Change routine?

[Jayhawk21]

Hey guys I'm currently on week 4 of 5x5's single factor. I'm gonna start doing a T-Bol only cycle and wondering how I should change my routine up so I can take advantage of having quicker recovery. I know a bunch of u are going to go to say don't change it, but I'm going to change it to include more volume.

Is there a way to keep 5x5 of some sort and add some exercises of some sort? I thought of totally switching to this type of split http://www.steroid.com/workout.php to take advantage but the rep scheme seems a little higher in reps than I'm used to. I guess I don't really know what to do. I'm more worried about gaining weight than strength during this short cycle

 

[musketeer]

DONT add exercises, just increase the weights quicker.

I'm guessing BTW...

 

[silver_shadow]

i'm with musketeer on this... increase the intensity by lifting more weights with less time between sets.

 

[cubuff27]

I am on a lot of juice and since my recovery, strength, and stamina are all greater while on it just made sense to me to add more. So I split my routine into a 6 day a week program instead of 3.

Monday
Squat 5x5
Leg Press 3x5
Bench 1x5
Dips 3x5 (no weight)

Tuesday
Rows 5x5
Military 3x5
Power Shrugs 1x5

Wednesday
Squat (80%) 5x5
Leg Curls 3x5
Bench 5x5

Thursday
Deadlift 5x5
Pullups 5x5
Military 1x5

Friday
Squat 1x5
Bench 1x5
Triceps 3x5

Saturday
Rows 1x5
Shoulder Press 3x5
Curls 3x5

Been working great. I am on my second 5 week cycle with every lift increasing, except I have started to really level off in bench.

 

[Jayhawk21]

I am on a lot of juice and since my recovery, strength, and stamina are all greater while on it just made sense to me to add more. So I split my routine into a 6 day a week program instead of 3.

Looks intriguing, might try it. How do you ramp the weights and how do you decide when to progress in weight?

 

[cubuff27]

Same way you would any ordinary 5x5 routine. I keep a good journal and when I can do that last 5x5 with room to spare I knock it up 5-10 pounds for next weeks set.

 

[TheOak84]

ive been doin meso cycles, and changing everything every 4 weeks. its working perfectly

i do the 3 main lifts (bench, squat and dead) then do exercises to compliment or assist them, either with speed work, a 5x5 style, or heavy triples. cant go wrong with those 3

 

[Guinness5.0]

Seriously, don't run the program you linked to. That's Flex magazine garbage. Maybe you oughtta hit madcow's site up again b/c good training doesn't go out the window just because you add gear to it. The idea of the 'once a week per bodypart' as optimal oughtta be a humorous memory of past ignorance by now.

Since you're going so mild, my thoughts would be to simply ramp the weights more aggressively.

My stronger opinion that you oughtta put off a cycle for later. If you're running a SF program, it means you are still making steady, weekly progress and are relatively new to weights. No need to juice - the motivation is wrong IMO. Obviously it's your choice, but I can't see a valid argument for someone to run gear when they barely know how to train. Baby steps

BTW this is coming from someone who wishes they had their first two cycles back. Not that anything particularly bad happened, but if I knew then what I know now, I would've waited. I'm currently on a cycle - running less than half the dose as before and making pretty damn good strength gains - already OBLITERATED my past 'enhanced' bench PR and it's only been 4 weeks. I'm TRYING to lose weight and I've put over an inch on my legs, close to a half inch on my arms, etc. Live and learn. You've got nothing but time. Use it to learn and you'll be better off. /rant