5X5 alternatives

[bignascarfans]

I'm 4 weeks into my second cycle of the Madcow 5X5 DF, have made great gains and love it.

I'm trying to decide what to do after completing this cycle. About 5 weeks after completing this cycle I know that I'll be traveling for about 2 weeks and will not have good consistent access to lift. Because of this I'm hesitant to start another cycle of the 5X5.

This being the case I'm looking for suggestions of alternatives that will help me continue working toward my goal of gaining mass.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[blut wump]

After my second 5x5, I went for the Korte.

Here's my log for the Korte:
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=416909

Jim Ouini also ran one:
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426105

Here's a link to the program on DeepSquatter, look to the top-right corner
http://www.deepsquatter.com/strength/archives/

 

[Guinness5.0]

If you meant that you're looking for something to do in the two weeks where you'll have sporadic gym access, you may try some higher-rep stuff. Training in the 12-15 rep range can do wonders for your joints. The goal is to acheive a burning sensation that is the byproduct of lactic acid flushing your muscles/joints. THis lactic acid flushing is thought to have restorative properties, and I have experienced this first-hand - it works.

Maybe not the most conducive to mass gaining per se, but two weeeks isn't gonna affect you much. In fact, two light weeks may be a great idea from a deload/recovery standpoint, so deloading and joint healing could be a great approach in this instance. Then jump back on your more standard program upon returning.

Just some food for thought

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

Higher rep ranges will give you sarcoplasmic hypertrophy and help the muscles store glycogen better to make you seem even bigger. That is, of course, if he's not going into those rep ranges already right now.

But yes, the joint restoration is reason enough to try it, though you can always thrown higher repped work into your regular routine for a set or two after a bodypart is finished, in order to get that restorative effect, along with sarco hypertrophy & that little glycogen effect.