Still Making Great Gains: Stick to My Guns or Follow the Plan?

F

[Focus]

0
Strength

Triad 1

Barbell Bench Press 2x(8-12)
Barbell Semi-Stiff Deadlift 2x(8-12)
Dumbbell Pullover 2x(8-12)

Triad 2

Dumbbell Squat 2x(8-12)
Dumbbell Bent-Over Row 2x(8-12)
Dumbbell Lunge 2x(8-12)

Triad 3

Barbell Cuban Press 2x(8-12)
Barbell Standing Calf Raise 2x25
Crunches 2x25
​

The above is what I've been doing for the last 7 weeks in HGM Phase I. This phase of the program is meant to be followed for 8 weeks, so I'm supposed to switch to phase II after next Saturday.

Phase II isn't all that different, the main differences in exercises are:

Lower Body - Lunges and Deadlifts replaced with Hack Squats, Good Mornings and Hip Extensions.
Upper Body - Cuban Presses become Shoulder Presses, Close Grip Benches are added.

And the other change is switching to a 3-day Upper/Lower Body Split, alternating an extra Upper or Lower workout each week. (Ie. Week 1 - U,L,U. Week 2 - L,U,L).


My problem is that I feel like I've just gotten to know the exercises I'm doing, and I'm still making tremendous gains. I want to continue using primarily the same exercises and increase my frequency to 3 Full-Body workouts a week. I'm confident that I'll see more improvement increasing the frequency of my training and really refining what I'm doing now than I would making a big change to my routine and having to spend another two months learning new exercises at new weights.

Here's my question: Do you think it would be better for me to stick to HGM's setup, or do Phase II my way and then move into new exercises in Phase III? Or, do you have some other suggestion?

All opinions will be very much appreciated. :)
 
Try it once, that way you don't have to regret anything and if your workout is that good then you don't have to worry about falling behind on your gains.
 
i know one thing, once im on a workout that gives me good gains, i dont stop it until the gains stop. Dont fix it if it aint broke :p
 
You need to be sensitive and listen to what your body wants to do.

The book is there to tell the average person what to do, it wasnt written specificaly for you. If your still making great gains, then stay with it for another couple of weeks, untill you find its time to move on.

Then move on to phase II, but do it as its written, if after a month you dont like it then change it around.
 
Thanks for the input, guys. We all seem to be in agreement, so...do it my way it is. :D At the least, I'm going to keep going with this until my strength gains slow down a bit. Besides..it's fun. ^_^

@Russ...hmm. You're probably right. It might be better to simply keep doing what I'm doing now, then continue with my program as intended, rather than modifying/skipping a phase. I'm still going to increase frequency to 3x/week and see how that works, though. I feel lazy doing only 2 FB sessions a week.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top