Bulking booty

There isn't such a thing as "toning" muscles. Looking "toned" is about improving your body composition by reducing fat mass while preserving the underlying muscle so it becomes visible.

To the girls you reference: some of them will do lighter resistance but train the glutes frequently with high volume of sets and reps. But if you are looking at optimizing gains in muscle mass, eating a calorie surplus with muscle hypertrophy training is a more efficient use of your time.

I'm at work but will PM you a research review which highlights the effects of training frequency, intensity and volume on muscle hypertrophy. The greatest gains come with the following:
1). Train each muscle group 2-3 times per week.
2). Train between 70-80% of your 1-rep max.
3). Do 4-6 sets (per exercise) with total reps per muscle group between 40-60.

I agree and see what your saying but you prescribed a strength routine which doesn't necessarily represent hypertrophy (size).

Optimal range is around 6-12 repetitions (maybe 8-10 being most ideal) and I wouldn't consider 4-6 sets with total reps per muscle group between 40-60 to be volume(?). If you did two exercises for glutes with 5 sets and did 5 reps each set, that equals 50 reps for that muscle group.

Hypertrophy is the bodybuilding way to gain size, whereas time under tension (TUT) becomes more important. If you did the same thing going the standard route (3 sets, 10 reps), that's 60 after two exercises and even that is light volume.

I think strength and hypertrophy go hand in hand though and would recommend it for anybody. The method you gave is good but I'm just saying it's not what I know as "hypertrophy" so I'm a little confused.

Everything you said described a strength routine, where you're doing the same muscle groups three times a week instead of once a week. I know this site is all 5x5 and Scooby regurgitated over and over but Strength training (or should I say Power Lifting) is not the same as Hypertrophy (or Bodybuilding method).

Whatever works for you though and as long as your having fun then I support anybody. If you're hitting muscle failure and eating then chances are you're going to gain some size. I just thought the goal was getting a bigger booty and not increasing how much you can 1RM on a squat.

I know but it's at least volume >.< Strength training has a different physiological effect and promotes different muscle fibers geared towards it. I think the principle behind volume is absolute fatigue.

But I hear ya. Apparently this guy named CT Fletcher trained arms every single day until they were like 22 inches or something hahaha. Who knows.

(Edit: He was also a world class powerlifter, total strength dude and a bit cray)

OP, you've had fantastic results. Why do you think you might be doing it wrong? Clearly, you're doing it right.

But, for what it is worth, I do a 10-12 (and a 10 full ROM, 5 half ROM on leg press) rep range for glutes and work between 70-80% of 1 rep max. In other words, you need to keep it heavy. The reason they use lighter weights in videos is so they can talk to you about the exercises. If they used the weight range they would normally use to do the exercises, they wouldn't be able to explain them. Demonstrative videos almost always use lower weight than the person generally lifts.

Amanda Latona has some of the best glutes in the business, and here's her accessory routine.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/round-and-round-amanda-latonas-glute-workout.html

Glute glory here:
http://bretcontreras.com/
http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance/dispelling_the_glute_myth
https://www.youtube.com/user/bretcontreras1
The Glute Guy Bret Contreras has some research that suggests glute training may be more beneficial in the 20 rep range.

helpful links, thanks! might try hip thrusts soon

Looks like you've already made great progress. You should also definitely check out Bret Contreras and do hip thrusts. Here is another article. This article is not saying to not do squats. It's just talking about how effective hip thrusts are, if you are trying to build glutes. http://bretcontreras.com/a-squat-devotee-no-more/

People always mention 80% of 1RM for hypertrophy. But that can take a lot out of ya...it's hard to keep progressive overload going like that. I say stick with strength or hypertrophy...or cycle between the two every few months. If you try to make a hypertrophy workout into a strength one or vice-versa you can do yourself in and burn out, speaking from experience. Can't do it all at the same time! But progressive overload trumps everything else, imho.

First off, wicked awesome results!

If it's a killer booty (and overall body) you're after, I will also highly highly recommend Bret Contreras and the Strong Curves programming. I have seen crazy results since I started following his program. It basically incorporates everything that you have seen everyone here suggest. It's totally worth the $30 for the book; I have yet to come across a person that has tried it that does not like it! Also, the hip thrust is hands down my favorite lift (hence my name :drinker: )

People always mention 80% of 1RM for hypertrophy. But that can take a lot out of ya...it's hard to keep progressive overload going like that. I say stick with strength or hypertrophy...or cycle between the two every few months. If you try to make a hypertrophy workout into a strength one or vice-versa you can do yourself in and burn out, speaking from experience. Can't do it all at the same time! But progressive overload trumps everything else, imho.

Eighty-percent of a 1 rep max is an 8 rep set; Seventy-five percent is a 10 rep set. With that said, the authors found that significant increases in daily CSA can be observed from anything greater than 60% of 1 rep max. So there is an awful lot of flexibility there. This is true for the other variables as well ( training frequency and volume pertaining to sets). The table in Chapter 4 provides several proposed guidelines according to training experience based on the studies reviewed.

Awesome! I prefer around the 60% range myself for hypertrophy. That said, I'm doing a strength program right now.