Change in Routine

[icon0561]

Im currently deployed in Iraq and have been spending a lot more time in the gym so Ive decided that I need to change up my routine and to try and push my lifts high enough to compete in some of the events over here. A lot of the guys here are “experts” at lifting and have noticed that Ive gotten a lot bigger (none of them seem to remember that back in the states I spent 5 nights a week at the gym) so Ive been getting lots and lots of advise on what I need to lift and how much. Ive been doing 10, 8, 6, 2 type charts for a while now and am thinking about changing it up to a 5x5. My question is if anyone has any experience doing a 5x5 in reverse EX: 1st set is 5 x 90%5RM, 2nd set is 5 x 80%5RM etc. Does anyone know the advantages to doing a chart way rather than starting with lower weights and working upwards to higher percentages your max? I would think that doing a chart this way would push you to failure at every set. Is my thinking wrong on this?

 

[icon0561]

Anyone?

 

[enigma4dub]

The pyramiding to a top set allows you to do weight that you cant do for 5 straight sets. Each warm up set is part of the volume. Working your way up gets you primed to lift the heavy weight. Set the lower sets to a weight that insures that you get that top set. IT is the most important set.

Also failure is not a key component to succesful training. You should be progressing along a constant rep range ang increasing weights weekly. Dont Go out of your way to fail, if it happens it happens. I recomend reading madcows site. Its in the training sticky Read the training primer. And remember pumps and soreness have nothing to do with a good workout or progress.