Colorado Experiment

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Arthur Jones Portrait

The Colorado Experiment was a highly publicized bodybuilding experiment conducted in May 1973 at Colorado State University. The experiment was designed to test the effects of a high-intensity workout on muscle mass and strength. The primary subject of the experiment was Casey Viator, a professional bodybuilder, who was under the supervision of Arthur Jones, the founder of Nautilus, Inc. and the inventor of the Nautilus exercise machines. The experiment is often cited in discussions about high-intensity training (HIT) and its efficacy in muscle building.

Background

Before the Colorado Experiment, Arthur Jones had been advocating for high-intensity training as a more efficient and effective method for increasing muscle mass and strength compared to traditional volume training methods. Jones believed that short, intense workouts, with each set taken to muscular failure, were superior for stimulating muscle growth. The Colorado Experiment aimed to provide empirical evidence to support these claims.

Methodology

The experiment was conducted over a period of 28 days. Casey Viator was subjected to a regimen of high-intensity workouts, which included a variety of exercises targeting all major muscle groups. Each workout was designed to be brief yet extremely intense, with Viator performing a single set of each exercise to failure, using Nautilus machines to ensure consistent resistance and form.

Viator's diet and nutritional intake were also closely monitored and controlled throughout the experiment to optimize muscle recovery and growth. The precise details of his diet during the experiment, however, were not extensively documented in the published results.

Results

The results of the Colorado Experiment suggested that Casey Viator experienced significant gains in muscle mass and strength. According to the published data, Viator gained 63 pounds of muscle while losing 18 pounds of fat, an outcome that was unprecedented in the realm of bodybuilding and physical conditioning at the time. These results were used by Arthur Jones to promote the effectiveness of high-intensity training and the Nautilus machines.

Criticism and Controversy

The Colorado Experiment has been subject to criticism and skepticism from some in the fitness and bodybuilding community. Critics have pointed out potential issues with the experiment's methodology, including the lack of a control group, the short duration of the experiment, and the possibility of exaggerated results. Additionally, there were concerns about the accuracy of the body composition measurements used to calculate Viator's muscle gains.

Despite these criticisms, the Colorado Experiment remains a landmark event in the history of bodybuilding and physical fitness, often referenced in discussions about workout methodologies and the potential of high-intensity training.

Legacy

The Colorado Experiment has had a lasting impact on the fitness industry, particularly in the promotion of high-intensity training methods. It helped to popularize the use of Nautilus machines and influenced the development of other high-intensity training protocols. The experiment is still discussed and analyzed by bodybuilding and fitness enthusiasts, with many drawing inspiration from its results to implement high-intensity principles in their own training regimens.