How long to stick to a specific workout plan?

[gw165174]

I am new to full on bodybuilding/physique training, just recently started concentrating on it in the last year or so. I wrestled in college and have been coaching, so I have been sticking to mainly those kinds of workouts. I was just wondering do I change as I reach plateus, get mentally burned, etc...or stick to one that is working til' it doesn't, stick with it for 3-4 months? Thank you in advance for your help.

[djflex]

Generally until no more gains are made or i get bored....

[Corbi]

Generally until no more gains are made or i get bored....

Same here, been on the Madcow 5x5 for almost 27 week's now and while I have made fantastic gains, they have slowed a lot and I'm getting very bored. Time to investigate something else, maybe that 5-3-1 but I really dont knkw anything about it.

[doughnutgut]

Same here, been on the Madcow 5x5 for almost 27 week's now and while I have made fantastic gains, they have slowed a lot and I'm getting very bored. Time to investigate something else, maybe that 5-3-1 but I really dont knkw anything about it.

This might be of help Corbi.

http://blackironbeast.com/

Quite a few people use this and I noticed that a few also have the book from the site.

[YBG613]

6 weeks on average, then I switch up things like exercise order, volume or split.

[hochspeyer]

Until it stops working out for you (*pun intended, but true).

[gw165174]

Ok, thanks everyone. I am just starting a routine today, so figure I'll stick with it til' no more gains or I get burnt out.

[Iceman1800]

JMO but I think any routine needs a minimum of 4 months if not 6 to see if its working or not. Of course this depends on you putting for an honest effort and not doing aerobic weight lifting

[ironwill2008]

JMO but I think any routine needs a minimum of 4 months if not 6 to see if its working or not. Of course this depends on you putting for an honest effort and not doing aerobic weight lifting

^^^^ This.

Far too many trainees bail as soon as the going gets a little difficult, and the gains become sporadic. That's actually the worst time to switch to some other routine because out there on the edge of your ability to make progress is exactly where the real gains are made, not in starting over again on something that's easier.

Smart money is on using everything at the trainee's disposal to squeeze out every possible grain of progress--deloads, resets, slight changes in rep schemes, increased calorie intake, more rest, etc.

[brucedelaney]

JMO but I think any routine needs a minimum of 4 months if not 6 to see if its working or not. Of course this depends on you putting for an honest effort and not doing aerobic weight lifting

Agreed, most programs also have a deload or reset programmed into them. Once you're spending more time Deloading and Reseting weights, it's likely time to look to switch it up.

[bigtallox]

[QUOTE=gw165174;1151212253How long to stick to a specific workout plan?[/QUOTE]

Until your goals change.

[LordGrover]

Select one of the three:
i. Quit while it's still working and you're making gains
ii. Continue while it's working and gains are being made
iii. Continue despite repeatedly plateauing and all signs of progress stopped months ago

[gw165174]

Also - do you guys make changes within the plan, like same rotation/exercises but heavy one week, light the next? Or anything like that?

[SleeperService]

Until it stops working.

I use 5/3/1 as a base, and am on my 10th cycle, with two deloads for cutting and a few re-sets for form. If I get a bit bored I'll change the accessory work every two or three cycles. The main lifts I don't mess with.

I've lost about 20 pounds and gained strength doing this, so why mess with it?

[ironwill2008]

Also - do you guys make changes within the plan, like same rotation/exercises but heavy one week, light the next? Or anything like that?

I don't; rather, I'll train as heavy as possible for a certain number of weeks, then, on schedule, train on a light deload workout for a week. Then, I'll go back to my regular training the following week.


Nothing wrong with training the way you describe though, if you've found it helps you to move toward your goal, and you are able to accurately track all your workouts.

[brucedelaney]

Until it stops working.

I use 5/3/1 as a base, and am on my 10th cycle, with two deloads for cutting and a few re-sets for form. If I get a bit bored I'll change the accessory work every two or three cycles. The main lifts I don't mess with.

I've lost about 20 pounds and gained strength doing this, so why mess with it?

Repped, good to know a fellow 5/3/1 guy is seeing success using the same program I'm just getting started with and similar goals.

[jacobwilson8]

It depend upon what type of meal you are you eating if its chicken then its need to be eaten a medium temperature not too hot not too cold ,If you are having Soaked pulses or oats it okay to eat them cold ,If you are having a protein meat bars those need to be eaten fried or stuffed. Thus there are meals that you could either eat cold or hot.

[doughnutgut]

It depend upon what type of meal you are you eating if its chicken then its need to be eaten a medium temperature not too hot not too cold ,If you are having Soaked pulses or oats it okay to eat them cold ,If you are having a protein meat bars those need to be eaten fried or stuffed. Thus there are meals that you could either eat cold or hot.

But what about potato?


In fact, what about FULL POTATO?

[ironwill2008]

It depend upon what type of meal you are you eating if its chicken then its need to be eaten a medium temperature not too hot not too cold ,If you are having Soaked pulses or oats it okay to eat them cold ,If you are having a protein meat bars those need to be eaten fried or stuffed. Thus there are meals that you could either eat cold or hot.

huh?

[GKC45]

Sounds like bro-ham is on dat dere crack.

[Get-n-fit]

It depend upon what type of meal you are you eating if its chicken then its need to be eaten a medium temperature not too hot not too cold ,If you are having Soaked pulses or oats it okay to eat them cold ,If you are having a protein meat bars those need to be eaten fried or stuffed. Thus there are meals that you could either eat cold or hot.

[Cleveland33]

Same here, been on the Madcow 5x5 for almost 27 week's now and while I have made fantastic gains, they have slowed a lot and I'm getting very bored. Time to investigate something else, maybe that 5-3-1 but I really dont knkw anything about it.

There is a lot on tnation.com regarding 5/3/1 as well.
Best bet though would be to buy the book, I think the ebook is somewhere in the $19-25 range. I found it to be worth it. Helluva lot more fun that Madcow too. At least for me.

[splatthefly]

For me (and I am 50) I find two months on one schedule is more than enough. Apart from anything else, its just boring and the motivation leeks out of my boots.

I am new to full on bodybuilding/physique training, just recently started concentrating on it in the last year or so. I wrestled in college and have been coaching, so I have been sticking to mainly those kinds of workouts. I was just wondering do I change as I reach plateus, get mentally burned, etc...or stick to one that is working til' it doesn't, stick with it for 3-4 months? Thank you in advance for your help.

[Itsalovelyday]

You could stick with a program until you plateau then change to another. What I do with my clients is change the program every eight to twelve weeks to keep things interesting. This also helps to avoid plateaus but it also depends on goals etc.

[IIISpartacusIII]

Generally until no more gains are made or i get bored....

Gains are generally the best yardstick for the utility of a workout program. If your diet is on target and you're getting enough sleep then your training should be productive; if it's not then it's time to change it. If you're making good gains then don't change anything, ride that anabolic wave until your gains stop. The key issue with any program is to account for other things as well, especially nutrition. You can't expect to add 10 lbs of muscle if you're not eating enough food to create the muscle tissue for it. Get a handle on all variables before evaluating the effectiveness of a program.

[rockstarinlife]

I stick to the same days and sets. But I change the weight, reps, exercises, time under tension (rep speed) every week.

I never get bored and my body never adapts or plateaus.

[karlsson11]

untill you dont think it is fun anymore

[ramon45]

you can go on doing the same routine for ever, when you stop making gains its most likely you've reached a point where your body has become accustomed to that routine " weight/sets/reps " . just increase the weight or number of sets/reps , you can change your routine but its not necessary as long as you're exhausting your muscles with hard workouts.