Hello, I have been lifting off and on for several years now but never really found the right workout. I started 5/3/1 last year and loved it. I have all my own equipment but it’s limited to what i can. I splurged and bought all barbell and plate weights with bench press and squat stands so i could use it for press as well. I want to gain muscle and strength.
5/3/1 seems to be more for building strength not so much for size. I considered doing the “Boring But Big” template but i didn’t know if i would gain what i want to gain, size and strength. I really want to do a bodybuilder workout but i don’t have access to a leg press, dumbells, and everything else most bodybuilder workouts call for… would it be possible to do a bodybuilder workout with just barbells and plate weight?
Honestly this is the wrong forum to ask about a typical bodybuilding workout because that’s not my training style. Like Wendler I’m a big basics kinda guy and I focus on improving the physique through performance training, not typical bodybuilding work.
That having been said, “bodybuilding training” is not so much about the tools you use (barbell, dumbbells, cables) but rather about loading schemes, specifically the use of higher reps and lower weight versus performance training and the use of more exercises for less sets each versus performance training which uses fewer exercises done for more sets.
You can do at least two exercises for every muscle group using only a barbell, plus you have bodyweight exercises like dips, push-ups, pull-ups, etc. You can easily design a “bodybuilding” routine with that.