Study: More Time in the Gym Doesn't Mean Better Results

Are You Pressed For Time In The Gym?

Well then you'll find this study particularly interesting...

Dr. Chris Hass and colleagues from the University of Florida recently found that increasing training volume from one set to three really didn't make much of a difference on muscle size and strength in weight-training athletes.

The researchers had 40 well-trained guys train three times a week using one or three sets for eight to 12 reps to failure. Muscle strength and percent fat and percent lean body mass were measured before and after the 13-week training period.

"After 13 weeks of training, both groups had significantly improved their muscular strength and body composition," writes Dr. Hass. "However, there were no significant differences between groups in the improvement of muscular strength, and both groups experienced similar improvements in body composition."

The Bottom Line:

The data from this study shows that single-set programs are an effective alternative to high-volume training when time is of the essence.

Related articles

  • The Brutal Truth About Building Freaky Arms — Mike Mentzer Style

    Discover Mike Mentzer’s brutal, no-compromise secrets to building massive arms. Learn why endless sets are worthless, which exercises Mentzer swore by, and how to train beyond failure for freak-level growth.
  • THE DAY TOM PLATZ GOT FAT: How Mike Mentzer’s HIT Philosophy Saved the Golden Legs of Bodybuilding

    "Tom Platz reveals how high-frequency training with Arnold Schwarzenegger backfired—leaving him small, fat, and overtrained—until Mike Mentzer's Heavy Duty HIT system saved his physique. Discover the truth about intensity, recovery, and real muscle growth.
  • Carb-Hating Bodybuilders Are Killing Their Gains: Mike Mentzer’s Brutal Truth Will Slap You Awake!

