Calling All EDT Gurus!

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

Calling all EDT gurus!

Before I begin, allow me to preface this post with only the utmost respect for the EDT program.

I have noticed something that appears to be common with my progressions and was curious if others experience the same thing. I would also like to know if this is a possible flaw to the program (if so, is there a way to make it even better?) or is this supposed to be the way the progression (although not constant) works?

My question is based on the notion that we want to make gains each workout, although they may be small.

EDT states that you try to do more work each workout with the goal of beating your last total rep scheme by 20%. If this is accomplished, you increase the weight 5% or 5lbs., whichever is smaller. But I constantly notice the following:

We will use squats as an example with 135lbs.

Workout 1

Squats �?? 135lbs. - total reps over 15 minutes = 30

Total volume 135 x 30 = 4,050 lbs.

Workout 2

Now for the next squat session we aim for our goal of 36 reps and get it!

Squats �?? 135lbs. - total reps over 15 minutes = 36

Total volume 135 x 36 = 4,860 lbs.

This is great! Our volume went up, but this is where the issue arises.

We add 5 lbs. (all we have is our 2.5lb. plates for each side) bringing our total weight to 140 lbs.

Workout 3

Squats �?? 140 lbs. - total reps over 15 minutes = 29

Total volume 140 x 29 = 4060

If we continue the idea of beating our rep scheme by 20% we would shoot for 35 reps in Workout 4. If we get it, we are now at a total volume of 4,900 lbs.

This pattern continues and in the end we do go up in total volume, but we have to “wave” the volume to do so.

Workout 1 = 4050
Workout 2 = 4860
Workout 3 = 4060
Workout 4 = 4900

Check your training logs and let me know if you experience the same thing? Is this optimal or is there a better approach? Maybe this is how the program is designed, I don’t know that is why I would like to have the experts chime in.

Thanks!

2

Maybe just me…But you are putting waaayyy to much thought into it.

3

the wave-loading of poundage is supposed to happen. Few athletes can increase intensity and volume simultaneously in a linear fashion.

Ask yourself this: using your example of squats, what’s your volume (in terms of total poundage) going to be a year from now? Still at around 5000 lbs.? Or will it be at 6000 or 7000 or perhaps even 8000 lbs.? If your total poundage ends up being thousands of pounds more than it is now, will you have failed to grow simply because the volume was not increased in a linear fashion?

4

Excellent feedback!

I thought I was on to a new way of progressing with EDT, but my concept mathematically would produce results, but at a much slower rate then my example. Shows me that I should work all the numbers out prior to posting. Thanks for letting me bounce that off you all.