Friday, August 22, 2014

Some thoughts on Programming

This is something I wrote up a while back and never got around to finishing / posting, part of the process of compiling my first comprehensive system of training. You can see the implementation of this system if you look at my 'training-log' posts from March and April of this year. Ended up being quite a great system for me, resulting in some solid PR lifts. Its somewhat of a 'loose' system, in which you make daily decisions on what lifts/sets/reps you want to do. Its intended to be high frequency, but I suppose it could work just as well with 3-4 training days per week.
 
Hopefully it benefits someone else. -Joe 

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·         Top-Set Work – Going for Rep-PRs with a given weight, typically 5-8 or 10+ rep range. Choose to do a PR day based on energy level, physical/mental preparedness, bar-speed on warm-ups & elapsed time since the last PR.

o    Actions
§  1 – Perform 5/4/3/2/1 warm-up. The final single should be around ~90% of current Training Max (which is a 1RM estimate from Rep-PRs).
§  2 – Back-off to the desired weight or % for the PR attempt.
§  3 (Optional) – Perform 1 or 2 back-off sets after the PR attempt, always leaving 1 or 2 reps in the tank.
 
·         Volume Work – Sets across at a given weight or % (based off of the current training max), aiming to build strength, mass & work capacity.  These days should be of medium difficulty overall, putting the work in without psyche-up. Do not rush the workload, pick a weight that you can sufficiently handle in correct style, without forcing or grinding reps.

o    Actions
§  1 – Perform 5/4/3/2/1 warm-up. The final single should be around ~90% of current Training Max.
§  1A (optional) – Perform a traditional style warm-up, increasing weight up to the amount required for the working sets. For example; 135x10, 225x8, 275x6, 315 5x5.
§  2 – Aim for 15-50 reps total, via one the following;


       Sets of    5 @ 75%*   until RPE 9+ is reached
                    8 @ 70%*                
                                "        10 @ 60%*               
                                        15 @ 55%*               
                                        20 @ 50%*              
 
*Based on training max


·         Base Template – 6 Training days / Rest days as needed

o    Day 1 – Squat, Pressing, Abdominals
o    Day 2 –   Pulls,       , Back-work
o    Day 3 – Squat,        , Abdominals
o    Day 4 –   Pulls,       , Back-work
o    Day 5 – Squat,        , Abdominals
o    Day 6 –   Pulls,       , Back-work
o    Day 7 –   Rest
 

·         Daily Layout

o    Day 1
§  Warm up: Stretching, Jump-Rope, Band Good Mornings
§  Pressing: Bench, Dip or Press
§  Squat
§  Ab Wheel


o    Day 2
§  Warm up: Stretching, Jump-Rope, Band Good Mornings
§  Pressing: Bench, Dip or Press
§  SLDL
§  Back-work: Rows, Chins or Shrugs

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Training Log - 4 / 28 & 29 / 2014

4/28/14

Bench
20kg x30
60 x5
80 x4
100 x3
110 x2
125 x1
115 x8 (+2 Rep PR)
100 x10

BTN Press
20kg x20
60, 2x8
50, 2x10
40 x20

Flat DB Fly
42.5lb, 3x10
22.5lb, 2x20

FacePull
25kg, 5x25


4/29/14

SLDL
20kg x20
80 x5
100 x4
120 x3
140 x2
160 x1
125 x13 (+3 Rep PR)

Chins
Bw x9,8,8

T-Bar Rows
60kg, 3x12
40kg, 1x20

Db Shrugs
80lb x60,60,40

Rope Hammer Curls
20kg x25,20

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Training Log - 4/27/14

Squat
40kg x10
90 x10
115, 2x10
135, 2x8

Barbell Lunge (alternating)
40kg, 3x20

Leg Extension
25kg, 3x20

Leg Curl
20kg, 3x20

Friday, April 25, 2014

BioRhythm Diet / Typical Days Eating + Training Log 4/25/15

Thought I'd include some diet related stuff since you guys seem interested in that. 

