Full Body Program Questions

Lately, I’ve been thinking about trying a total body routine for the first time and after reading a couple CW articles figured that today’s the day to get started. Here’s what I plan to do starting tonight … would like to hear your opinions.

Day 1 (4x6 on all)
Deadlift
Standing Shoulder Press
Dips
Pull - Ups
Day2 (10x3 on all)
Bench
Bent Rows
Front Squat
assistance work
Day 3 (2x15 on all)
Squat
Incline Bench
Stiff leg deadlift
Assistance Work

Now, since apparently volume variation is an important key on full body routines, I’m thinking of rotating the set/rep scheme each week. Example would be week one above; in week 2 Day 1 is all 10x3, Day 2 is 2x15, Day 3 is 4x6, etc., etc.
Does that look like it would work?

[quote]rope99 wrote:
Lately, I’ve been thinking about trying a total body routine for the first time and after reading a couple CW articles figured that today’s the day to get started. Here’s what I plan to do starting tonight … would like to hear your opinions.

Day 1 (4x6 on all)
Deadlift
Standing Shoulder Press
Dips
Pull - Ups
Day2 (10x3 on all)
Bench
Bent Rows
Front Squat
assistance work
Day 3 (2x15 on all)
Squat
Incline Bench
Stiff leg deadlift
Assistance Work

Now, since apparently volume variation is an important key on full body routines, I’m thinking of rotating the set/rep scheme each week. Example would be week one above; in week 2 Day 1 is all 10x3, Day 2 is 2x15, Day 3 is 4x6, etc., etc.
Does that look like it would work?
[/quote]

Check out his latest article, under the second tip. He keeps the set/rep ranges essentially the same, but progresses in one way or another on each day. If you simply rotate the set/rep parameters, you may end up performing less work for some lifts, which is not what you want.

Try adding a set each week, or adding a rep, or adding weight. Take a look at his example. One day progresses in sets (6x4 becomes 7x4, then 8x4). One progresses in reps (4x7 then 4x8 then 4x9). The other day progresses in weight (68% 1RM, then 70%, then 72%).

Obviously, you don’t HAVE to follow his recommendations, but I’ve found using multiple methods of progression to work very nicely.

[quote]rope99 wrote:
Lately, I’ve been thinking about trying a total body routine for the first time and after reading a couple CW articles figured that today’s the day to get started. Here’s what I plan to do starting tonight … would like to hear your opinions.

Day 1 (4x6 on all)
Deadlift
Standing Shoulder Press
Dips
Pull - Ups
[/quote]You have twice the vertical pushing than pulling here[quote]

Day2 (10x3 on all)
Bench
Bent Rows
Front Squat
assistance work
Day 3 (2x15 on all)
Squat
Incline Bench
Stiff leg deadlift
Assistance Work
[/quote]You have no upper body pulling here at all.[quote]

Now, since apparently volume variation is an important key on full body routines, I’m thinking of rotating the set/rep scheme each week. Example would be week one above; in week 2 Day 1 is all 10x3, Day 2 is 2x15, Day 3 is 4x6, etc., etc.
Does that look like it would work?
[/quote]

Add some balance and it will work well. Your vertical pulling and pushing should balance as well as horizontal. Also, use more horizontal than vertical, you have more vertical.

Roland

You may want to vary your set/rep schemes a little more. See Chad’s recent article:

http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1286261

[quote]OneEye wrote:
Check out his latest article, under the second tip. He keeps the set/rep ranges essentially the same, but progresses in one way or another on each day. If you simply rotate the set/rep parameters, you may end up performing less work for some lifts, which is not what you want.

Try adding a set each week, or adding a rep, or adding weight. Take a look at his example. One day progresses in sets (6x4 becomes 7x4, then 8x4). One progresses in reps (4x7 then 4x8 then 4x9). The other day progresses in weight (68% 1RM, then 70%, then 72%).

Obviously, you don’t HAVE to follow his recommendations, but I’ve found using multiple methods of progression to work very nicely.[/quote]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I was actually thinking of increasing volume each week via weight as opposed to sets or reps. Over the years, I’ve found that I respond better to lower reps/sets. This way, I can do three or four weeks of weight increases followed by a deload week to keep from burning out.