Westside for Bodybuilders - WS4BB

here's a "preliminary" WS4BB that I am working on.

PLEASE, if you are unfamiliar with the westside training system, before you ask any questions, go to

www.elitefts.com
www.westside-barbell.com
www.ironaddicts.com

and read up on the Westside program before asking questions like "what is a concentric good morning" or "what is a box squat" or "what does ME and RE stand for".

Basically, you take the Westside template, tweek the ME day to triples instead of singles (5RM is not used here) and make some changes to focus for supplementary work. It is based on an 8-day cycle (day on, day off) but can be modified so that RE days are back-to back (i.e. M-W-F-Sa)

In the end, this looks strikingly like a basic "upper/lower heavy/light" type setup, but in it's simplest (VERY simplest) base, that's what Westside is. ME day is "heavy day" and DE day is "light" day (not exactly, but you get the point). IF you've ever seen one of the upper/lower splits I frequently recommend, this should look pretty familiar.

The sets are determined by your own workload capacity. If you need more sets or less sets, then cool, the workload that I've posted is what I have been able to do. Obviously, you would adjust this as needed to suit your own weakpoints, but this is NOT a program that is going to work for people with poor workload capacity, or weak lower backs.

There is A LOT OF LOWER BACK WORK. If your lower back is not up to this, recommend using supported rows (1-arm DB, hammer, supported T-bar, etc) or "easier rows" (cable rows) of some sort while you condition your lower back.

Here is the template, keep rest periods as short as you can on everything other than the specific ME exercises. Adjust sets as needed, drink water, take your vitamins, say your prayers, etc. etc.

Day 1 - ME Day - upper
ME press variant - 1 x 3 100% ME, 2 x 3 >90% 3RM
weighted chinup 4 x 5-6
basic press variant - 3 x 5-6
Pendlay row - 4 x 5-6
lying extensions - 2 x 10-15 (rotate angles every 2-3 weeks)
laterals - 2 x 10-15

Recommended ME press variants = CGBP, RGBP, MedGBP, Low Incline BP (rotate every 1-3 weeks)
Recommended basic press variants = any angle DB press, any ME press variant, overhead presses - use this to cover "weak spots" in upper body "push" muscles, rotate as needed

Day 3 - ME Day - lower
ME GM/pull- 1 x 3 100% ME, 2 x 3 >90% 3RM
ME Squat variant - 4 x 5
reverse hypers - 3 x 8-12
ghetto GHR - 3 x 8-12
laterals - 2 x 10-15

ME GM/pulls = concentric GM, seated GM, DL from floor, rack pull, platform pull (rotate every 1-3 weeks)
Recommended ME squat variants = front squat, ATG, SSB, sumo, heels-touching, box squats (rotate as needed to keep knees happy)

Day 5 - RE Day - upper
RE main press - 3 x 8
BTN pullup - 4 x 8-12 (no extra weight...add "pause" at top to keep rep range)
RE press variant - 3 x 8
Yates rows - 4 x 8-12 (pauses at gut)
1-arm BB curls - 2 x 10-12
laterals - 2 x 10-15

Recommended RE Main Press - flat bench (YES!! THE KING!), decl DB, incl DB, flat DB, weighted dips (rotate as needed)
RE press variant - any RE main press, any basic press variant - use to improve weak points and maintain "forward progress" in training

Day 7 - RE Day - lower
RE squat - 5 x 8
RE GM/pull - 4 x 10
reverse hypers - 3 x 8-12
ghetto GHR - 3 x 8-12
laterals - 2 x 10-15

RE squat - any ME squat variation, *20-rep squats can be used here as well, but reduce # of sets
RE GM/pull - regular GM, sumo SLDL, conventional SLDL, RDL - pick your poison

if you decide to use chains or especially bands for the various exercises for accomodating resistance, you will almost definitely NEED to reduce sets. If you need additional triceps work, you can add chains or bands to your bar presses as well. Chains/bands during squats will maintain direct tension on the quads throughout the range of motion.

Specific adaptations to each day:

ME Day - press = The ME exercise is a press that hits all 3 of the "push" muscle groups in the upper body (pecs, front delts and tris'). Maxing (even for a triple) with the basic "pectoral bench press" can give a lot of people problems, so the exercises selected are generally pretty easy on the shoulder joint overall. WS focuses heavily on triceps strength because they use bench shirts and want to get the highest bench possible. Since the average BB will not be using a shirt, the primary supplementary exercise will be a pectoral builder (and periodically an overhead press), although CGBP is an exercise of choice and is a triceps smoker.
The "basic press variant" can be any of the ME exercises, or a DB exercise of whichever angle makes you happy. Periodically, rotate in an overhead press here for supplementary work, especially if you feel your delts need more work.
Lat work includes a close grip chinup and a wide grip row, alternated with the presses. If you are in good enough shape to perform these exercises in an alternating (or supersetting) set fashion, then more power to you.

