I've gone through 4 cycles of hst. I'm very happy with the results. However, I'd like to try something a little different just for the sake of variety. I've surfed the threads here and I haven't come across my question yet, so I thought I would ask it.
I would like to try something a little different but I want to make sure that I adhere to the principles that Bryan has set forth. They sure have worked so far.
In a standard hst workout, the reps remain the same as the weight increases until you reach your max for that rep scheme. Then the weight increases a bit more but the reps drop until you reach your max in the next rep scheme.
The reps stay constant for two week periods, but the weight always increases, except for a little zig zagging that may occur.
I was wondering if I would still be adhereing to the principles if I reversed it. If I kept the weight the same, but added a rep every workout, until I maxed out in reps. Then I would add weight and start the cycle again.
For example, let's say I started with two sets of eight and 200lbs for a bench press. I would add one rep for the next workout, so I would do one set of eight and one of nine. Then I would do two sets of nine for the next workout. Then one set of nine and one set of ten. I would continue this up to about two sets of 12. At which point I would add weight and start back at two sets of eight and continue up on up to two sets of 12.
It seems to me that this would still follow the principles. Each workout would be harder than the last until you reached your max. Then you would start again with a little more weight. After 3 cycles of this, some strategic deconditioning. When that's over, start again at the same weight you did for the last cycle.
In a nutshell....
standard way - increase the weight every workout for a two week period while keeping the reps the same until you max out in weight while keeping the reps constant. Then add weight and lower the rep scheme until you max out again in two weeks. Repeat. You go through three different rep phases with constantly heavier weight. ( not including the negatives or thier options ).
variation - increase the reps every workout for a two week period while keeping the weight the same until you max out in reps while keeping the weight constant. Then add weight and start over. Repeat. You would go through three different weight phases with constantly added reps.
I'm looking for a little variety and I thought I would run this by you guys.
Thanks.
Austin
I would like to try something a little different but I want to make sure that I adhere to the principles that Bryan has set forth. They sure have worked so far.
In a standard hst workout, the reps remain the same as the weight increases until you reach your max for that rep scheme. Then the weight increases a bit more but the reps drop until you reach your max in the next rep scheme.
The reps stay constant for two week periods, but the weight always increases, except for a little zig zagging that may occur.
I was wondering if I would still be adhereing to the principles if I reversed it. If I kept the weight the same, but added a rep every workout, until I maxed out in reps. Then I would add weight and start the cycle again.
For example, let's say I started with two sets of eight and 200lbs for a bench press. I would add one rep for the next workout, so I would do one set of eight and one of nine. Then I would do two sets of nine for the next workout. Then one set of nine and one set of ten. I would continue this up to about two sets of 12. At which point I would add weight and start back at two sets of eight and continue up on up to two sets of 12.
It seems to me that this would still follow the principles. Each workout would be harder than the last until you reached your max. Then you would start again with a little more weight. After 3 cycles of this, some strategic deconditioning. When that's over, start again at the same weight you did for the last cycle.
In a nutshell....
standard way - increase the weight every workout for a two week period while keeping the reps the same until you max out in weight while keeping the reps constant. Then add weight and lower the rep scheme until you max out again in two weeks. Repeat. You go through three different rep phases with constantly heavier weight. ( not including the negatives or thier options ).
variation - increase the reps every workout for a two week period while keeping the weight the same until you max out in reps while keeping the weight constant. Then add weight and start over. Repeat. You would go through three different weight phases with constantly added reps.
I'm looking for a little variety and I thought I would run this by you guys.
Thanks.
Austin