My bodyweight is currently hovering around 90kg and my goal is to maintain it while using the BioRhythm diet to Recomp / Consolidate my gains. Things have been going well for the past 2 weeks. I've had to increase my food intake quite a bit to avoid losing weight. At 3000kcals per day I began losing weight rapidly, so I've gradually increased it. 

Here's todays diet log, which is pretty typical of most days, considering that I basically train everyday. 


Breakfast (8am)(493kcal, 31 fat, 11 carbs, 40 protein)
6 Large Eggs 
1 cup Green Beans
2 Fish Oil Pills 

Lunch (12pm)(553kcal, 30 fat, 17 carbs, 54 protein)
Beef (140g)
1 cup Green Beans
1.5oz raw Almonds
2 Fish Oil Pills 

Pre-Workout (4pm)(369kcal, 25 fat, 8 carbs, 29 protein)
Black Coffee
1 scoop Whey Isolate
1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
30 Pistachios

Post Workout (6:30pm)(121kcal, 0 fat, 31 carbs, 1 protein)
1 Large Banana

Dinner (7:30pm)(1,751kcal, 5 fat, 350 carbs, 69 protein)
1 can Tuna
1 cup Black Beans
2 cups (Raw) White Rice (cooked in the rice cooker)

Dessert (8:30pm)(446kcal, 6 fat, 83 carbs, 15 protein)
1 cup Blueberries
1 cup rolled Oatmeal

Macro Totals: 3,733kcal, 97 fat, 500 carb, 54 fiber, 208 protein


For anyone who's interested in continually looking at my daily diet, here is a link to my MyFitnessPal page.


And todays training;

Strict Press
20kg x20
40 x5
50 x4
60 x3
75 x2
85 x1
70 x12 (Rep PR!)
60 x10
50 x12

Db Incline Bench
80lb, 3x12

Db Side Laterals
8kg, 3x10

Reverse Tricep Pushdown
20kg, 3x25

FacePull
25kg, 5x25

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Training Log - 4 / 23 & 24 / 2014

I know the blog has been simply training-logs lately, but if there is anyone actually reading this shit... hang in there. Pretty soon I'll be putting some post regarding the first CircaStrength Training System.

4/23/14

Bench
20kg x20
60 x10
80 x10
85, 3x10 (standard grip)
85, 3x10 (wide grip)
85, 3x10 (narrow grip)

BTN Press
20kg x15
50kg, 4x10

Side Laterals
2x10

Front Raise
2x10

Tricep Rope Pushdown
20kg x15
22.5, 3x12

4/24/14

SLDL
60kg x10
90 x10
115 x10
140 x5
160 x3
115, 2x10

Ring Chins
Bw, 3x8

T-Bar Rows
60kg, 3x12
40kg x20

Barbell Shrugs (strapless)
160kg, 3x20

Band Good Morning
1x50

Rope Hammer Curls
20kg, 2x20

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Training Log - 4/22/14

Squat
20kg x20
90 x5
110 x4
130 x3
150 x2
170 x1
150, 3x5
130, 2x8

Band Good Morning
1x50

Leg Curl
15kg x25
17.5, 2x20

Leg Ext.
20kg x25
25 x25
30 x20
25 x25

Monday, April 21, 2014

Training Log - 4 / 19 & 21 / 2014

4/19/14

Flat Bench
20kg x50
60 x15
75, 3x15

Squat 
70kg x15
100 x15 (squats felt shitty today, so just did 1 set.) 

Ab Wheel
5x10


4/21/14

Strict Press 
20kg x15
40 x10
50 x8
60 x6
70 x4
75, 3x5
65, 2x10

Db Flat Bench 
80lb, 3x15

FacePulls
25kg x30
30 x25
35 x20
30, 2x20

Reverse Tricep Extension
20kg, 2x12

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Training Log - 4/18/14

BTN Press
20kg x20
30 x10
40 x8
50 x6
60 x5
68, 6x5

Band Good Morning 
1x30

SLDL
20kg x20
70 x10
90 x10
110 x10
130, 4x8

Band Good Morning
1x30

T-Bar Rows
50kg, 5x15

Cable Kurls
20kg 1x25


Having to eat like crazy to hold my bodyweight at 90kg. 

