By: Alwyn Cosgrove

Note: This is part one, click here for part two or here for part three!

Trainers, gym-goers, writers and athletes in the fitness industry tend to hype up or over-exaggerate the latest training breakthrough. Everything they have tried seems to be the best system ever. Although any program will work for a while, and no program will work forever, there still appears to be a search for the MAGICAL or PERFECT program. Readers of Bodybuilding.com will know that this is not the case - there is no such thing as the perfect program.

However, the very search for the magical training program has yielded some fascinating training methods.

Training Programs That Work:

Mentzer's Heavy Duty - Learn More
HIT - Learn More
Poliquin's German Volume Training - Learn More
Staley's EDT training - Learn More

Although several of these systems are based on nothing more than anecdotal opinion, a recent method has surfaced that has the stamp of science approval on it. Is it the perfect program? Doubtful. Is it perhaps the most effective training method for the more advanced trainee? Quite possibly.

Recent published research from Arizona State University has shown that a method of structuring the set and rep protocols in a vastly different manner (called undulating Periodization) has proven to be especially effective in inducing maximum strength gains, when compared to traditional linear or alternating Periodization models.

The Different Types Of Periodization:

• Linear Periodization is when the reps are decreased each successive phase and the loads are increased e.g. phase one 15 reps, phase two 12 reps, phase three 10 reps, phase four 8 reps.

• Alternating Periodization is when the trainee switches between higher reps and lower reps at each phase - e.g. phase one 15 reps, phase two 8 reps, phase three, 12 reps, phase four 6 reps etc

Undulating Periodization takes the adjusting of rep protocols one step further. This system actually adjusts the rep bracket with each workout.

Traditional Thinking

Traditional thinking states that the body adapts to a workout in as little as 6 exposures. In actuality - the body adapts to the rep range the fastest, and the exercise selection the slowest. So we need to change the rep bracket more often than we change the exercises. Typically a trainee will change the exercises first - not the most effective training system.

With traditional Periodization, this means that a workout will 'work' for at most 3-6 weeks. This is when we change the routine to prevent staleness, introduce a new stimulus and keep the body adapting positively

With undulating Periodization and the variable rep system, you will train each body part twice a week, yet you will not repeat the same workout for over ten days. This means the body will not have adapted, i.e. you won't need to begin a new routine for close to ten weeks, despite the fact that you are hitting each body part twice a week.

The May 2002 issue of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research reported that experienced strength trainers who followed this type of training program doubled strength increase as compared to a traditional training, control group. It concludes that ongoing strength gains for those who have hit plateaus may be preferentially accrued from this type of training.

In the interests of clarification, I have enclosed a workout split - based on an upper-lower body split - with some very basic exercises. You do not need to follow this split, nor do you need to select these exercises. What you do need to stick to though is the sets and rep parameters.

In this example, we train upper body on Mon and Thu, and Lower body on Tues and Fri. Just move to the next workout in the program until you have repeated each workout 4-6 times.

The Workout

Below is a three week program:

Upper Body - Monday & Thursday

Order	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Tempo	Rest
A1	Inc Db Press
	Workout One and Four	5	5	311	90
	Workout Two and Five	3	15	311	30
	Workout Three and Six	4	10	311	60
A2	Seated Cable Row
	Workout One and Four	5	5	311	90
	Workout Two and Five	3	15	311	30
	Workout Three and Six	4	10	311	60

Order	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Tempo	Rest
B1	Wide Grip Pull down
	Workout One and Four	5	5	311	90
	Workout Two and Five	3	15	311	30
	Workout Three and Six	4	10	311	60
B2	Military Press
	Workout One and Four	5	5	311	90
	Workout Two and Five	3	15	311	30
	Workout Three and Six	4	10	311	60

Order	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Tempo	Rest
C1	Dips
	Workout One and Four	5	5	311	90
	Workout Two and Five	3	15	311	30
	Workout Three and Six	4	10	311	60
C2	Incline Db Curl
	Workout One and Four	5	5	311	90
	Workout Two and Five	3	15	311	30
	Workout Three and Six	4	10	311	60

Order	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Tempo	Rest
D	Swiss Ball Crunch
	Workout Two and Five	3	15	311	30

Click here for a printable version of this page!

Lower Body - Tuesday & Friday

Order	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Tempo	Rest
A	Barbell Squat
	Workout One and Four	4	10	311	60
	Workout Two and Five	5	5	311	90
	Workout Three and Six	3	15	311	30
Order	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Tempo	Rest
B	RDL - With Shrug
	Workout One and Four	4	10	311	60
	Workout Two and Five	5	5	311	90
	Workout Three and Six	3	15	311	30
Order	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Tempo	Rest
C1	Bulgarian Split Squat
	Workout One and Four	4	10	311	60
	Workout Two and Five	5	5	311	90
	Workout Three and Six	3	15	311	30
C2	Step Up
	Workout One and Four	4	10	311	60
	Workout Two and Five	5	5	311	90
	Workout Three and Six	3	15	311	30
Order	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Tempo	Rest
D	Reverse Crunch
	Workout Three and Six	3	15	311	30

Click here for a printable version of this page!

Conclusion

This training system is probably quite unlike anything you are used to seeing. That's exactly what you need. If your body hasn't experienced anything like it before - imagine the possibilities of the results at the end of one cycle. Give it a real life test run, record everything you can - body fat, weight, and strength levels etc. For six weeks give this program everything you've got and you'll be well on your way to new strength and muscular development.

Note: This is part one, click here for part two or here for part three!

alwyn@alwyncosgrove.com

Recommend this article to a friend by e-mail here!

Visitor Reviews Of This Article!
Read Visitor Reviews - Write Your Own Review

Back To Alwyn Cosgrove's Main Page

Back To The Articles Main Page.

Related Articles
Your 12-Week Daily Video Trainer - Wednesday, Week 10!
What Is The Best Workout To Increase Energy?
The All Body Workout

Sedona Labs IFlora Multi-Probiotic Formula More Positive Strains Means More Positive Results! Learn More!