    [stylesheet-group="0"]{} body{margin:0;} button::-moz-focus-inner,input::-moz-focus-inner{border:0;padding:0;} html{-ms-text-size-adjust:100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);} input::-webkit-search-cancel-button,input::-webkit-search-decoration,input::-webkit-search-results-button,input::-webkit-search-results-decoration{display:none;} [stylesheet-group="1"]{} .css-146c3p1{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.00);border:0 solid black;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgba(0,0,0,1.00);display:inline;font:14px -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;list-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;position:relative;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;white-space:pre-wrap;word-wrap:break-word;} .css-175oi2r{align-items:stretch;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.00);border:0 solid black;box-sizing:border-box;display:flex;flex-basis:auto;flex-direction:column;flex-shrink:0;list-style:none;margin:0px;min-height:0px;min-width:0px;padding:0px;position:relative;text-decoration:none;z-index:0;} .css-1jxf684{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.00);border:0 solid black;box-sizing:border-box;color:inherit;display:inline;font:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;position:relative;text-align:inherit;text-decoration:none;white-space:inherit;word-wrap:break-word;} .css-9pa8cd{bottom:0px;height:100%;left:0px;opacity:0;position:absolute;right:0px;top:0px;width:100%;z-index:-1;} [stylesheet-group="2"]{} .r-13awgt0{flex:1;} .r-1adg3ll{display:block;} .r-1jkafct{border-bottom-left-radius:2px;border-bottom-right-radius:2px;border-top-left-radius:2px;border-top-right-radius:2px;} .r-1phboty{border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:solid;} .r-1udh08x{overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:hidden;} .r-4iw3lz{border-bottom-width:0;border-left-width:0;border-right-width:0;border-top-width:0;} .r-4qtqp9{display:inline-block;} .r-6koalj{display:flex;} .r-bztko3{overflow-x:visible;overflow-y:visible;} .r-crgep1{margin:0px;} .r-hvic4v{display:none;} .r-krxsd3{display:-webkit-box;} .r-rs99b7{border-bottom-width:1px;border-left-width:1px;border-right-width:1px;border-top-width:1px;} .r-sdzlij{border-bottom-left-radius:9999px;border-bottom-right-radius:9999px;border-top-left-radius:9999px;border-top-right-radius:9999px;} .r-t60dpp{padding:0px;} .r-wwvuq4{padding:0;} .r-xoduu5{display:inline-flex;} .r-ywje51{margin:auto;} .r-z2wwpe{border-bottom-left-radius:4px;border-bottom-right-radius:4px;border-top-left-radius:4px;border-top-right-radius:4px;} [stylesheet-group="2.1"]{} .r-1559e4e{padding-bottom:2px;padding-top:2px;} .r-1fkl15p{padding-left:32px;padding-right:32px;} .r-3o4zer{padding-left:12px;padding-right:12px;} .r-3pj75a{padding-left:16px;padding-right:16px;} .r-cxgwc0{padding-left:24px;padding-right:24px;} .r-dd0y9b{padding-bottom:20px;padding-top:20px;} .r-ddtstp{margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px;} .r-dp7rxi{padding-bottom:40px;padding-top:40px;} .r-f8sm7e{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;} .r-n7gxbd{padding-left:4px;padding-right:4px;} .r-s49dbf{margin-bottom:1px;margin-top:1px;} .r-sjygvo{padding-left:1em;padding-right:1em;} [stylesheet-group="2.2"]{} .r-1ca1ndr{margin-left:0.5em;} .r-1ez5h0i{margin-left:4px;} .r-1gs4q39{margin-right:4px;} .r-1kkk96v{margin-left:8px;} .r-1kpi4qh{margin-left:0.075em;} .r-1l2kgy{margin-right:0.5em;} .r-1q6cnnd{right:-2px;} .r-1wron08{margin-right:8px;} .r-3t4u6i{margin-left:2px;} .r-45ll9u{left:50%;} .r-5f1w11{left:-2px;} .r-k4bwe5{margin-right:0.075em;} .r-o59np7{padding-right:8px;} .r-ocobd0{right:50%;} .r-qjj4hq{padding-left:8px;} .r-x1x4zq{margin-right:2px;} [stylesheet-group="3"]{} .r-105ug2t{pointer-events:auto!important;} .r-109y4c4{height:1px;} .r