You finish the day with the best single-joint triceps exercise in existence (Rotate angle of the bench every few weeks to keep elbows happy) for higher reps (keeps the elbows happier) and cable laterals, which are done every day for 2 sets of 10+ reps. I experimented with this, and with all the heavy pressing and pulling, direct deltoid work ends up being unnecessary, with the exception of the lateral head. The cable reduces the drain on recovery and allows for a pretty direct stimulation.

ME Day - Lower - start off with a pull or a GM, both of which are very easily adapted for a max effort triple. This also ensures that a good emphasis is given to hamstrings and posterior chain, which are weak on damn near EVERYBODY. Next up is a squat variant, pick your poison, keep your knees happy. Reverse hypers and ghetto GHR finish off the posterior chain and hammies with "lighter" higher rep work as compared to the heavy pull or GM you started off with and, of course, the cable laterals for delts.

DE Days - these are changed to "RE days", which are essentially high rep days. I include the flat BP with higher reps, lower weight on press day, which shouldn't put anybody's shoulder into a coma, but really, you modify this to suit your needs. If you want to do inclines or whatever, then go for it. I won't be offended. Lat work includes a wide grip pullup and a close grip row. 20-rep squats can be included on the DE lower body day, but I wouldn't recommend doing 5 sets of them. Hammie-specific exercise is next, then of course, reverse hypers and GHR.

Ghetto GHR are performed with heels underneath the knee-pads on the pulldown machine. Place your knees onto a movable flat bench, and using bodyweight (or weight, if you're a stud), lower yourself under control until you are parallel to the ground, then pull yourself back up. Layne Norton (aka str8flexed) has a nice video or two demonstrating this exercise. If you have a "real" GHR bench, then use that one if you like. Reverse hypers are done with the reverse hyper machine. If you don't have one, use a 45-degree hyper or a basic hyper, if that's all you have. Try to focus on your hamstrings here. Plate-heel pulls are a concentric-only exercise where you sit with your leg extended and use the heel of your foot to pull a plate toward you. Nice way to help hammies, no negative means low drain on recovery.

This is, of course, designed to be run in a Dual Factor method, with cycling of weights, etc. This isn't a beginner's program.

wow
good work man
i used to use westside methodlogies when i was a lineman training for power and speed in football. had great results with it. it gave me the foundational strength i work off of now

thanks Wulf. Hopefully people can see some value in this and even give it a shot if they want.

It's a damn fun way to train, as well as being incredibly effective for juicers and non-juicers alike (I'm in the later category)

wanted to reiterate that, based on some of the questions I've had, you really really need to have some familiarity with deloading and DF style training.

kethnaab said:

here's a "preliminary" WS4BB that I am working on.

PLEASE, if you are unfamiliar with the westside training system, before you ask any questions, go to

www.elitefts.com
www.westside-barbell.com
www.ironaddicts.com

and read up on the Westside program before asking questions like "what is a concentric good morning" or "what is a box squat" or "what does ME and RE stand for".

Basically, you take the Westside template, tweek the ME day to triples instead of singles (5RM is not used here) and make some changes to focus for supplementary work. It is based on an 8-day cycle (day on, day off) but can be modified so that RE days are back-to back (i.e. M-W-F-Sa)

In the end, this looks strikingly like a basic "upper/lower heavy/light" type setup, but in it's simplest (VERY simplest) base, that's what Westside is. ME day is "heavy day" and DE day is "light" day (not exactly, but you get the point). IF you've ever seen one of the upper/lower splits I frequently recommend, this should look pretty familiar.

The sets are determined by your own workload capacity. If you need more sets or less sets, then cool, the workload that I've posted is what I have been able to do. Obviously, you would adjust this as needed to suit your own weakpoints, but this is NOT a program that is going to work for people with poor workload capacity, or weak lower backs.

There is A LOT OF LOWER BACK WORK. If your lower back is not up to this, recommend using supported rows (1-arm DB, hammer, supported T-bar, etc) or "easier rows" (cable rows) of some sort while you condition your lower back.

Here is the template, keep rest periods as short as you can on everything other than the specific ME exercises. Adjust sets as needed, drink water, take your vitamins, say your prayers, etc. etc.

