If I can spend 30 minutes at the gym, and get the same gains as 60 minutes... why waste that half hour? I don't bring a protein shake into there to lift, I don't take three minute breaks where I sit on the bench, staring down and feeling that pump, I don't stare at muh biceps in the mirror in between sets. I lift for as long as I need, and no longer.

enfier · 2015-08-04T20:57:12+00:00

No, for a beginner that program is pretty pointless. I don't mean that it won't work, it's just way more complication than is needed at this point. Strength and hypertrophy will go pretty much hand in hand for a beginner and the compound lifts are great for working multiple muscles at the same time. I highly recommend you start by building a base of strength and then branch out after you've done it for a while. There's also nothing wrong with adding a little vanity work to your program at the end, so long as it's not interfering with your main lifts.

My only complaint about SL 5x5 and Starting Strength (which are basically the same program) is that there's a lot more leg work than upper body work. Right now I'm doing The 70s Big LP which is written for beginners, has a lot more upper body work and adds in some hypertrophy work. The program is based on the same principles as 5x5, just more focused on a big upper body. It also includes a lot of techniques to keep progression going when simply adding more weight fails.

Edit: After tracking down what the program actually entails, it doesn't read like a beginner program at all. It's completely overkill for your needs.

generic_name · 2015-08-05T20:30:02+00:00

8-12 is best for strength + size

8-12 reps is ideal for non-functional hypertrophy. You'll gain size faster then you would lifting for 5 reps, but you're strength gains will be limited.

It sounds like you're a beginner when it comes to lifting? You'll probably see results on almost any program. And honestly anyone saying their program is "better" than another is full of shit. Some programs are going to be better at building strength, others size, and others building explosive power. If you have one that claims to mix size and strength (like this one) then it's guaranteed it's suboptimal compared to one designed to build strength (like the 5x5 programs or starting strength). Likewise if your goal is to build size you're better off going with something that focuses on the magic rep range or 3x10.

Think of lifting as a lifetime thing, or at the very least a 1 year goal. Breakdown your year into phases. Perhaps spend 12 weeks building strength in the 5 rep range, then spend another 12 weeks working in the 8-12 rep range to build size. Then spend another 12 weeks down in the 3-5 rep range doing explosive movements and combine that with a lot of sprinting and plyometrics. You don't have to pick one thing to do for the rest of your life.

edit: just to expand a bit, many people believe strength is directly correlated with muscle size (aka cross sectional area). But that's not entirely true. While muscle size does play a role, there's other factors involved too including a nervous system response, the strength of small stabilizer muscles, and the ability of your body to coordinate a muscle chain to work harmoniously. To build strength you need to do work in the low rep range to practice lifting heavy and gaining muscle coordination. But you'll also need to do work in the higher rep ranges to build size. So there's not really one program that does it all.

As far as I know these are the basic rep ranges: 1-5: power/strength 5-8: strength/functional hypertrophy 8-12: non-functional hypertrophy 12+: muscular endurance

Jethros · 2015-08-06T13:04:36+00:00

I'll agree with the general consensus here and say that a 5x5 is great for a beginner. It gets you used to lifting, and lifting heavy. Most people make their mistake when they have been lifting for years and continue on this same plan. Coming from someone who has been lifting hard for 7 years now, you'll reach a point where following a "guideline" is a hindrance. I urge you to listen to your body, and train how and when you want to train on that very day. Basically, if you go to the gym, and "want" to do one thing, but can't because it's not in your routine for that particular day, you aren't going to work as hard because your head isn't in the game.

When I changed my routine to "I'm going to train however I want today, and give it 110%" I saw gains go up, strength go up, and overall enjoyment go up. Best decision I ever made. You can start this process by training like this one day a week. Treat yourself so to speak. Extra points if you make this day a bonus day after you've done your 5x5 split for the week.

Sepean · 2015-08-04T19:21:41+00:00

5x5 is for beginners to build strength. If you're a beginner, do that.

After 3-6 months depending on your fitness level when starting, you should move to an aesthetic program. The link you posted didn't have the THT routine outlined, so I can't say if it is good.

RPAlternate42 · 2015-08-04T21:07:25+00:00

He is comparing 5x5 SL to his 8-12 program.

The problem is that an 8-12 rep program isn't great for beginners... 5x5 SL is.

You want strength and hypertrophy?

Follow what I follow: 5/3/1 + Bodybuilding:

http://bit.ly/1N8x4Nc

I have added some things to increase the growth of my arms, but this will give you a base.

On Press day I added Tricep Rope pushes, 5x20 ON DL day I added Hammer Curls 4x12 On Bench Day I added DB Chest Press 4x10 On Squat Day I added Tricep Rope Pushes 5x20 and BB Curl 4x12

I cannot stress how important it is to do the Big 4 in 1RM-5RM range. You can do 8-12 reps all day for everything but you will mostly look strong. 5/3/1 will get you strong in the big 4 compounds. Look alpha for your wife, but be alpha and be able to pick her up like it was a warm-up.

Nodeal_reddit · 2015-08-05T01:09:08+00:00

I don't see any problem with it so long as you're progressing with your basic 5x5 compound lifts. Do those first and then add some extra "isolation exercises" at the end of the workout. The gainz fairy won't skip your house if he sees you doing some preacher curls.

Title	Is T.H.T. a good workout program?
Author	angels_fan
Upvotes	3
Comments	21
Date	August 4, 2015 7:06 PM UTC (10 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MarriedRedPill
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/marriedredpill/comments/3fs4zo/is_tht_a_good_workout_program/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MarriedRedPill/is-tht-a-good-workout-program.201293 https://theredarchive.com/post/201293

Comments