What exactly is All Pro's Routine?

pandorakick
pandorakick Posts: 901 Member
This routine was designed by a guy over at bodybuilding.com using the name "All Pro". He specifically designed this routine for beginning weight lifters, using barbells. It is however very well possible to adjust all exercises for dumbbells. Dumbbells may be less ideal for deadlifts and squats, but will be good enough to at least get you through the absolute beginner stages of weight lifting.

Below you will find a description of the routine, the original post can be found at
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=4195843
In italic you will find some additonal notes, based on the FAQ with this routine, that were not posted within the original post of this program.
A Simple beginner's Routine
You will do 3 work outs per week on non consecutive days. The first work out is your heavy work out. The second work out is your medium work out, use 10% less weight for your work sets. The final work out for the week is your lite work out, use 20% less weight.

Do a lite warm up with 1/4 of your work sets weight. Do a medium warm up with 1/2 of your work sets weight. Do 2 work sets with the same weight. (Note: Originally All Pro said first 4 exercises needed the warm ups, but later said just the first 3 exercises are essential as many people were struggling to do all 4 sets on the OHP. Therefor the FAQ only says to do the warmup sets for the first 3 exercises.) Choose a starting weight and start light.

These are the seven exercises you will be starting with.

Squats
Bench Presses
Bent-Over Rows
Overhead Barbell Presses
Stiff-Legged Deadlifts
Barbell Curls
Calf Raises (note: optional)

You will be running this program on a five week cycle as follows:
The first week do all 4 sets for 8 reps.
The second week do all 4 sets for 9 reps.
The third week do all 4 sets for 10 reps.
The fourth week do all 4 sets for 11 reps.
The fifth week do all 4 sets for 12 reps.

If you got all of the required reps on the fifth week then increase the weight by 10% and repeat the cycle.
If you didn't get all of the reps on the fifth week then repeat the cycle with the same weight.
You shouldn't need more than one minute rest between the warm up sets and you shouldn't need more than one minute thirty seconds between the work sets.
Do some cardio and abs work on non weight training days.
The FAQ quoted below, can be found here:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=137203123&page=1
FAQ: All Pro's Simple Beginner's Routine
Put together with input from MatTheCur and all pro himself. Hopefully effective enough to reduce even 50% of the redundant questions that plague each and every page of the main thread.

Q: Is this routine more for cutting or bulking?
A: Both. Weight gain or weight loss is diet. The routine is very forgiving on reduced calories. If you eat enough to gain weight you will gain size (all diet info:*http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=121703981).

Q: Is this routine for size or strength?
A: Both. It will split the gains pretty evenly for most people.

Q: Why is it considered a “beginner” routine?
A: Because the weight/reps increase too quickly for someone who has trained CORRECTLY for an extended period of time.

Q: How do I select my starting weights for this routine?
A: You will use your 10 rep max for each exercise. To determine your 10 rep maxes, go to the gym one day (at least 2 days BEFORE starting the routine), and perform one set of each exercise until failure (as many reps as you can do with good form). Try and pick a weight that will bring you to failure at around 10 reps (for a more accurate calculation). Take note of the weight you used and how many reps took you to failure and then plug them in to this calculator (http://www.naturalphysiques.com/18/o...max-calculator), this will give you your 10 rep max (your weights cycle 1).

Q: How many of the exercises require warm up sets?
A: Only the first 3 (Squats, Bench Press, Bent Over Rows) require the 2 warm up sets. Perform only the 2 work sets for the remaining 4 exercises (OHP, SLDL, Curls, Calf Raises). (Note: In the original thread on bodybuilding.com AllPro recommended warm up sets for the first four exercises, this was later changed to the first three due to trouble with completing all sets for OHP.)

Q: I don’t understand how much weight I should be using on the warm up sets, please give an example.
A: If your work set weight is 200 lb. for squats then you will do one set at 50 lb. (25%), one set at 100lb. (50%), and then two work sets at 200 lb. (100%).

Q: What if 25% or 50% of my work set weight is less than the 45 lb. barbell?
A: You have two options: you can just use the barbell if the weight you need to use is close enough to the weight of the barbell (ie. 35-40 lb.) OR you may use dumbells if the weight is significantly less (ie. 20 lb. in which case you would use two 10 lb. dumbells).

