[BodyBuilding_Brandon]

I want to start a discussion about something in BodyBuilding Theory and I would like input as to what the reader thinks and to what your opinions are concerning the following topic.
I started to work out in September 2006. From September 2006 until September 2007 I had changed gyms, and supplements, and yet for the most part did not really change my routine. At the beginning of September 2007 I started to think about what has held me back from going a little bit further in my training.

I believe that in my head there was a constant battle as to either wanting to “Get big” or “Get Ripped”. It’s almost impossible to do both at the same time. To get cut you have to have lower calories and to get big you have to have higher calories. So I have decided that for the second year of my training (September 2007 until September 2008) I would follow this routine through different seasons.

October 2007 until the end of February 2008 I will be focusing on Gaining Size and Strength. [5 months]
I will carry this out by focusing almost only on Compound exercises and increasing the amount of food that I consume. I will focus on eating a lot of good healthy foods though instead of crap and junk foods. The goal here is to gain a lot of muscle mass and try to reduce fat gain and over eating in carbs. Though I will be eating a lot of healthy carbs.

Routine (Subject to change Every other month)
Day 1 Chest / Triceps
Day 2 Back / Biceps
Day 3 Legs
Day 4 Chest / shoulders / Traps
Day 5 Back / Biceps



From March 2008 until the end of April 2008 I will start going back to a regular workout routine for maintaining size. [2 months]
Try to maintain size and strength, but begin to incorporate more isolated set’s into my routine. Run a Kidney cleanse, a Liver cleanse, and a colon cleanse. Lower supplements to just whey, and L-glutamine.

Routine for the two months
Day 1 Chest / Triceps
Day 2 Back / Biceps
Day 3 Delts / Traps
Day 4 Legs


From May 2008 until the end of September 2008 I will focus on losing body fat, and getting cut up. “Ripped” [5 months]
I will achieve this by doing high rep and focusing more on isolated sets and not as many heavy compound sets within my routine. I will cut back on fat and carbs.

Routine for cutting up
Day 1 Chest / Shoulder / Traps
Day 2 Back / Biceps / Triceps
Day 3 Legs
Day 4 Chest / Shoulder / Traps
Day 5 Back / Biceps / Triceps
The following week would start off where the routine started off.

I would like to hear others thoughts and opinions as to what they think of this seasonal routine and as to what others routines for the year might look like. I’m looking forward to a great discussion.

[MVP]

All the seasonal training advice I know is "bulking" or "cutting".

In the winter, I keep cardio to a minimum, maybe 1 20-30 minute cycle per week for the heart. Sticking with compound exercises, and switching from cycle to cycle, taking a week off after each cycle. A cycle (routine) should stay the same for about 12 weeks. After that, change it up.

Bulking and cutting is no different except for the diet and cardio. Routines doesn't necissarily have to change. You can raise the intensity/volume on one or the other, but cutting is 100% diet and cardio. Cutting is all about toning and toning is consited of diet and cardio.

My favorite routine avoiding overtraining.
------------------------------------------------------

Barbell Bench Press
Barbell Military Press
Dips

Deadlift
Bent Over Rows
Chins

Squat
Stiff-leg Deadlifts
Hanging Leg Raises

See, people can say they work chest and triceps on Monday's workout, but what they don't realize is on "shoulders and traps day" the chest and triceps are getting overtraining. Why? Military press maybe a direct shoulder movement. But it also works the chest and triceps, the majority of the movement.

This is an interesting thread. I hope my replies get expressed views.

[Thomas_Rivera]

Why would you bulk for 5 months, mantain for 5 months then cut for 5? That makes no sense. Doing high reps while you cut won't help either, the whole high reps to get cut thing is a myth propogated by "fitness" enthusients to make more sales.

That five months of mantaining weight is a waste, even if you go up instrength by one pound of weight, its a waste of time, bodybuilding is about building up musculature in size and symettry.

Your better off bulking for 5-10 weeks and cutting down to the same body fat percentage then bulking up again.

[mr_bhana]

^^^cosing rivera... maintaining what you've earned is useless.. whats the point of not making progression???

[JakeVendetta]

I dont see anything wrong with a 2 month period (edit: 2 months or so) to allow your body to adjust to a higher weight. Sometimes progress for progress sake can be counterproductive.

[MVP]

The cycles I've always done lasts 9-12 weeks.

Any beginner should bulk 3 years before even considering a cutting phase.

[Sparky_dustin]

3 Years??? Why so long? That being said, what if you were gonna compete in your first year?

[Thomas_Rivera]

3 year bulk? Which issue of flex did you pull that out of?

[JakeVendetta]

i think the length of the bulk is relative to the person. 3 years for anyone seems a bit lengthy though, unless its a seriously clean bulk.

[Thomas_Rivera]

It would also have to be a tediously slow bulk.

[JakeVendetta]

definitly, it would be almost pointless.