What is the Mike Mentzer training program and does it really work?

The late Mike Mentzer was a professional bodybuilder who was famous for his controversial workout regimen. He got his start in bodybuilding when he was just twelve years old. He was first intrigued by bodybuilding after seeing the well-built men on the covers of muscle magazines.

In the beginning, Mike's workout plan consisted of training no more than three times a week, as suggested in a training manual his father gave him. By the age of fifteen, Mike Mentzer's body weight nearly doubled; thus ensuring the his workout plan was working.

After serving in the Air Force after high school, Mike Mentzer increased his workouts up to three hours per day, six days per week. He did this because that is what he read in the muscle magazines that all the top bodybuilders were doing. The only problem was his progress was now almost nonexistent and he was tired all the time.

Mike Mentzer started competing professionally when he was just eighteen years old. After winning the Mr. Lancaster contest, he went on to compete unsuccessfully in the AAU Mr. America contest. A severe shoulder injury forced him out of bodybuilding for four years.

When he returned to training he went back to doing shorter but harder workouts, doing only 30 minute sessions no more then 3 or 4 times a week.

He competed in and placed third place in Mr. America contest. He came back the following year and won the entire thing. Mike Mentzer went on to compete in several contests after that and was crowned Mr. Universe in 1978. After becoming a professional bodybuilder, Mike Mentzer won his weight class in the 1979 Mr. Olympia competition with a perfect score of 300 but went on to only place fifth at the controversial 1980 Mr. Olympia.

Mike Mentzer retired from professional bodybuilding at the age of twenty nine. He went on to become a personal trainer and he wrote books on his workout philosophy. Through years of study, Mike Mentzer came up with his own theory of bodybuilding. He devised workouts that were intended to help a person achieve their full potential within the shortest amount of time.

Mike Mentzer's workout plan consisted of high intensity weight training. One principle he believed was weight training had to be brief, and intense to achieve the best results in the shortest amount of time. His most successful bodybuilding workout plan consisted of working five sets each session and then resting 4-7 days between lifting.

Mike Mentzer also believed that diet played a key role in successful bodybuilding. He believed that one should take in most of their caloric intake with carbohydrates, rather than protein. Mike Mentzer revolutionized the bodybuilding industries with his bodybuilding workouts. His well written books have helped many to achieve great results and will continue to help many more people in the future.

Mike Mentzer passed away in 2001 due to complications with his heart. He was found by his brother and fellow body builder Ray Mentzer. Ray Mentzer tragically passed away just two days after from complications with Berger's disease.

Click Here to Sign Up for Your Free Bodybuilding Magazine