Q: What about cardio and abs?
A: If you want to do cardio, 20 minutes of HIIT is recommended on off days (2-3x a week). As far as abs go, you may either do them on off days with cardio or on workout days AFTER the routine. Weighted decline situps, weighted knee raises, and plate twist are recommended. Personally I do weighed decline situps after my heavy workout, knee raises after my medium, and plate twist after my light (2 sets of each, incrementing reps with the program except from 12-16 instead of 8-12; add weight if you get 2x16 on week 5).

Q: I only have time for 2 workouts a week, what do I do?
A: If your schedule only allows you to get to the gym twice a week, then you should do 2 heavy days a week (separated by at least 2 rest days). However, doing this will impede recovery while also reducing overall volume, so it is not IDEAL.

Q: I don’t have access to a barbell, can I use dumbells for this routine?
A: Yes you can, although it is far from ideal. This routine was designed to use barbells for a reason. It will be hard to perform heavier weights with dumbells and/or even find heavy enough dumbells for some of the exercises.*

Q: Can I add/replace/modify any of the exercises in this routine OR can I change it to a lower/higher rep range or fukc with anything else?
A: NOPE. This routine was built as is for a reason, all body parts will be worked sufficiently. Of course, no one is stopping you, but don’t expect ANY help/advice.

Q: What do I do at the end of the cycle?
A: If you completed all 12 reps with good form on week 5 heavy day, then you get to add 10% for the next cycle (where you start over with this new weight, on week 1 with 8 reps). If you fail anything, then you repeat the weight for that exercise next cycle.

Q: What if I fail the reps before week 5?
A: If you fail the reps on any other workout you still continue the routine without changing ANYTHING, week 5 heavy day is the only day that matters when it comes to increasing the weights you’re using.

Q: When I am ready to progress onto a different routine/when am I no longer a ‘beginner’?
A: When your progress has stalled or you are bored of this one (generally 6 months-1 year+).
Finally, there is also an Excel worksheet available that will help you determine your 10-rep max for each exercise and gives an overview on how much you should lift for each day (heavy, medium, light), and for each warm-up for the 1st three exercises. This worksheet can be found here:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=137203123&p=848646813&viewfull=1#post848646813

Happy lifting!

Replies

  • pandorakick
    pandorakick Posts: 901 Member
    The FAQ quoted below is from "A Simple Beginner's Routine part II" and adresses a few more questions regarding the routine then the original FAQ. The thread over at bodybuilding.com can be found here: 
    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=137203123&page=1%5B/url%5D
    Question 1: So how many sets am I doing exactly?
    Answer:
    You are doing exactly 2 work-sets for each exercise. In addition, you are doing 2 warm-up sets for the first three exercises only (Squats, Beach Press and Bent Over Rows) - the remaining four exercises do not require warm-ups, however you can do them if you feel the need to. Here is a blue-print for all the sets you should be doing, in that order:

    Squats: warm-up, warm-up, work-set, work-set
    Bench Press: warm-up, warm-up, work-set, work-set
    Bent Over Row: warm-up, warm-up, work-set, work-set
    Over Head Press: work-set, work-set
    Stiff Legged Deadlifts: work-set, work-set
    Curls: work-set, work-set
    Calf Raises: work-set, work-set

    Q2: How do I know what weight I should get started with for each exercise in the routine?
    A:
    This is explained in detail here: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...#post928710923

    Q3: Will I gain muscle mass on this routine?
    A:
    despite what you may think, gaining muscle mass is not just about lifting weights; the training is just a catalyst, which will create the conditions necessary for new musclee to be built. However, to actually build that muscle, you need to eat at a calorie surplus (consume more calories than you burn). There is no way around this, and you will not be able to avoid having to do some simple calculations if you want results. To understand this, visit this thread: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=121703981 and make sure to read and understand the entire first post by Emma. If you have any questions regarding diet, ask them in that thread. This is possibly the single most important thread you can read over here - if you will only read on thread, let it be that one.

    Q4: I have never lifted before and I am completely out of shape. Is this routine appropriate for me?
    A:
    All Pro designed this routine with EXACTLY you in mind. It's perfect for you.