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Training Log - 4/17/14

Flat Db Bench (superset w/ FacePulls)
50lb x10
75 x10
100, 2x10
75 x15
50 x20

FacePull
22.5kg, 6x20

Band Good Morning
2x20

Squat
20kg x20
90 x5
110 x4
130 x3
150 x2
170 x1
115, 3x10

Band Good Morning 
2x20

Tricep Extension (various grips)
15kg, 3x30

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Training Log - 4/ 15 & 16 /14

4/15/14

Bench
20kg x20
60 x10
80 x10
100 x10
125 x5 
60 2x20

Back Squat
20kg x20
90 x5
110 x4
130 x3
150 x2
170 x1
145 x10 (+2kg, PR)
120 x10
100 x12

Db Shrug
80lb, 3x50

Single Arm Lat-Pulldown
20kg, 3x20


4/16/14, Kinda low energy today. Still Put some work in.

Press
20kg x20
40 x10
50 x10
60 3x10

Tricep Extension
22.5kg 2x30

Pendlay Rows
20kg x20
50 x10
60 x8
70 3x6
60 x8
50 x10

Fat Db Concentration Curl
25lb 3x15
18lb 1x20


Monday, April 14, 2014

Training Log - 4/14/14

Bodyweight 90kg

BTN Press
20kg x15
40 x5
50 x4
60 x3
70 x2 
80 x1
85 x1
90 x1
60 x13 (PR!)

Band Good Morning
3x20

Deficit SLDL (standing on 25kg plate)
60kg x10
100 x10
125 x10 (PR!)

T-Bar Rows
40kg x20
50 x15
60 x10
50 x15
40 x20

Rope Tricep Ext. Superset with Rope Hammer Curls
15kg 2x30          //////////////        15kg 2x30


Finally hit my goal bodyweight of 90kg. The goal is now to maintain this weight, going for some long-term recomp. 

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Training Log - 4/12/14

Flat Bench
20kg x25
60 x6
80 x4
100 x3
110 x2
125 x1
90 5x10

Squat
20kg x20
60 x20
80 x20
100 x20

Chins
Bw x10


...Ran outta time...

Training Log - 4/11/14

Strict Press
20kg x15
50 x5
60 x4
70 x3
80 x2
90 x1
65 3x8

Rope Pushdowns
18kg 1x40

SLDL
20kg x20
80 x5
100 x4
120 x3
140 x2
160 x1
140 5x5

Db Rows (unsupported)
80lb 3x15


Just puttin' in work today. 

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Training Log - 4/10/14

Flat Bench
20kg x30
60 x5
80 x4
100 x3
110 x2
125 x1 (paused)
100 x12 (Rep PR)

Squat
20kg x20
70 x5
100 x4
120 x3
140 x2
160 x1
130 3x8

Pendlay Row (strict, no slop or heave)
70kg 3x6
70kg (deficit, standing on 20kg plate) 3x6

Rope Hammer Curl 
15kg x50

Rope Pushdown 
15kg x50



Glad to see some movement in my bench! Was stuck for a long while. 

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Training Log - 4/9/14

Dips
Bw x20
Bw+35kg 3x10

Band Good Morning
3x20

SLDL
90kg x5
110 x4
130 x3
150 x2
170 x1
160 x6 (+1 rep PR!) 
120 x8

Band Good Morning
1x50

Inverted Row  SuperSet w/ Db Shrugs
Bw 3x10    /////////////     80lb 3x30



Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Training Log 4/8/14 w/ PR Video!

Press
20kg x10
50 x5
60 x4
70 x3
80 x2
90 x1
80 x8  PR!

Band Good Morning
3x20

Squat
20kg x20
90 x5
110 x4
130 x3
150 x2
170 x1
160 x6  PR!

