I Trained Classic Era HIGH VOLUME for 1 Month - The Results

Overview

The presenter spent five weeks experimenting with high-volume bodybuilding routines inspired by classic-era bodybuilders. The routines involved many sets and exercises, but the experiment also highlighted the importance of managing fatigue and choosing a level of volume that remains productive.

Key Training Strategies and Takeaways

• Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired routine: A demanding six-day schedule with morning workouts alternating between full-body or leg work and arms or shoulders, plus afternoon calf and forearm sessions. The presenter found the workload extremely difficult and sometimes felt that later sets had become “junk volume.” He also took more rest than planned.
• Lee Haney-inspired routine: Used a push–legs–pull sequence and Haney’s principle, “Stimulate, don’t destroy.” The presenter interpreted this as training close to, but not beyond, one’s limits—roughly leaving some reps in reserve—and adjusting effort based on how the body feels.
• Serge Nubret-inspired routine: Emphasized very high set counts and shorter rests. Even a scaled-back version caused substantial soreness and fatigue. The presenter thought the faster pace and higher volume may have contributed to a fuller-looking chest and back, though this was his personal observation.
• Avoiding ineffective volume: When his strength faded, the presenter found that additional sets could feel unproductive. His later program focused on a smaller number of basic exercises, followed by selected isolation work.
• Customized classic-style split: He combined ideas from the three bodybuilders into push, legs, and pull workouts, with rest days between sessions. He found that three strength-training days per week plus one cardio day was more manageable for his schedule.
• Choosing effective exercise variations: On push day, he chose weighted ring push-ups and incline dumbbell presses as his main movements, followed by triceps extensions, lateral raises, and reverse wrist curls. He said ring push-ups had previously helped him make chest progress and also challenged his core.
• Managing rest and recovery: He used short rests—about one minute—on some push-day sets to increase the pace and pump, while also building rest days into the program. While recovering from a back injury, he avoided deadlifts and chose core and lower-back exercises instead.
• Maintaining athleticism with cardio: After noticing that a month without dynamic exercise left him feeling stiff and less conditioned, he added an hour of functional cardio. His takeaway was that cardio or athletic work can complement muscle-focused training.
• Tracking workouts: He logged sessions in a fitness app, which can help organize and monitor a training plan.

Results

The presenter felt he looked somewhat fuller, particularly through the back and chest, and noticed larger traps early in the experiment. He acknowledged that the overall progress might be subtle and did not present the results as proof that extreme volume is necessary.

Presenters and Sources

• Presenter: Pigmie, the video’s narrator; no personal name is stated in the subtitles.
• Training sources: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Haney, and Serge Nubret; articles found online; Three More Reps: The Golden Age of Bodybuilding