    Q5: I have tested my 10 rep maxes for each exercise. I have already completed two full weeks of the first cycle, and the weights seem too low for me, I feel like I could lift much more! Should I increase the weight?
    A:
    first things first - avoid increasing weight mid-cycle and only do it with the beginning of the next cycle if necessary. Second, the routine is designed so that the first 2-3 weeks will feel relatively easy - this is true for everyone, and you are not superman for feeling the same thing. Finish the first cycle completely (full 5 weeks) without adding any weight to any exercise, even if it does feel too simple. If at the end of the 5th week of the first cycle you still feel that some of the weights are way too low, you may attempt to increase the weight by slightly more than 10% for the next cycle - however, this only makes sense if it was REALLY too easy for you. if it was just a "little" easy, you're better off sticking with the program. All of these dilemmas can be avoided if you simply test your 10 rep maxes for each exercise properly, so make sure to take your time doing that properly.

    Q6: there is no triceps exercise in this routine, what gives?
    A:
    your triceps are being hit quite hard during both Bench Presses and the Overhead Presses - as a beginner, you do not need more than that. Do not add any extra triceps work or you are almost guaranteed to fail on either the BP's or the OHP's, or both.

    Q7: I like doing pull-ups, push-ups, and standing on my head. Can I add in those exercises into the routine?
    A:
    do not add any extra exercises until you have completed a minimum of 3 cycles. Once you're going into the fourth, and you feel like you need to do some extra work on certain muscles, you can add an isolated assistance exercise for them - do only one set and at the very end of your routine (after calf raises). The assistance exercise follows the same rep scheme as all the other exercises. And do not ever add more than one assistance exercise per cycle - if you do so, and some of your other lifts stall, you won't know which of your new additions might have caused that stall. Stick to only adding one extra assistance exercise per cycle, up to a maximum of two (though I believe that is already pushing it). Only do this if you know and have solid reason to believe that you really do require that extra assistance work - if uncertain, ask in this thread, someone will surely help you out.

    Q8: Why are there no regular Deadlifts in this routine, only stiff-legged deadlifts? I feel like a boss doing deadlifts 
    A:
    there are two reasons for that:

    1) Neither squats nor regular deadlifts address the posterior chain (hamstrings, glutes, spinal erectors complex) properly. By doing squats + stiff-legged deadlifts, this problem is solved, and a balance is introduced.

    2) Squats and regular deadlifts are two exercises that are very taxing to the central nervous system. As a beginner if you did both of those exercises on the same routine, you are more likely to burn out sooner than later. Stif-legged deadlifts solve this issue.

    Q9: what type of extra cardio should I do?
    A:
    it is best that you do not overdo your cardio on this routine, since it can get you fatigued enough to hamper your performance in the gym. Two 30 minute jogging sessions (moderate heart rate or HIIT) per week should be enough. I would make sure that none of your cardio takes place on the day right before any of your heavy days. Do any cardio you want to do on rest days. Remember though that cardio is primarily good for your cardiovascular system's health - for fat loss, your diet will be far more important than any cardio that you do.

    Q10: What type of ab workouts should I do?
    A:
    seems like everyone responds to different ab exercises, so you will just have to try for yourself and see which one works best for you. you can do cardio either on your off days, or on your work-out days right after the work-out, assuming you still have enough energy for them. if you go for crunches or similar, make sure to do them with extra weight - aim for 15 reps on the first week of the cycle, and add 2 extra reps per week for a total of 25 reps on week 5 of the cycle. Ab workout is not necessary for everybody though - your midsection is getting tons of workout in this routine since it acts as a stabilizer in basically every single exercise. So up to you to decide, though it's probably a good idea not to introduce cardio until after you've completed the entire first cycle. Start with one set, and if it does not hinder your performance in the other exercises - add a second set at the start of the next cycle. 

    Q11: Are there any videos that show how each exercise should be performed?
    A:
    there are tons of them online. A good place to get started is this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PL8FAF74A332E11464

    Q12: Can I substitute any of the exercises in this routine for other exercises?
    A:
    as a general rule, no, you can't (barring certain situations where an injury may prevent you from doing a specific movement). One exception being the curls, which can be substituted for standing upright rows (http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...prightRow.html). This is more of a compound exercise and it actually fits the rest of the routine more nicely. Curls were added by all pro mostly because "everyone would want to do them anyway", so if your ego will survive it, go for the upright rows instead of the curls - it's a far better overall body exercise. Up to you though.

    Q13: Can I use dumbbells instead of a barbell to perform the exercises in this routine?
    A:
    Yes, you can. However, keep in mind that the program was designed with a barbell in mind; some of these exercises are more difficult to perform correctly with dumbbells, not to mention that as the weights you lift increase, your grip on the dumbbells will become a limiting factor (not so with a barbell). Do everything you can to get your hands on a bar, and only use dumbbells as a last resort.

