Super Bodybuilding

It was the cover shot, one of Jim Helwig (the professional wrestler once performing as The Ultmate Warrior), that grabbed my attention. The photography within, black & white and reminiscent of the old magazine shots of Arnold, Franco, Frank Zane, and their contemporaries, was EXCELLENT, the value of which justifying the few dollars it costs you for this out-of-print classic. As for the training information contained, basically Dr. Darden's standard protocol of a full-body routine, repeated three non-consecutive days per week, more heavily weighted toward a certain muscle group just a bit to specialize on a given bodypart. Dr. Darden repeats this format in almost all his 2 dozen plus other books, so if you've read any two or so of them, you won't gain as much as you otherwise might from reading this book. The value of the training if espouses? It employs, as the sequel to a smilialrly titled book, the principles and techniques learned and developed during Dr. Darden's tenure as Director of Research at Nautilus Sports/Medical Industries, applied with free weights in mind. As Nautilus machines are designed to provide full-range, balanced resistance, whereas free weights cannot (owing to the fact that gravity pulls solely in one direction), more exercises are employed in the training routines (i.e., 20, vs. the typical 10-12 when utilizing Nautilus machines exclusively), along with the obligatory gut-grinding intensity for which Nautilus' founder, Arthur Jones, is notorious. Motivational stories and photography help a bit in that regard, however.

I have numerous books on the subject of Bodybuilding; I keep coming back to this one. True, this program is definately not for the faint of heart. But, if time is an issue, and efficiency is a must, this is the only game in town. The arguments made are immensely logical, and the results, when followed to the letter, are astounding. I recommend you absolutely stick with it for a minimum of six months. I garnered amazing results in strength and size. The efficiency and intelligence of Mr. Darden's system sets the benchmark for exercise programs.

This is probably the highest level reached by the high-intensity school of bodybuilding which argues--counter to the traditional/Weider school--that less is more. Fewer sets with perfect form (and a few tricks) will get you awesome results in about a quarter of the time the other guys spend in the gym. But you have to have the constitution of a Navy Seal to do it full out. I found just doing bits of the workout of great benefit.