Day 1 - ME Day - upper
ME press variant - 1 x 3 100% ME, 2 x 3 >90% 3RM
weighted chinup 4 x 5-6
basic press variant - 3 x 5-6
Pendlay row - 4 x 5-6
lying extensions - 2 x 10-15 (rotate angles every 2-3 weeks)
laterals - 2 x 10-15

Recommended ME press variants = CGBP, RGBP, MedGBP, Low Incline BP (rotate every 1-3 weeks)
Recommended basic press variants = any angle DB press, any ME press variant, overhead presses - use this to cover "weak spots" in upper body "push" muscles, rotate as needed

Day 3 - ME Day - lower
ME GM/pull- 1 x 3 100% ME, 2 x 3 >90% 3RM
ME Squat variant - 4 x 5
reverse hypers - 3 x 8-12
ghetto GHR - 3 x 8-12
laterals - 2 x 10-15

ME GM/pulls = concentric GM, seated GM, DL from floor, rack pull, platform pull (rotate every 1-3 weeks)
Recommended ME squat variants = front squat, ATG, SSB, sumo, heels-touching, box squats (rotate as needed to keep knees happy)

Day 5 - RE Day - upper
RE main press - 3 x 8
BTN pullup - 4 x 8-12 (no extra weight...add "pause" at top to keep rep range)
RE press variant - 3 x 8
Yates rows - 4 x 8-12 (pauses at gut)
1-arm BB curls - 2 x 10-12
laterals - 2 x 10-15

Recommended RE Main Press - flat bench (YES!! THE KING!), decl DB, incl DB, flat DB, weighted dips (rotate as needed)
RE press variant - any RE main press, any basic press variant - use to improve weak points and maintain "forward progress" in training

Day 7 - RE Day - lower
RE squat - 5 x 8
RE GM/pull - 4 x 10
reverse hypers - 3 x 8-12
ghetto GHR - 3 x 8-12
laterals - 2 x 10-15

RE squat - any ME squat variation, *20-rep squats can be used here as well, but reduce # of sets
RE GM/pull - regular GM, sumo SLDL, conventional SLDL, RDL - pick your poison

if you decide to use chains or especially bands for the various exercises for accomodating resistance, you will almost definitely NEED to reduce sets. If you need additional triceps work, you can add chains or bands to your bar presses as well. Chains/bands during squats will maintain direct tension on the quads throughout the range of motion.

Click to expand...

personally, I will never do GM's heavy again. I know that they have worked well for a lot of people, but I think that they are dangerous, and cause many people to have serious lower back problems.

i notice that you have included some high rep work (in the range of 10+)...any particular reason? I have found that going over 10 is merely for muscular endurance, and that a good rep range for a combination of strength and hypertrophy is the 6-8 range. Im not very familiar with the 5x5 concept (I should read up on it), so maybe that is where the high rep work is based off of.

Don't know as if I 100% agree with your last statement about the use of bands and or chains maintaining direct tension on the quads. Really, the width of your stance can greatly alter the muscles used in the lift. For someone with an oly stance (shoulder width stance), then yes, the quads do more of the work. but once the stance gets wider (PL style) then the focus gets shifted to the hams.

illuminati, you bring up some good points

high rep work is included to assist in recovery, add to hypertrophy, and help the joints. Joints like higher reps. I'm also strongly of the opinion that various exercises do "better" with higher reps. Power shrugs, alot of isolation work, ALL machine work...

It's also added because Westside includes high rep work in their training as part of RE work.

As for the bands and chains, you have to recognize the strength curves of a squat. You are 100% correct in stating that an olympic squat emphasizes the quads more, as I stated in my Westside primer (That got deleted accidentally by the mods...D'OH!! )

However, the quads are the primary driving force of the lift once you get past the midpoint on the way up, yet that is where the weight typically gets "light" due to joint angles. By using chains and bands, you add to the tension at this VERY point in the motion.

kethnaab said:

illuminati, you bring up some good points

high rep work is included to assist in recovery, add to hypertrophy, and help the joints. Joints like higher reps. I'm also strongly of the opinion that various exercises do "better" with higher reps. Power shrugs, alot of isolation work, ALL machine work...

It's also added because Westside includes high rep work in their training as part of RE work.

As for the bands and chains, you have to recognize the strength curves of a squat. You are 100% correct in stating that an olympic squat emphasizes the quads more, as I stated in my Westside primer (That got deleted accidentally by the mods...D'OH!! )

However, the quads are the primary driving force of the lift once you get past the midpoint on the way up, yet that is where the weight typically gets "light" due to joint angles. By using chains and bands, you add to the tension at this VERY point in the motion.

Click to expand...

you dont need to preach the effectiveness of bands and chains to me. I have been using them for the past 3 years.

with bands, there should always be tension, even at the bottom. its just that the tension will get greater and greater as you stretch the band out. Same w/ chains. There should always be some weight from the chain, even at the bottom. Mainly because having some of the chain on the floor, helps to prevent the chains from swaying while you are squatting/bench pressing.

finishing power in both the squat and deadlift come from the glutesm, hips and lower back. as these are the muscles that are used to drive the hips forward, and will get you to lock out.

agreed thoroughly, except...that I made the mistaken assumption that the title of this thread would kinda predicate a much closer stance than a powerlifter would use for squats, since most bodybuilders use the squat for quad mass.

I'll go back and include that.

EDIT - crap, can't edit the post.

i have a few question but it is a very good set up i have to say

1. could you sub in cleans for the de pull/gm day
2. where would you add in sprint work and agility work

i will be chemical assisted which would make it a little easier on the old doms to add in the sprints etc