"Slow Burn" - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[vreches]

I have a client who asked me what my opinion was about the " Slow Burn"
theory. I asked her what she was referring to , to make sure we were talking about the same thing. She was referring to Heavier weights, less reps. and slower. Can someone please tell me if there are multiple answers to this theory. I always thought, heavier weight less rep, was not good if the results I was looking for was sculpting and toning the muscle, as well as (gaining lean muscle). I have done some research but everyone has a different opinion. Any thoughts out there?

[dpasseto]

My opinion on this is that more weight, less reps certainly has its benefits for achieving strength increases. However, I think super slow movement simply isn't a functional training tool. In the real world, when are you ever really lifting a heavy object slowly from the floor or over your head? Never. Developing explosive strength and fast-twitch muscle fibers is critical for these functional movements, and simply won't be accomplished using a deliberately slow movement.

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

It sounds almost like "super slow" where the resistance is lifted very slowly (like 10 to 20 seconds for both concentric and eccentric phases).

In exercise there is an old saying "everything works, for a little while". Eventually we adapt to all exercise programs. Like many programs there are little clinical proof that one is better than another so I say try the slow burn for a few weeks and see how you like it.

Hope that helps
Joe