Aquajock,I highly respect your opinion so I wanted to ask you a question.I have been reading so much about more weights/less cardio.I thought i would give it a shot ...since my main goal is more cut in all my muscles.I was thinking about doing imax 1&2 /and circuit max or cardio and weights for my cardio..then muscle endurance/power hour for weights...or would you do the pyramids?or mix? I am currently working out 6 days a week and doing a pretty even mix of cadio/weights..mabe a tad more cardio.What is your opinion on this?
Aquajock....
- Thread starter smiley2
- Start date
Aquajock
Cathlete
RE: Smiley!
I'm very flattered to be asked for my opinion!
I think what you've listed as a re-shuffling of your current program sounds like it could yield some pretty positive results. I must confess: I personally do not use Cathe routines for strength training; nothing against Cathe, mind you, it's just that I vastly prefer to strength train in absolute silence and at my own personal movement speed. Thus, I think you're well-put to trust YOUR own judgment as to the strength training routines you wish to do. It's my understanding that the Pyramid workouts are more strength oriented, and I do think those should be brought in. Also find some room for the Slow And Heavy Series if you have that, as it is billed as a series for premium strength gains.
IMHO, knowing each of the cardio routines you've listed, it might be fun and productive to schedule the cardios as follows: I-Max 1, Cardio-Weights, I-Max 2 and Circuit Max. And then layer in each of the weight-lifting-only routines sequentially each week.
Keep in mind that much depends on a person's individual physical make-up, especially in terms of limb length and muscle fiber distribution, when trying to craft a workable routine. Try giving your schedule a spin for about 4-6 weeks.
Another thing to consider for the future: perhaps change your schedule to a 5-workout-per-week schedule, trying for longer-duration workouts, so that you can go heavier in intensity for both cardio and strength training and have an extra rest day. I find that a 5-workout-per-week schedule is optimum for me, for physical and mental rest purposes, leaving me fresher and able to go b@lls to the wall in my workouts.
Just some thoughts. Hope they're of some use to you. Let us know how you get on!
A-Jock
I'm very flattered to be asked for my opinion!
I think what you've listed as a re-shuffling of your current program sounds like it could yield some pretty positive results. I must confess: I personally do not use Cathe routines for strength training; nothing against Cathe, mind you, it's just that I vastly prefer to strength train in absolute silence and at my own personal movement speed. Thus, I think you're well-put to trust YOUR own judgment as to the strength training routines you wish to do. It's my understanding that the Pyramid workouts are more strength oriented, and I do think those should be brought in. Also find some room for the Slow And Heavy Series if you have that, as it is billed as a series for premium strength gains.
IMHO, knowing each of the cardio routines you've listed, it might be fun and productive to schedule the cardios as follows: I-Max 1, Cardio-Weights, I-Max 2 and Circuit Max. And then layer in each of the weight-lifting-only routines sequentially each week.
Keep in mind that much depends on a person's individual physical make-up, especially in terms of limb length and muscle fiber distribution, when trying to craft a workable routine. Try giving your schedule a spin for about 4-6 weeks.
Another thing to consider for the future: perhaps change your schedule to a 5-workout-per-week schedule, trying for longer-duration workouts, so that you can go heavier in intensity for both cardio and strength training and have an extra rest day. I find that a 5-workout-per-week schedule is optimum for me, for physical and mental rest purposes, leaving me fresher and able to go b@lls to the wall in my workouts.
Just some thoughts. Hope they're of some use to you. Let us know how you get on!
A-Jock
Aquajock
Cathlete
RE: Smiley - follow-up
In reviewing my answer, I think it was a tad mealy-mouthed (albeit long-winded!
). May I offer a follow-up suggestion:
Making sure that your exercise volume, in terms of time spent, is evenly split between cardio and strength, consider the following upcoming schedule for your strength:
Weeks 1 and 2: Slow and Heavy Series
Weeks 3 and 4: Pyramid Upper and Lower Body Series
Weeks 5 and 6: Muscle Endurance and Power Hour
Schedule your preferred cardio around these as best you see fit, especially considering how leg-intensive I-Max 1 and I-Max 2 are.
Then get a gauge of how your muscles are faring, and check back in.
Does that sound like something you'd like to explore?
a-jock
In reviewing my answer, I think it was a tad mealy-mouthed (albeit long-winded!
). May I offer a follow-up suggestion:Making sure that your exercise volume, in terms of time spent, is evenly split between cardio and strength, consider the following upcoming schedule for your strength:
Weeks 1 and 2: Slow and Heavy Series
Weeks 3 and 4: Pyramid Upper and Lower Body Series
Weeks 5 and 6: Muscle Endurance and Power Hour
Schedule your preferred cardio around these as best you see fit, especially considering how leg-intensive I-Max 1 and I-Max 2 are.
Then get a gauge of how your muscles are faring, and check back in.
Does that sound like something you'd like to explore?
a-jock
RE: Smiley - follow-up
Aquajock-thanks for your reply!
I will give this a try.I know i am going to feel like a bum if I am just doing slow and heavy and thats it for a days workout...do you think that is enough?I am trying to make up the rotation right now-
sun. rest
mon. s&h legs &shoulders
tues. cardio&weights
wed. s&h tris&bis
thurs. imax 1
fri. s&h chest&back
sat.rest
sun imax 2
mon. s&h bis&tris
tues.circuit max
wed. rest
thurs. s&h legs&shoulders
fri. s&h chest &back
sat.rest
how does that look...or what would you change?would you add more?this looks like i am doing nothing. Thanks!!
Aquajock-thanks for your reply!
I will give this a try.I know i am going to feel like a bum if I am just doing slow and heavy and thats it for a days workout...do you think that is enough?I am trying to make up the rotation right now-
sun. rest
mon. s&h legs &shoulders
tues. cardio&weights
wed. s&h tris&bis
thurs. imax 1
fri. s&h chest&back
sat.rest
sun imax 2
mon. s&h bis&tris
tues.circuit max
wed. rest
thurs. s&h legs&shoulders
fri. s&h chest &back
sat.rest
how does that look...or what would you change?would you add more?this looks like i am doing nothing. Thanks!!
Aquajock
Cathlete
RE: Smiley - follow-up
Hey, Smiley! The only thing I would suggest for now, understanding you're in an experimental stage, is to space out your rest days a tad more evenly; maybe 3 days of workouts followed by one day of rest, then another 3 days of workouts than another day of rest, and so on. Of course, much depends on what your weekly non-workout schedule will allow, but the first portion has you going 5 straight days without a rest, and I wonder about that.
Other than that, if you feel you can put a bit more in, allowing for adequate rest at the same time, then by all means add it in! It doesn't look like "nothing" to me, but you be the judge of what you can AND WANT TO do!
Good luck!
A-jock
Hey, Smiley! The only thing I would suggest for now, understanding you're in an experimental stage, is to space out your rest days a tad more evenly; maybe 3 days of workouts followed by one day of rest, then another 3 days of workouts than another day of rest, and so on. Of course, much depends on what your weekly non-workout schedule will allow, but the first portion has you going 5 straight days without a rest, and I wonder about that.
Other than that, if you feel you can put a bit more in, allowing for adequate rest at the same time, then by all means add it in! It doesn't look like "nothing" to me, but you be the judge of what you can AND WANT TO do!
Good luck!
A-jock