    Q14: damn, I missed my medium training day due to [insert any reason here]. What should I do?
    A:
    if for some reason you are not capable of performing three exercises on a given week, you can perform only two, however both will then have to be heavy days. Allow a minimum of 2 rest days both before and after your second heavy day on such a week. However, doing this too often will hinder recovery - the routine was very carefully designed for 3 weekly workouts, and changing that should only be done in extreme cases.

    Q15: So I managed to complete all reps for both work-sets for all exercises on my "test day" (heavy day of week 5). How much should I increase my weights for those exercises?
    A:
    You should add 10% to each exercise that you passed, and don't forget to include the weight of the bar. For example, if you use an Olympic 45 lbs. bar, and you load that with 55 lbs. for squats, you would increase the weight up to (55 + 45)*1,1 for the next cycle, which would make it 110 lbs (again, this includes the barbell).

    Q15: So I have managed to complete all reps for all exercises on all workouts, except for the overhead press... I only managed to get 11 reps on the second work-set of week 5 heavy day for those... can I bump the weight up anyway for the next cycle? I mean come on, I only missed one rep... pretty please?
    A:
    You can already see by the sarcastic way the question above was phrased that the answer is going to be "no"  you can only increase the weight for the next cycle by 10% if you manage to complete 12 reps for each work-set on heavy day of week 5. Not a single rep more, and not a single rep less. If you failed even a single rep, you will need to repeat the weight for that failed exercise for the duration of the entire next cycle (5 week period). This is a safe-guard designed to make sure you do not keep infinitely stalling on the same exercise and to give the involved muscles enough time to rest and recover for some more banging.

    Q16: How do I know if I am a "Beginner" or not?
    A:
    A beginner is, generally speaking, anyone who cannot squat twice his body weight, and bench press 1,5 times his body weight, for one repetition. So if you weigh 200 lbs for example, you should be able to squat once for close to 400 lbs. and bench press once for close to 300 lbs, in order to be considered to have moved beyond the "beginner" stage. It has nothing to do with how long you have been lifting weights - there are many people who have been going to the gym for a few years and who are still considered beginners. As long as your lifts are noticeably below the threshold described above, you are still a beginner and you'll benefit greatly from this routine.
  • pandorakick
    pandorakick Posts: 901 Member
    The below are additional questions and answers found in the thread "A Simple Beginner's Routine part II". This thread can be found over at bodybuilding.com: 
    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=137203123&page=1%5B/url%5D

    1 Question: How should I warm up and cool down?
    A:
    All Pro will tell you that dynamic stretches are good for the BEFORE workout. Dynamic stretches are along the lines of salutation to the sun. You don't need 10 minutes on a cross trainer to warm up. 
    Only do static stretches for POST workout. Static stretches are the hamstring stretches, etc.

    2 Question: What is the logic behind starting over from 8 reps using the same weight in the next cycle if you couldn't finish all your reps in the first cycle?
    A:
     Dual factor programing. You won't lose anything in fact you'll get stronger. The reason is because you will get complete recovery and therefore more super compensation If you maintained the 1:30 rest interval between work sets then the reason you failed to complete the reps is because you didn't have or gain enough endurance. Repeat the weight and you will. This program was designed to push both strength and endurance.

    3 Question: Can I do the seated variations of OHP etc?
    A:
     Every exercise in the routine, minus the bench press, should be done standing up. It works on your core and your balance.

    4 Question: Why should I keep to 60 s rest between warm up sets and 90 s between work sets?
    A:
    The rest times are cut a bit short on purpose. If you make them longer strength gains will out pace endurance and size gains.....and the program will stall long before it should. You have to push the endurance side hard to increase work capacity up as fast as possible. The programs beyond this level require a higher work capacity.

    5 Question: When is it time to move on from this routine?
    A:
    Aside from getting bored with it, if you've stalled for a few cycles on a few exercises, it's time to move on... But if you are experiencing your first stall, well, welcome to the routine. It's designed that way.

