Deck of Cards Workout
Here’s another way to shock a lagging bodypart. I’ve done this for biceps with great success. Choose one exercise for the bodypart – in my example, standing barbell curls. Choose a weight that you can do 18-20 reps with.
Take a deck of cards, take the first card. Do a # of reps equal to the value of the card – if you get an Ace, you can rest for one minute. After completing the prescribed # of reps, choose another card and do your next set (you should be “resting” for no longer than 15 seconds, just enough time to choose the card and start your next set). Try to get through as many cards in the deck as you can! It may sound easy, but trust me, IT’S NOT!
The first time I did this, I got thru approximately 20 cards, the 2nd time, approximately 30 cards, and the 3rd time I got totally psyched that I was going to get thru the whole deck and I did – could barely bend my arms for the next couple of days!
As always, remember, with any shock training method such as this, don’t do it too often or you’ll overtrain and limit your results. Just use this every now and then to shock a lagging bodypart into growth.
January 24, 2008 at 9:58 am
I’m gonna have to give this a shot. Thanks!
January 24, 2008 at 10:19 am
Good idea if you train at home but at the gym?
January 24, 2008 at 10:24 am
Why not do it at the gym too? Don’t worry about looking "silly" with your deck of cards. How silly will you look when you’re more ripped than everyone else there?
People will actually admire your intensity moreso than think that it’s strange to have a deck of cards at the gym.
January 24, 2008 at 10:39 am
don’t discount the "silly" factor - there’s a reason you don’t see this taking place in many (or any) gyms..for the 20 or so yrs. i’ve been lifting, i’ve never come across a bodybuilder, article or website (incl. this one for that matter - unti now that is), that has advocated 48 sets (discounting the four aces) for bis for a total of approx. 340 reps..not for beginners, advanced bbers, or even those trying to bust through a plateau..overkill for a relatively small muscle..be careful
January 24, 2008 at 10:49 am
I definitely agree, this is an approach to be careful with, but it has worked well for me. Obviously if you try this, the deck of cards is your complete workout for the muscle. I’ve also done it with larger bodyparts such as chest, but only with a machine as it’s very easy to fail unexpectedly somewhere along the way.
January 25, 2008 at 6:01 am
What a hot workout idea. I like to look different in the gym!