To Joel or anyone who is better knowing than I, but I am having a serious lapse in memory, but what is a cambered bar and what is a half press, sorry I just want to start doing this protocol, because I have been dieting for about a month now and just recently by reading on the forum about using strength training while dieting, and I think it’s been working to a little extent, but I haven’t had really any idea how many exercises to do and which ones to do. Thanks a lot for a structured program Joel, much appreciated.
You can find a picture and description of the seated half press here:
www.testosterone.net/html/body_61tris.html
A picture of a cambered bar can be found here; if you don't have one at your gym, just use an Olympic Bar:
http://blt.imageg.net/@v=0036@/ graphics/product_images/p141740reg.jpg
The cambered bar allows you to lower the barbell lower than the level of your chest. Good luck, and let me know if you have any more questions.
-JM
Your article was quite good but I did have one question. I got the impresion that the program you outlined could be used for two separate purposes: either to preserve lean mass while cutting or to increase muscular density and definition. I say it seems like a duel purpose deal because density increase requires some growth which generally won’t happen on a cutting phase. So, my question is if I wanted to use the program to increase density and definition would it be better to do so while still in a bulking phase? Although the results wouldn’t immediately be visible hopefully they would after a proper cutting phase. thanx much
Provided that you are not on a severe diet, taking in an extremely low # of calories, improvements in density should be apparent. The main reason is because your muscles are not used to the low reps, nor myofibrilar specific training and the “shock” may allow you to put on a few additional pounds, even on a moderate cutting cycle. I, and others have experienced this on numerous occasions.
But to answer your question directly, you could implement a 5x5 program on a bulking cycle with some pretty good results...however, I would switch to low reps after doing some higher rep work for some period of time. Hope this answers your question,
-JM