-10ptun7{height:16px;} .r-10v3vxq{transform:scaleX(-1);} .r-117bsoe{margin-bottom:20px;} .r-11c0sde{margin-top:24px;} .r-11j9u27{visibility:hidden;} .r-12181gd{box-shadow:0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.03) inset;} .r-12sks89{min-height:22px;} .r-12vffkv>*{pointer-events:auto;} .r-12vffkv{pointer-events:none!important;} .r-12ym1je{width:18px;} .r-135wba7{line-height:24px;} .r-13qz1uu{width:100%;} .r-13wfysu{-webkit-text-decoration-line:none;text-decoration-line:none;} .r-146iojx{max-width:300px;} .r-1472mwg{height:24px;} .r-14j79pv{color:rgba(83,100,113,1.00);} .r-14lw9ot{background-color:rgba(255,255,255,1.00);} .r-15ysp7h{min-height:32px;} .r-16dba41{font-weight:400;} .r-16y2uox{flex-grow:1;} .r-176fswd{transform:translateX(-50%) translateY(-50%);} .r-1777fci{justify-content:center;} .r-17bb2tj{animation-duration:0.75s;} .r-17leim2{background-repeat:repeat;} .r-17s6mgv{justify-content:flex-end;} .r-18jsvk2{color:rgba(15,20,25,1.00);} .r-18tzken{width:56px;} .r-18u37iz{flex-direction:row;} .r-18yzcnr{height:22px;} .r-19wmn03{width:20px;} .r-19yznuf{min-height:52px;} .r-1abnn5w{animation-play-state:paused;} .r-1acpoxo{width:36px;} .r-1ad0z5i{word-break:break-all;} .r-1awozwy{align-items:center;} .r-1b43r93{font-size:14px;} .r-1betnmo{max-width:672px;} .r-1blnp2b{width:72px;} .r-1blvdjr{font-size:23px;} .r-1ceczpf{min-height:24px;} .r-1cwl3u0{line-height:16px;} .r-1d2f490{left:0px;} .r-1ddef8g{-webkit-text-decoration-line:underline;text-decoration-line:underline;} .r-1ebb2ja{list-style:none;} .r-1ff274t{text-align:right;} .r-1gkfh8e{font-size:11px;} .r-1h0z5md{justify-content:flex-start;} .r-1h8ys4a{padding-top:4px;} .r-1hjwoze{height:18px;} .r-1iln25a{word-wrap:normal;} .r-1inkyih{font-size:17px;} .r-1ipicw7{width:300px;} .r-1iusvr4{flex-basis:0px;} .r-1janqcz{width:16px;} .r-1jaylin{width:-webkit-max-content;width:-moz-max-content;width:max-content;} .r-1k78y06{font-family:Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif;} .r-1kihuf0{align-self:center;} .r-1ldzwu0{animation-timing-function:linear;} .r-1loqt21{cursor:pointer;} .r-1mlwlqe{flex-basis:auto;} .r-1mrlafo{background-position:0;} .r-1muvv40{animation-iteration-count:infinite;} .r-1mwlp6a{height:56px;} .r-1nao33i{color:rgba(231,233,234,1.00);} .r-1niwhzg{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.00);} .r-1ny4l3l{outline-style:none;} .r-1oifz5y{background-color:rgba(170,17,0,1.00);} .r-1oszu61{align-items:stretch;} .r-1otgn73{touch-action:manipulation;} .r-1p0dtai{bottom:0px;} .r-1pi2tsx{height:100%;} .r-1ps3wis{min-width:44px;} .r-1qd0xha{font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;} .r-1qi8awa{min-width:36px;} .r-1r5jyh0{min-height:130px;} .r-1r8g8re{height:36px;} .r-1s2hp8q{min-height:26px;} .r-1sxrcry{background-size:auto;} .r-1tl8opc{font-family:"Segoe UI",Meiryo,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,sans-serif;} .r-1to6hqq{background-color:rgba(255,212,0,1.00);} .r-1ttztb7{text-align:inherit;} .r-1udbk01{text-overflow:ellipsis;} .r-1v2oles{top:50%;} .r-1vmecro{direction:rtl;} .r-1vr29t4{font-weight:800;} .r-1wb8bfx{text-decoration-thickness:2px;} .r-1wbh5a2{flex-shrink:1;} .r-1wyyakw{z-index:-1;} .r-1xcajam{position:fixed;} .r-1xk2f4g{clip:rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);} .r-1xnzce8{-moz-user-select:text;-webkit-user-select:text;user-select:text;} .r-1xvli5t{height:1.25em;} .r-1y7e96w{min-width:22px;} .r-1ye8kvj{max-width:600px;} .r-1yef0xd{animation-name:r-11cv4x;} .r-1yjpyg1{font-size:31px;} .r-1ykxob0{top:60%;} .r-2o02ov{margin-top:40px;} .r-2tavb8{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.60);} .r-2yi16{min-height:36px;} .r-36ujnk{font-style:italic;} .r-37tt59{line-height:32px;} .r-3s2u2q{white-space:nowrap;} .r-417010{z-index:0;} .r-4gszlv{background-size:cover;} .r-4wgw6l{min-width:32px;} .r-54znze{color:rgba(239,243,244,1