From Powerlifting to Body building
For the past year I have gone for just pure strength in the 3 main lifts, dead lifts, squats, and bench press. Although I have decent numbers in all 3 and am stronger than most friends and peers, I feel as if I look smaller than most and don't have as much definition as I want. This is where the frustration kicks in, so I have decided that I am going to give a bodybuilding workout a shot during my next upcoming cycle. I have been working on leaning out and focusing on muscle definition over strength and can tell it is starting to work but I would like any input on a lifting schedule that you guys may use. Combos, super sets, what muscles you workout together, etc. I have ran the Wendler (5/3/1) before an loved the gains for powerlifting but like I said I felt as if I just didn't look as big as I should, so I have decided to dedicate myself to bodybuilding and see what I like more! Thanks for any input
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Rustyhooker3 on....1 off repeat. Calves/abs every non leg day.
1-Chest/back all angles 6-8 sets 10-12
2-quads/hams..6-8 sets 15 full range
3-Bis/tris/delts
Off
Repeat
I like this, I actually just wrote up something very similar, how many workouts do you usually try to hit per body part? Thanks for all your help I think you've commented on all my posts and I do appreciate it, you are extremely knowledgeable!
Check out this video from Kai Greene. Bodybuilder vs. Powerlifter
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCsQtwIwAA&url=http...
Awesome video man! Very inspiring and informative, I think I used to be more worried about how I looked in others eyes compared to my own, I need to satisfy myself and train for me. I'm definitely going to work with lighter weights and learn to contract and hold during every exercise! Thanks again man, great video!
Ha that's interesting that you brought this up. I have the same thing going on. I guess my training was more of powerlifting then bodybuilding. Im strong as hell but I feel the physique is behind in what I could really look like. So like you said I have incorporated a bodybuilding routine. Basically just trying to focus on the mind to muscle connection and peak contraction. Squeezing the shit out of the muscle in every rep. Really focusing on isolating the muscle. I hit my biceps yesterday and there sore as shit. They look liked the grew overnight, they probably didn't but they look bigger to me.
That's good to hear man, how many workouts do you try to hit per body part? Or just untill you can't lift anymore? I love squeezing at the end of my sets and I can tell I'm much more sore after these workouts of high repetition compared to 5/3/1
Well lately I have been hitting 3 different workouts for 4 sets. First 2 sets are 12 reps and the last to are to failure. For me I really have to work hard to grow. Bigger body parts like legs I do more sets and higher reps.
BigBmajI did a 5 x 5 protocol a few months back and loved it, I got so strong. But I didn't really put on much size. with the 5X3X1 I would think even less actual size would be generated.
I went back to a bodybuilding routine and immediately grew. I don't do the one body part per day thing tho. I focus on my weakest points and work them twice a week at least. I keep my rest periods short, 60 seconds and hit it hard.
Here is typical back routine for instance -
Pull ups 4 sets of as many as possible - with a spot at the end to get the last few.
Deadlift. 1 warm up, 3 sets. I still like to go heavy on these as I feel my whole body benefits from some heavy lifting.
Rows. I'll do two types of row. T bar 3 sets, and seated cable rows 3 sets. I'll make small adjustments with positioning and grip to hit my whole lats.
Then I'll do some good mornings or hypers to hit my lower back. 3 or 4 sets as many as possible.
No two workouts are ever alike.
I don't really count reps because I think the mind shuts off when you say you are going for 12 and could actually easily get 15. So I go for a weight that I can get at least 10 and go from there. Sometimes its 25 reps if i do a rest pause.
You will certainly grow if you make the switch. Just don't be bummed when you can't deadlift 650 lbs in a few months.
Thanks for the input brotha! And yes,
I have come to realization that I will not be throwing around big boy weight anymore but I think I am over that and more fascinated with the defined look now! I like how you do sets to the maximum reps tho, I have yet to try that and I like the idea of working out untill depleted! I will make sure to work this into my chest sets today and see how I feel! I bet you can get a great pump going!
TropicanaJuiceWhen you train heavy weight low reps in the 1-3 range your mostly training your neurological system, your brain in a way gets more work then your muscles because of the fact that they aren't under tension for enough time, when you train in the 4-8 ( little vague here rep ranges and effects will overlap) you train for myofibilar growth, which is the actual growth of muscle fibers, therefor you can be strong and big and solid. NOW when you train in the 8-15 range you are training for sarcoplasmic growth, which is basically taking your muscles and filling them with water, glycogen, creatine and other stuff, so the muscle will have that nice rounded look with out actually bein any stronger. It is impossible to train for just one type of growth with out the other one gainin just a little but you certainly can aim for one of the other. Now the good news is I'm assuming that you have a great base if you've been training powerlifting style for so long, which is nice because you have already put that work in. You should now train in higher rep ranges(8-15) with focus on TUT (time under tension) you need to be really careful that the muscle is under tension for long enough to fully work it, it's basically they opposite of what you have been doing, you don't wanna do the reps as fast as possible like powerlifting, try a 1 second concentric ( lifting ) and 3 seconds negative (lowering). Make sure you are feeling and squeezing your muscle rather then just going thru the motions. As far as splits go that's up to you an how you want to work it, that's not as important, just make sure your getting to the gym whethe it be Monday or Thursday, you'll find what split works best.
Thanks for the response and info! I have been working on the TUT and even after 4 weeks I can see a difference! I have also changed diet and have lost some fat and leaned out. I was sitting at 187 lbs and only 5'8" and now I'm about 178 lbs with more definition and vascularity, and with running eq in the next cycle I'm sure it will help out more!