C.S. Sloan's Integral Strength

  Another High-Frequency Hypertrophy Program for the Natural Lifter      I write a lot about high-frequency training (HFT).  I think on average—assuming the lifter has the time to make it to the gym frequently—it’s the best form of training for the natural lifter or bodybuilder.  When I first started writing about this form of training—which I have been doing now for more than 20 years, perhaps longer—my programs mainly focused on strength training or strength training along with concomitant mass gains.  Recently, however, I have created more and more hypertrophy programs using these methods.  Part of that probably has to do with the fact that I have personally been using HFT for my own physique goals.  As I am not getting any younger, my body often can’t handle the heavy weights that I used to enjoy training with, but it can handle high-frequency when done with “reasonable” weights.      There are differen...

  Some Simple Methods and Workouts for Easy Mass Gains My son Garrett displays the kind of NATURAL physique that can be built using the methods in this article.      Modern lifters can often be quite confused about what makes for an effective, result-producing workout.  They think that if their training is “hard” or if it fatigues their whole body or if their muscles “burn” during a tough set or if their workouts made them sweat profusely—I could go on and on—then, surely, that must mean that their training is effective.  But this simply isn’t true.  Now, don’t get me wrong, it could very well be that a “good” workout program does contain some of the above “symptoms” but not necessarily.  Let me explain.      When lifters train under my personal direction—and this is especially true for any bodybuilders that I’ve worked with—they are often doubtful that what I have them doing will be effective.  Sometim...

  A State-of-the-Art Mass & Power Program for Outlandish Gains      I’m fond of some forms of training over others.   This doesn’t mean, however, that I believe there is one training program or method that reigns supreme.   Some may make such a claim as that.   HIT enthusiasts—who seem to think like the Highlander in that there can be only one —I’m looking at you.   But there are also individual lifters and coaches who stumble upon a program that really works well for them , and they declare it to be the one program that stands above all others.   No, I believe that there are quite a few different training methods and programs that are effective.   But some are decidedly better than others, depending on your goals.   I like full-body workouts, high-frequency training, Russian-style power programs, routines that utilize the “big 4,” and old-school “classical” bodybuilding routines.   Those are all different, by the...