Can I get your thoughts about my program?
yogaga1
Posts: 182 Member
Hi ladies! I was hoping I could pick some brains in here and see what you all think.
I am currently running the 2nd week of the Madcow program after stalling on my second round of Stronglifts & then on 3x5. I have only been lifting heavy since last spring so I believe I am still considered a "newb".
My original goal (and it is still a current goal I suppose) was strength gains. I was strictly a runner & yogini for years and while I still enjoy those activities, I certainly had to slap the pickle jar lid with a knife a few times before I could open it IYKWIM!
I am thrilled with how far I have come since last spring and while I feel like a little badass, I know I am not nearly as strong as you ladies are up in here. So, while I would like to continue to gain strength, once I began bulking, my main goal was also to gain size. When I dieted down prior to starting my bulk, I was at that skinny fat stage where I looked great in clothes, but I had zero definition. I'd like to have a LITTLE something to show for after this first bulk & cut cycle!
Anyway, I felt like I wasn't doing enough so for about a month I added in a fourth day of a few isolation lifts for booty & to work on pull-ups but I found that it was hindering my progress on my next lifting day so I took it out and went back to just focusing on the program.
With all that said, I guess I want to know if you ladies think Madcow is what I should be doing right now. I have def gained size in my arms, thighs and booty (and my belly...!) so far, so I feel like I am doing *something* right. It's hard for me to tell though if the size is from pump or actual muscle I am building. I seriously am building from nothing! But, like I said, some days I feel like I am not doing enough. It's only 3 days a week and it takes 45 minutes TOPS to run through the program, more often only 30 minutes. I considered moving on to an intermediate split program but since I've only been lifting since the spring and can def improve my strength, I am hesitant to do so just yet.
I'm rambling now... thoughts??
I am currently running the 2nd week of the Madcow program after stalling on my second round of Stronglifts & then on 3x5. I have only been lifting heavy since last spring so I believe I am still considered a "newb".
My original goal (and it is still a current goal I suppose) was strength gains. I was strictly a runner & yogini for years and while I still enjoy those activities, I certainly had to slap the pickle jar lid with a knife a few times before I could open it IYKWIM!
I am thrilled with how far I have come since last spring and while I feel like a little badass, I know I am not nearly as strong as you ladies are up in here. So, while I would like to continue to gain strength, once I began bulking, my main goal was also to gain size. When I dieted down prior to starting my bulk, I was at that skinny fat stage where I looked great in clothes, but I had zero definition. I'd like to have a LITTLE something to show for after this first bulk & cut cycle!Anyway, I felt like I wasn't doing enough so for about a month I added in a fourth day of a few isolation lifts for booty & to work on pull-ups but I found that it was hindering my progress on my next lifting day so I took it out and went back to just focusing on the program.
With all that said, I guess I want to know if you ladies think Madcow is what I should be doing right now. I have def gained size in my arms, thighs and booty (and my belly...!) so far, so I feel like I am doing *something* right. It's hard for me to tell though if the size is from pump or actual muscle I am building. I seriously am building from nothing! But, like I said, some days I feel like I am not doing enough. It's only 3 days a week and it takes 45 minutes TOPS to run through the program, more often only 30 minutes. I considered moving on to an intermediate split program but since I've only been lifting since the spring and can def improve my strength, I am hesitant to do so just yet.
I'm rambling now... thoughts??
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Replies
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You're exactly where I am. I was just recommended this program and am starting tonight: http://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/3-day-power-muscle-burn0
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Thanks for weighing in! I actually checked out that program the other day when I saw you were starting it but I have one problem! No access to machines! My husband and I invested in a power rack, oly bar, plates & dumbbells last year so we could work out at home together since our schedules conflict for meeting in the gym.0
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Hmmm....gotcha. That's awesome that you and your husband lift together. I'm seriously jealous right now!0
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It would be a bit more awesome if he wasn't King Curl Bro... Love him, but holy eff. He is full of bro-science from his lifting experience "back in the day". I had to bribe him into doing lower body lifts with me...he didn't seem to think that was a thing.
He's gotten a little better since I grew my squat booty. LOL0 -
Yeah, most of the bros at my gym don't realize there are machines/lifts for the lower body as well. They're all abs and arms. Oh well. Luckily for me that means the squat rack is almost always free :laugh:0
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Thanks for weighing in! I actually checked out that program the other day when I saw you were starting it but I have one problem! No access to machines! My husband and I invested in a power rack, oly bar, plates & dumbbells last year so we could work out at home together since our schedules conflict for meeting in the gym.
I do that program and so does my husband. ( we do the 4 day split version). Anyway….he works out only at home with a power rack, plates and adjustable dumbbells. The things you need a cable machine for are really easy to sub out something else for. Instead of lat pull downs, he does pull ups or one arm DB rows. Instead of the cable press down or cable preacher curls, he just subs out regular triceps kick backs or preacher curls.
It's a really great program that includes strength gains as well as hypertrophy.0 -
And….obviously, he can't do leg presses…but I had him sub in BB reverse lunges for those. In fact, I'll even sub in those myself if people are hogging the leg press machine.0
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Nice! Okay, that's def doable. Thanks, ladies!
Do you guys think I should I finish out Madcow and then start this? Or just jump right in? I have 10 weeks to go on Madcow. Again, I've only been lifting since late Spring.0 -
I'm not familiar with Madcow at all so I can't really speak on behalf of that.0
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If you like the program you're doing, then keep it up. If not, then definitely move on to something else. I did chest and back yesterday, and I can totally see how it could be modified if you don't have machines.0
