Is there any advantage to doing an EDT program?

[Misfit]

I've got Staley's book, I've read it, and I was really eager to start once I finish my current program. But then I got to thinking, and discouraged myself a little. What exactly is the advange over a more traditional set/rep scheme? Do you make progress faster with this method? The book implies that you will, but that might be overstated in order the validate the method. Otherwise I'm not sure where the advantage is in doing all the extra work. For example, doing a 5x5 bench press I make good progress and increase weight pretty much every workout. Now, what is the advantage of doing 60 reps as opposed to doing 25, plus you're completely wiped when finished? The only advantage I can think of is if you actually progress faster with EDT. And if that's the case, then why isn't everyone doing it? It seems to me that the only true advantage to this method is to same time.

I guess the simplified version of my question is this. Is there any real advantage to the EDT method, or is it just another means to the same end?

[Axis]

I don't know if they are any more effective than other workouts. I think there are two main advantages; 1.) The workouts can be completed quickly, and 2.) progress is measured easily.

[GG300]

I have been doing the workouts for 3 weeks now and I wasn't sure how much better they were going to be than my regular workouts but here are the positives that I have noticed so far. 1. You get one hell of a workout, litlle to no rest when you are in a zone trying to add lifts really pushes you and you feel it when you are done. 2. You see progress quickly. every workout you are pushing to get in more lifts or too increase weight loads so you notice your progress everytime you do a workout. 3. No fancy tempo or timing work you just lift as much as you can in the alloted time with good form. 4. As a side benefit , no one bothers you because you are sweating like a dog and moving quickly from one lift to another with just enough rest to knock out another 5 reps. 5, Litlle no know DOMS they mentioned that in the book. I am usually more sore right after lifting then I am 1 or 2 days later like I used to be with other programs. These are just my observations so far but I have been very happy with the workouts. If you are interested in exact WO you can check out my log at Never Ending Quest to be Stronger,Leaner and Faster.

[spankdat]

You may be over-thinking it just a bit, or perhaps taking the wrong perspective on it. At the very least, it's quite an effective method of training, another tool in the tool box for you to use for its own sake, or to turn to when whatever current protocols you're using begin to produce diminishing returns or simply grow stale and you need a change.

GG300's points are on the mark, and as for my experience with it, I had been doing an undulating set/rep scheme that incorporated 5x5 or 6x4 in it's "heavier" phases, prior to doing a 5 week block of EDT. Upon finishing the EDT block, when I resumed the undulating protocol, I found my numbers had gone up in all phases of it, including in the heavier range. I found this particularly surprising considering that EDT involves using one's 10 rep max for low rest sets of 5.

Currently I'm in the middle of an undulating set/rep scheme again, but I've found that sometimes I like to throw in an EDT day every now and then, particularly when I really don't feel like doing a work out and the best I can muster is "you don't have to do the whole thing but you have to do something." On those days, I find it easier to "just do it" when I can let go of how many sets and reps of x amount of weight I "should" be doing and just have at it for the alotted time. Invariably I end up doing the whole workout anyway, as hard or harder than I would have in the first place.

Also, I have to wonder which portion of an undulating protocol (i.e. 2-3x12-15, 3x8-10, or 5x5 or 6x4?) might an EDT day best serve as an occasional purposeful substitute, and still fall within intent of the original parameters . Any thoughts on this, EDT advocates? Charles?

[gobbla]

advantages\disadvantages are relative to your goals.

if you were going on an extreme of PL or Bodybuilding then it probibly woudn't be the way to go. if you want to be "in shape" then it's as good as any other program, probibly better than many.