According to Mike Mentzer, muscle soreness is not a reliable indicator of an effective workout. He emphasized intensity, proper recovery, and progression over chasing soreness.
Here’s what Mentzer believed:
- Soreness ≠ progress: Just because you’re sore doesn’t mean you’re building muscle. And the absence of soreness doesn’t mean the workout was ineffective.
- Recovery is key: If you’re sore for days, you may not have fully recovered. Mentzer prioritized maximum intensity followed by adequate rest, often recommending several days or even a week between workouts.
- Train infrequently, but intensely: He advocated brief, infrequent, high-intensity workouts that stimulate growth without overtraining. Muscle growth happens during recovery, not during the workout itself.
TL;DR:
According to Mike Mentzer, you don’t need to be sore after a workout. What matters more is that you trained with true intensity and allowed enough time to fully recover before training again.
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