Band Good Morning
1x50

Cable Rows, Various Grip-Widths
40kg 6x20

Fat Db Concentration Kurl
18lb x20,10,10,10


Great Session. Couldn't ask for a better training day.



Monday, April 7, 2014

Training Log - 4/7/14

Not a ton of time today. Made it a quick mini-taper workout, low volume. Looking for a few more PRs in the near future...

Dips
Bw x20,10

Flat Db Bench
80lb x20   (PR)

Chins
Bw x10
Bw 6x5

BTN Lat Pulldown
40kg x20

Training Log - 4/6/14

BTN Press
20kg x20
40 x5
50 x4
60 x3
70 x2
80 x1
50kg 3x10

Band Good Morning
3x20

SLDL
80 x5
100 x4
129 x3
140 x2
160 x1
100 3x10

T-Bar Rows Superset with Ab Wheel
40kg 3x20 /// Bw 3x15

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Training Log - 4/5/14

Bench
20kg x30
60 x5
80 x4
100 x3
110 x2
125 x1
100kg 4x8

Squat
20kg x20
80 x5
100 x4
120 x3
140 x2
160 x1
100kg 3x15

Facepull
25kg 5x25

BB Kurl
20kg 2x30,15



Finished the evening off with a very nice dinner and lots of good conversation with a new friend. Ended up with 1.5lbs steak, a few glasses of Makers Mark and untold amounts of potatoes. Good Times.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Training Log - 4/4/14

Press
50kg x5
60 x4
70 x3
80 x2
90 x1
60 x15
40 x20

Band Good Morning
3x20

SLDL
80kg x5
100 x4
120 x3
140 x2
160 x1
120 x12

Band Good Morning
1x25

Pendlay Rows
50kg 2x20 (lower back was just too pumped by this point, so switched exercises)
One Arm Lat-Pulldown
15kg x30

Rope Hammer Curl
15kg x40 +10 (rest-pause)

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Training Log - 4/3/14

No Prisoners. No Mercy.


Bodyweight - 87kg

Dips
Bw 2x20
+25kg x17
+20kg 3x15

Band Good Morning
3x20

Squat
100kg x10
120 x10
125 x10
120 x10
100 x10

Band Good Morning
1x45

Db Row
80lb 4x15

Fat Db Concentration Kurl
25lb 2x15,10
18lb x10

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Training Log - 4/2/14

Bodyweight 87kg

Bench Press
20kg x20
60 x5
90 x4
110 x3
120 x2
130 x1
115 x6
100 x10

Band Good Morning
3x20

Deadlift
120kg x1
140 x1
160 x1
180 x1
200 x1
220 x1  (+10kg PR!)

Band Good Morning 
1x30

Chins
Bw 3x10


Dunno why I decided to do deadlift singles today. Probably out of laziness mostly (haha). Trying to tailor most of my training toward rep-work and back-off sets. Oh well. New All-time PR so I cant really Bitch too much. 

227kg / 500lbs is getting closer!

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Training Log - 4/1/14

Light / Recovery Day

Strict Press
20kg x15
40 x10
50 x10
60 x10
50 x10
40 x10
20 x15

Band Good Morning
1x30

Back Squat
100kg x10
125 x12
100 x10

Band Good Morning
1x30

Cable Rows
40kg 5x20

Monday, March 31, 2014

Training Log - 3/31/14

Flat Bench (Paused)
20kg x20
80 x5
90 x4
100 x3
110 x2
120 x1  
125 x1 (smoked this)
130 3x1 (smooth singles)

Flat Db Bench
80lb 3x15

Band Good Morning
3x20

Straight-Leg Deadlift 'Hospital Reps'
70kg 3x15  (these are tougher than they seem, erector pumps)

Band Good Morning 
1x30

Pendlay Row
70kg 3x6    (super strict)
50kg 3x12   (same with these, feeling the muskels)

Rope Hammer Curl
15kg x40+5,5,5  (rest-paused)


Good Bench work today. Had a fun workout. 

