That style of training was mainly applied to people with very low recovery ability or people who could train so brutally hard that they dug a deep enough neurological hole to actually need that much downtime. In my experience, that second category is rare. Not impossible — just rare. Most lifters simply don’t train with the level of neurological efficiency or intensity required to justify extremely long rest periods. For the majority, 5–7 days between hitting the same muscle group is more than sufficient and often works better. Personally, I’ve never trained a fully consolidated routine myself. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong — it just means it was never widely applied. Mike only used it with a very small number of people, and for specific reasons. So if you’re one of those few good men, so to speak — go for it. Just be honest about which category you’re actually in. — Markus

Has anyone tried the consolidated routine? I think I'm going to take a crack at it. I have been doing my current routine for about 3 months now and am looking to switch it up for another 3 months. Also, how often do you guys switch your routines?

The Stimulus Is Set in the Gym. Nutrition Decides Whether It Pays Off. High-intensity training works only when it’s done correctly. The stimulus is created when a set is taken to true failure with precision and intent. That part happens in the gym. But if nutrition isn’t backing that stimulus afterward, the entire system folds. Growth doesn’t fail because effort was missing. It fails because recovery wasn’t supported. I don’t leave that part to chance. If food isn’t prepared, compliance breaks. And once compliance breaks, results follow it out the door. How I Run the System I pick one prep day. That day handles the entire week. On that day: - Protein is cooked in bulk - Carbs are prepared in advance - Meals are portioned once, correctly - After that, the week runs on execution. - No daily decisions. No scrambling. No mental drag. You’re not cooking every day — you’re following a plan. Most people rely on stacks of plastic containers. They work, but they’re inefficient. I prefer vacuum-sealed meals. Why: - Food stays fresher - Storage is flat and clean - No leaks, no smell - You can prep 20–30 meals in one session - It turns meal prep into logistics instead of a chore. Prepare once. Execute all week. Why This Matters for Heavy Duty? High-intensity training demands recovery. Recovery demands consistency. Consistency demands preparation. When meals are ready, compliance is automatic. There’s nothing to negotiate when fatigue shows up. That’s how progress becomes predictable. And if you want your training structured with the same discipline, the HIT Warrior Guide lays it out clean and direct. 👉 HIT Warrior Guide https://pay.highintensitycoach.com/hitwar39 No chaos. No guessing. Just stimulus, recovery, and execution.

I’ve been doing traditional squats but looking to swap over to a machine style so I can push deeper to failure. I’ve already got leg press in the routine, so this would be an additional compound movement My gym has plenty to choose from: Hack Squat Roger’s Power Squat Pro Arsenal Pendulum Squat Belt Squat Which of these would you choose?

I want to personally clarify something I’ve been building behind the scenes, because this one actually matters. I’m officially opening my High-Intensity Training Camp in Las Vegas — and this is not a group workout, not a seminar, and definitely not an Instagram meet-up. This is real HIT, done the way it’s supposed to be done. Here’s exactly what the camp offers: • One-on-one coaching with me • Training on exclusive, brand-new Nautilus machines • Nautilus Leverage line, Nautilus Inspiration line, and Hammer Strength machines • Proper execution — zero momentum, controlled cadence, real failure • Correct load selection, rest periods, and recovery timing • How to structure HIT so it works long-term, not just for a few weeks• Hands-on corrections you simply cannot get from videos or PDFs This is where theory meets reality. If you’ve been studying Heavy Duty principles but feel like something still hasn’t fully clicked — this is usually the missing piece. HDN members only: If you decide to join the Las Vegas camp, you’ll get $100 OFF automatically. This discount is private and not available anywhere else. 👉 HDN private access link (with $100 off):https://pay.highintensitycoach.com/hitlvhdn 👉 Full camp details:https://highintensitycoach.com/hit-camp No pressure. No hype. I just wanted my people to know exactly what I’m building — and to give you first access if it makes sense for you. Questions? Drop them below or message me directly. – Markus 💪