.00);} .r-56xrmm{line-height:12px;} .r-6026j{background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.85);} .r-633pao{pointer-events:none!important;} .r-6416eg{-moz-transition-property:background-color, box-shadow;-webkit-transition-property:background-color, box-shadow;transition-property:background-color, box-shadow;} .r-64el8z{min-width:52px;} .r-7q8q6z{cursor:default;} .r-8akbws{-webkit-box-orient:vertical;} .r-8jfcpp{top:-2px;} .r-92ng3h{width:1px;} .r-a023e6{font-size:15px;} .r-adyw6z{font-size:20px;} .r-agouwx{transform:translateZ(0);} .r-ah5dr5>*{pointer-events:none;} .r-ah5dr5{pointer-events:auto!important;} .r-aqfbo4{backface-visibility:hidden;} .r-b88u0q{font-weight:700;} .r-bcqeeo{min-width:0px;} .r-bnwqim{position:relative;} .r-bt1l66{min-height:20px;} .r-bvlit7{margin-bottom:-12px;} .r-deolkf{box-sizing:border-box;} .r-dflpy8{height:1.2em;} .r-dnmrzs{max-width:100%;} .r-ehq7j7{background-size:contain;} .r-emqnss{transform:translateZ(0px);} .r-eqz5dr{flex-direction:column;} .r-ero68b{min-height:40px;} .r-fdjqy7{text-align:left;} .r-fm7h5w{font-family:"TwitterChirpExtendedHeavy","Verdana",-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;} .r-h9hxbl{width:1.2em;} .r-icoktb{opacity:0.5;} .r-ifefl9{min-height:0px;} .r-impgnl{transform:translateX(50%) translateY(-50%);} .r-iphfwy{padding-bottom:4px;} .r-ipm5af{top:0px;} .r-jmul1s{transform:scale(1.1);} .r-jwli3a{color:rgba(255,255,255,1.00);} .r-kemksi{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,1.00);} .r-lp5zef{min-width:24px;} .r-lrsllp{width:24px;} .r-lrvibr{-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;user-select:none;} .r-m6rgpd{vertical-align:text-bottom;} .r-majxgm{font-weight:500;} .r-n6v787{font-size:13px;} .r-nwxazl{line-height:40px;} .r-o7ynqc{transition-duration:0.2s;} .r-peo1c{min-height:44px;} .r-poiln3{font-family:inherit;} .r-pp5qcn{vertical-align:-20%;} .r-q4m81j{text-align:center;} .r-qlhcfr{font-size:0.001px;} .r-qvk6io{line-height:0px;} .r-qvutc0{word-wrap:break-word;} .r-rjixqe{line-height:20px;} .r-rki7wi{bottom:12px;} .r-sb58tz{max-width:1000px;} .r-tjvw6i{text-decoration-thickness:1px;} .r-u6sd8q{background-repeat:no-repeat;} .r-u8s1d{position:absolute;} .r-ueyrd6{line-height:36px;} .r-uho16t{font-size:34px;} .r-vkv6oe{min-width:40px;} .r-vlxjld{color:rgba(247,249,249,1.00);} .r-vqxq0j{border:0 solid black;} .r-vrz42v{line-height:28px;} .r-vvn4in{background-position:center;} .r-wy61xf{height:72px;} .r-x3cy2q{background-size:100% 100%;} .r-x572qd{background-color:rgba(247,249,249,1.00);} .r-xigjrr{-webkit-filter:blur(4px);filter:blur(4px);} .r-yc9v9c{width:22px;} .r-yfoy6g{background-color:rgba(21,32,43,1.00);} .r-yy2aun{font-size:26px;} .r-yyyyoo{fill:currentcolor;} .r-z7pwl0{max-width:700px;} .r-z80fyv{height:20px;} .r-zchlnj{right:0px;} @-webkit-keyframes r-11cv4x{0%{transform:rotate(0deg);}100%{transform:rotate(360deg);}} @keyframes r-11cv4x{0%{transform:rotate(0deg);}100%{transform:rotate(360deg);}} .r-e6cgm{position:absolute;visibility:hidden;top:0;width:50px;pointer-events:none} .r-e6cgm.loaded{visibility:visible;top:50vh;width:50px} Carb-Hating Bodybuilders Are Killing Their Gains: Mike Mentzer’s Brutal Truth Will Slap You Awake!Discover why low-carb diets are sabotaging your muscle gains. Bodybuilding legend Mike Mentzer reveals the truth: muscle is mostly water, and carbs are key to keeping it full. Learn how Tom Platz used carbs to fuel his iconic quads, debunk low-carb myths, and optimize your diet for maximum growth. Stop burning muscle and start building it—here’s how! #Bodybuilding #MikeMentzer #TomPlatz #CarbsForGains #MuscleGrowth
  • The Top 5 Testosterone-Boosting Supplements of 2025: Unleashing the Power Within

    The Testosterone Meltdown and Nature’s Comeback By Dr. James R. Caldwell, Ph.D., FACSM; Director of Research, Applied Nutritional Res...
Go to full site