Bodybuilding.com - 52-Week Strength & Conditioning Series

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Phase 6: Hypertrophy 3

In this series, we've created a 52-week strength and conditioning program to help you look and feel good. Each week we will present a new phase of training to help you maximize your time spent in the gym.

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Summer is in full gear, which means you will spend more time in the sun and less time in your clothes.

If the thought of going shirtless on the beach makes you shiver more than a Jaws movie marathon, you'll need to get serious about your training. For the next eight weeks we will focus on building bigger muscles.

"Increased muscle mass allows you to handle more of the intense training that will follow in the coming strength and power phases," says Ryan Lee, M.S., C.S.C.S., exercise physiologist and founder of SportSpecific.com.

Along with a portion-controlled nutrition plan, this workout series will help your washboard abdomen come out of hiding while forging a brawny physique.

Training Guidelines

To help you achieve your beefy goals, we've put together an annual strength and conditioning plan.

The program is designed to be completed in a progressive fashion (that is, each phase of activity builds on the previous phase) so proceed slowly if you missed any of the past workouts.

Remember to combine these workouts with good food, adequate sleep and an anti-stress mindset.

Frequency Of Training

Beginner:
If you're new to the iron game (less than 12 months of consistent strength and conditioning experience) consider yourself a beginner. In addition, it's a good idea to follow the beginner plan if you've been away from the gym for two or more months. Contrary to popular belief, for the beginner, less is more.

You will make steady progress with just two sessions each week. Be sure to rest 48-to-72 hours between training days. Monday/Thursday, Tuesday/Friday or Wednesday/Saturday training splits work best. For example, perform Schedule A on Monday and Schedule B on Thursday.

Intermediate/Advanced:
If you have been involved in organized strength training and conditioning exercise for the previous year or more, you're in the Intermediate/Advanced category. Perform three workouts per week, alternating between Schedule A and Schedule B.

Recording Your Workouts

(Excel) Phase 6 Schedules

Dynamic Warm-Up

Before you get started with each training session, warm-up on the stationary cycle or treadmill for five minutes. This will help you increase your core body temperature and decrease injury.

Cardiovascular exercise

Low Intensity: 220-age x .6 = ______ beats per minute (60 percent of your age-predicted HRmax)

Medium Intensity: 220-age x .7 = ______ beats per minute (70 percent of your age-predicted HRmax)

High Intensity: 220-age x .8 = ______ beats per minute (80 percent of your age-predicted HRmax)

HEART RATE CALCULATOR

*Which Target Heart Rate (Intensity) Should I Use?

There are three primary THR (intensity) ranges you can use, depending on your fitness goals (see explanations below):

Low Intensity [60%-70% of Max Heart Rate (HR Max)].
Medium Intensity (70%-80% of HR Max).
High Intensity (80% of HR Max and Above).
Lower intensity exercise can be performed for a longer period of time, whereas higher intensity exercise duration is much shorter.

Low Intensity, Long Duration (LILD)

This method of aerobic exercise involves maintaining a lower heart rate for a longer period of time. LILD exercise may result in less muscle breakdown, which may be beneficial if several intense workouts are performed each week.

High Intensity, Short Duration (HISD):

This method of aerobic exercise involves maintaining a higher heart rate for a shorter period of time, such as HIIT training or Guerilla training. HISD exercise provides greater cardiovascular benefit and increases anaerobic work capacity which may be especially useful for athletes who engage in explosive sports. HISD exercise may also yield a greater amount of calories if post exercise caloric consumption is included.

What Does HIIT Stand For?
High Intensity Interval Training.

How Do I Measure Heart Rate?:

Some cardio equipment may contain some type of heart rate monitor. However, if it does not, or you are not using a machine, you may monitor your heart rate by checking your own pulse.

While you could count pulse for a full minute, it may be easier to check the pulse for 10 second intervals periodically throughout the exercise session to monitor heart rate. When the number of beats per 10 seconds is determined, one can multiply by 6 to get an estimated number of beats per minute. For example, 25 beats per 10 seconds x 6 = 150 BPM.

What Does BPM Stand For?
Beats Per Minute.

Stationary cycle: After a 5-minute warm-up, increase pedaling speed (RPM) to 90-100 and resistance to 80 percent of your age-predicted HRmax. Do this for 90 seconds. Immediately reduce RPM to 70-80 and resistance by half for 60 seconds. Repeat.

What Does RPM Stand For?
Revolutions (or Rotations) Per Minute.

Treadmill: After a 5-minute warm-up, increase incline and/or speed (these combined variables are called intensity) to 80 percent of age-predicted HRmax for 90 seconds. Immediately reduce intensity by half for 60 seconds. Repeat.

Flexibility exercise

Hold each stretch for 30 seconds.

Exercises

Here is the list of recommended exercises for this phase.

RESISTANCE TRAINING EXERCISES
PHASE 6: HYPERTROPHY 3A/C

Machine seated lat pulldowns:

Machine Seated Lat Pulldowns.
Dumbbell standing deltoid scaptions
Dumbbell bent-over deltoid lateral raises

Dumbbell Bent-Over Deltoid Lateral Raises.
Dumbbell standing deltoid lateral raises
Barbell bent-over lat rows
Bench dips
Dumbbell seated preacher biceps curls
Leg press calf flexions
Dumbbell seated biceps curls