Pyramid sets are widely recommended in most gyms and do have their place, but this isn't the quickest route to gaining strength. Pyramid sets are great for exhausting the muscle and building mass, but what if your goal is muscle definition? I will recommend a better approach.

[The Great Pyramids near Cairo, Egypt. This is one of those "places to see before you die". Damn we live on an amazing planet!]

What Exactly are Pyramid Sets?

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Tags: Strength Training, body fat, fitness, gain strength, high reps, low reps, muscle definition, nervous system, pyramid lifting, pyramid sets

Have your strength gains ever come to a halt? If you have been lifting weights for any length of time, you most likely have had this frustration. I used to reach sticking points all the time, because of my constant use of a spotter or forcing reps that I couldn't lift myself. I figured that if I forced up a few more reps with the use of a spotter, I would have to get stronger. Wrong! This is a terrible approach and will give you short term results at best. I am going to outline a much better approach to gaining strength for years to come with very few sticking points.

[An amazing view of the Aegean Sea from a balcony in Santorini Greece. The whole city is white and looks amazing in contrast to the deep blue Aegean Sea. These are the sort of pictures that inspire me to stay healthy and fit…not some guy doing a "most muscular" pose!]

The Longest Route to Your Goals is the Shortcut
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Tags: Strength Training, dumbbell, dumbbell curl, dumbbells, forced reps, gain strength, getting stronger, muscle definition, muscle groups, negative reps, nervous system, santorini greece, sticking points

I have found a way to lift heavier weights while burning more body fat than normal in the same workout. This method will extend the fat burning window in your workout, without necessarily working out longer. I kind of stumbled upon this method on accident quite a few years ago, and now I use it to get extra lean while increasing my muscle density simultaneously. I have never read about this method, nor have I seen anyone else in the gym doing this. I don't think I'm the only person who does this, but this certainly isn't a mainstream personal training tip at all.

[Bruce Lee is the definition of strength-to-weight ratio. This man could do some amazing physical feats. A true bad-ass for sure!]

A Strange Phenomenon I Discovered On Accident…
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Tags: Strength Training, 6 pack abs, bruce lee, burn body fat, burning body fat, cardio workout, dumbbell, dumbbell presses, dumbbell rows, dumbbells, gain strength, getting stronger, Interval Training, lifting heavy, low reps, muscle definition, steady state cardio

I am a big fan of including ballistic movements to break through strength training plateaus. For the most part I like the slow and steady approach with heavy weights, but including explosive movements is a way to shock your nervous system into delivering more voltage to your muscles. If you are at a sticking point with any of your pressing type movements, you are going to love this technique!

[True strength training is "nervous system" training. An efficient nervous system will send stronger electric signals to your muscles, generate stronger contractions, allowing you to lift heavier weights. This is how someone can get stronger without getting bigger.]

Your Body is Capable of Lifting Really Heavy Weights
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Tags: Strength Training, ballistic lifting, bench pressing, bodybuilding, dumbbell, explosive lifts, gain strength, incline dumbbell press, lifting heavy, low reps, muscle definition, nervous system, push ups, pushups, sticking points, triceps