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Training Log - 3/30/14

BTN Press (each rep dead-stopped on the traps) 
20kg x10
40 x10
50 x10
60 x10
70 x5
80 x2
90 xF (not today)
40 x20 (continuous reps)

Band Good Morning
3x20

Back Squat
80kg x5
100 x4
120 x3
140 x2
160 x1
143 x10 (Big PR!)
120 x10

Band Good Morning
1x45

Face-Pull
25kg 5x25

Barbell Kurl
40kg 3x6
20kg x20



Great session today. Really happy with the squat PR, kinda came outta nowhere. Definitely didn't see it coming. But, I'll take them as they come!

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Training Log - 3/29/14 w/ Food Porn

Dips 
Bw x20,10
Bw+25kg x10
Bw+55kg x9 (Fucking almost 10. Still, I think this is a big PR haha)
Bw+25kg x15
Bw x40  (Repzzzz)

Band Good morning 
3x20

SLDL (dead-stopped, on the rep sets)
120kg x1
140 x1
160 x1
180 x1
160 x5
140 x8
120 x10

Band Good Morning
1x45   (Killer erector pumpz)

Chins
Bw x5
Bw+20kg x5
Bw x10
Single-arm Lat-Pulldowns
20kg x20,15,15
BTN Lat-Pulldowns 
30kg x45

Ab wheel
3x20


And since I haven't done so in a while... A food pic. This was the post-workout meal today. Grass-fed beef T-Bone steak, potato, peas, beans, roasted cauliflower and some red wine. Delicious. 


Friday, March 28, 2014

Relationship with Free Weights

Free weights with their interchangeable plates are such a tool. Their parsimony of form reflects their elemental purpose. One enters into a relationship of ancient simplicity with these weights that are so aptly called "free". You pit yourself against the bar with direct and single-minded aggression. When a man met his foe in single-handed combat, he also met the current measure of himself. In the same way, you have a measure of yourself each and every time you lift real weights, dependent on that combination of mental, physical and spiritual energy levels you rise or fall to on that particular occasion. Again, you can't put your foot in the same river or lift the same weights twice. -Thomas Foote

Training Log - 3/28/14

Press
20kg x20
50 x5
60 x4
70 x3
80 x2
90 x1 
80 x6
55 3x10

Band Good Morning
3x20

Paused Back Squat 
(5secs in the hole, each rep)
50kg x5
70 x5
100 x5
120 x5
Back Squat 
(No pauses)
130kg x5
100 x12

Band Good Morning
1x40

Db Row
(Unsupported, +Straps)
80lb x20,15,12,10

Fat Db Concentration Kurl
22.5lb x20



Training Log - 3/27/14

Bench
20kg x20
60 x10
100 x10
115 x5
80 3x12

Band Good Morning
3x20

Deficit (on 25kg plate) SLDL, reps Deadstopped
70kg x5
100 x8
120 x6
140 x4
160 x2
100 x15

Band Good Morning
1x40

T-bar rows
30kg x20
40 x15
50 x12
70 x10
40 x25

Rope hammer curls
20kg 2x 20,15

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Training Log - Lower/Upper - Cycle 3

Monday 3/10 - Lower-Body A 
Deadlift 3x5 @ 167kg
Back Squat 4x10 @ 90kg
Ab Wheel 3x12 @ Bw+5kg

Tuesday 3/11 - Upper-Body A 
Bench Press 3x5 @ 112kg Volume PR
Pendlay Row 4x6 @ 62.5kg
BTN Press 3x10 @ 50kg
Chins 3x10 @ bodyweight
Rope Hammer-Curl: 2x10 @ 25kg

Wednesday 3/12 - Lower-Body B 
Squat 3x5 @ 152kg Volume PR
Deadlift 3x10 @ 100kg
Ab Wheel 3x 20, 15, 12

Friday 3/14 - Upper-Body B 
OH Press 3x5 @ 80kg
Chins 3x5 @ Bw+17kg
Dips 3x10 @ Bw+22kg
Db Row 3x12 @ 80lb
BB Curl 2x12 @ 30kg

Nothing Terribly exciting. Working toward some PRs in all my main lifts. Just a few weeks out...

