-when performing planks or side planks, is it preferencial to aim for one set for as long as you can, or several sets of a set target time? (ie: one set of a max time or say…3 sets of 60 secs)
-im currently using starting strength, and bench has stalled. this happened a while ago (along with m.press). i tried a short deload for them and m.press is now moving again, but bench seems to not budge (even though m.press and dips are going up). if anything, on todays workout i actually got FEWER reps on bench than i did last time. anyone offer any advice?
[quote]indiladhar wrote:
-when performing planks or side planks, is it preferencial to aim for one set for as long as you can, or several sets of a set target time? (ie: one set of a max time or say…3 sets of 60 secs)[/quote]
Once you can hold a good position for a few sets of 45-60 seconds, switch to a more difficult variation like raising a leg, raising an arm, moving a limb in small circles, etc. Added external resistance isn’t what we want with these.
There are 101 things you could do to get your bench moving, but they depend on how long you’ve been training in total, how long you’ve been doing Starting Strength, what your current max is, how your nutrition has been, how the rest of your training has been (not just presses, but pulls and rows), any injuries you’re dealing with, etc.
Off the top of my head, I’d say either switch to a closer-grip bench press or flat dumbbell bench and keep plugging along. That’ll be enough variety to keep things moving and they’ll carryover to the basic flat bench in a month or two.
You could also try asking either in the thread “Starting Strength: The Guide” or start a thread in the Strength Sports forum.
Thing you just have to realize is that Starting Strength, along with practically any other “method” is just that–a template for your OWN training. WS4SB, WSB, Metal Militia, EDT, whatever. All templates. Some are more specific or restrictive than others in what they allow to be substituted in terms of exercises, exercise order, or rest periods. Some are much more lenient and wide open.
The reason people discourage substitution for Starting Strength is that the basic template is geared around beginners–who by definition are inexperienced in deciding how to train themselves effectively or how to modify a program properly–not that Starting Strength itself doesn’t allow substitutions for exercises. In fact, that’s the reason why people always tell beginners to just pick a program and follow it all the way through without changing it.
The more experienced you get, the more you figure out when and how to change something.