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Training Log - Lower/Upper - Cycle 2

Tuesday 3/4 - Lower-Body A 
Deadlift 3x5 @ 165kg
Back Squat 3x10 @ 90kg
Ab Wheel 3x15

Thursday 3/6 - Upper-Body A 
Bench Press 5x5 @ 110kg
Pendlay Row 5x5 @ 60kg
BTN Press 5x10 @ 45kg
Chins 5x10 @ bodyweight
Rope Hammer-Curl: 2x10 @ 25kg

Friday 3/7 - Lower-Body B 
Squat: 5x5 @ 150kg Volume PR
Deadlift: 5x10 @ 102kg
Ab Wheel: 3x 20, 15, 10

Saturday 3/8 - Upper-Body B 
OH Press: 3x5 @ 78kg
Chins: 3x5 @ Bw+17kg
Dips: 5x10 @ Bw+20kg
Db Row: 5x10 @ 80lb

Things are going really well and I'm starting to find the groove of this program. Taking the progression slowly, working toward new PR territory. I've already reached new ground on Squats and I'm a few weeks out from doing so on OH Press, Bench & deads. Good things coming!

Diet has been askew for a bit, but Im getting things back together. I'll be throwing an update on the blog in the near future. I'll have to video future PRs also.  

Monday, March 3, 2014

Training Log - Lower/Upper - Cycle 1

Thursday 2/27  - Lower-Body A
Deadlift: 3x5 @ 165kg
B.Squat:  3x10 @ 90kg 
Leg Curl: 3x12 @ 22.5kg


Friday 2/28  - Upper-Body A
Dips: 3x5 @ Bw+45kg
Db Row: 4x10 @ 80lb
BTN Press (light): 3x10 @ 40kg
Single-Arm Pulldown: 3x10 @ 22.5kg
Tricep Pushdown: 2x15 @ 25kg
Rope Hammer-Curl: 2x15,13 @ 25kg


Sunday 3/2  - Lower-Body B
Squat: 3x5 @ 150kg 
Deadlift: 3x10 @ 101kg
Band Goodmorning: 3x15


Monday 3/3  - Upper-Body B
OH Press: 5x5 @ 76kg
Chins: 5x5 @ Bw+15kg
Flat Db Press: 3x11 @ 80lb
Single-Arm Row: 3x12 @ 27.5kg
Reverse Tricep Pushdown: 2x15 @ 25kg
Db Curl: 2x12 @ 32.5lb

Revamped Training... Again

After going over some short and long-term goals with my training partner and discussing recent changes made to the training schedule, we've settled on an Upper/Lower Split. 

The basic cycle is Lower / Upper / Rest-day / Repeat, with two variations of each day ('A' workout & 'B' workout)

Regarding Deloads; they will be done for one Lower/Upper/Rest cycle (3days) every 2-4 weeks. I haven't been very good with incorporating deloads in the past, so I'm going to see how It works out. 

Lower-Body A
Deadlift: 3-5 x 5
Squat (Light): 3-5 x 10
Leg Curl: 3 x 12

Upper-Body A
Dips: 3-5 x 5
Db Row: 3-5 x 10
BTN Press: 3-5 x 8
Single-Arm Pulldown: 3-5 x 10
(optional) Face-pull / Arms: 2 x 12

Rest Day

Lower-Body B
Squat: 3-5 x 5
Deadlift: (Light) 3-5 x 10
Band Good morning: 3 x 15+

Upper-Body B
O.H. Press: 3-5 x 5
Chins: 5 x 5
Flat Db Press: 3-5 x 10+
Single-Arm Row: 3-5 x 10
(optional) Face-pull / Arms: 2 x 12

Rest Day