    6 Question: What intermediate program can I do after the Beginners Routine?
    A:
     Here are a few choices:

    All Pro's Intermediate:
    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...postcount=2561

    MadCow's 5x5:
    http://www.wackyhq.com/madcow5x5/geo...Linear_5x5.htm

    All Pro's 5x5:
    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=809027

    All Pro's Split:
    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...postcount=9624
    [addendum] http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...postcount=9659

    7 Question: Form on exercises:
    1. On SLDL do I touch and go or bring the weight to a dead stop before bringing it back up?
    2. On calf raises, can I do them standing from the ground or do I need a stepping block or box to let my heels hang off of so I can go lower?
    A:

    1. You should go until you can feel your hamstrings stretching. Once you feel that, start bringing it back up.
    2. You can do them from the ground, but a plate/box/block provides for more ROM and better balance development.

    8 Question: Next cycle I'm upping weights again, but I don't have the weights available to up with 10%, it would be either a bit lower or a bit higher. Which one should I choose?
    A:
     Lower, always choose the lighter option. It'll go up soon enough and beats the heck out of stalling.

    9 Question: How should you breathe when doing OHP and other exercises?
    A:
    Breathe out while pressing/pulling, basically when the muscles are working, and breathe in during the rest. For OHP that would be:
    1. Weight on chest, ready to go
    2. Breathe in
    3. Begin raising weight while breathing out
    4. Bring weight down from full press while breathing in.

    10 When failing on test day on particular exercises it can matter how and when you fail:
    How did you fail it? 
    Did you fail on the first set?
    Did you break form on the first set?
    Did you fail on the second set?

    If it was the first set, then your muscles might have not been up to it just yet, and you may have started a bit heavy. If it was a failure on the second set, then it was your endurance, which will catch up in subsequent cycles. Don't worry about it, make sure that you're getting enough sleep, repeat the weight, and see how you do next cycle.
  • BigPapaGato
    BigPapaGato Posts: 96 Member
    great post thanks for sharing, i've been following All Pro's and am starting my second cycle on Monday. I reached all my numbers on my heavy day this week. Should I continue to lift on my medium and light days or should i rest?
  • claston77
    claston77 Posts: 103 Member
    First congrats on passing your 'Test Day' and yes you should do your Medium and Light Days but if you can't or your body is telling you to take a break in the 'Big Picture' a few extra days of rest won't be a deal breaker.
  • jasonheyd
    jasonheyd Posts: 524 Member
    First congrats on passing your 'Test Day' and yes you should do your Medium and Light Days but if you can't or your body is telling you to take a break in the 'Big Picture' a few extra days of rest won't be a deal breaker.

    Agreed. My usual approach on test week is to do the Medium day and skip the light day. I'm not sure if that's the best approach, but it's worked for me.
  • pandorakick
    pandorakick Posts: 901 Member
    Ditto to all of the above. I did the rest of week 5 as any other week in the program. Just do what works best for you!
  • BigPapaGato
    BigPapaGato Posts: 96 Member
    Thanks everyone, I think i'll do that. Take my light day off. Todays medium day work out was killer. I hit my numbers for all lifts except for shoulder press. I did my first 5 weeks using seated shoulder presses and realized late that it was supposed to be standing, so I did a standing shoulder press workout and I might actually have to go down in weight for the next cycle, we'll see. Also for movements such as barbell curls and calf raises. Do you guys always keep the same grip/stance width or do you go wide and narrow as well?
  • claston77
    claston77 Posts: 103 Member
    As far as varying stances and grips, I don't. I know different grips and stances hit different muscles, stabilizers etc. but I think the program as written for the first few cycles is the way to go, All Pro recommends three cycles before adding exercises and while you're technically not adding "new" exercises you still might want to get those few cycles under your belt as close to "as written" as possible and then evaluate if you even need to, part of the "magic" of All Pro is it's deceptive effectiveness in hitting the whole body despite seeming simple at first glancce. I have found it takes a couple of cycles, for me, to really see results. But again that whole Big Picture thing comes into play and this program is very forgiving and adaptable as long as you follow the basic template so if you want to experiment I don't think it's a big deal.

    Whatever you decide keep posting your results here though so everyone can see, it's always helpful to see everyone's individual experiences on the program :D
  • jasonheyd
    jasonheyd Posts: 524 Member
    Thanks everyone, I think i'll do that. Take my light day off. Todays medium day work out was killer. I hit my numbers for all lifts except for shoulder press. I did my first 5 weeks using seated shoulder presses and realized late that it was supposed to be standing, so I did a standing shoulder press workout and I might actually have to go down in weight for the next cycle, we'll see. Also for movements such as barbell curls and calf raises. Do you guys always keep the same grip/stance width or do you go wide and narrow as well?

    I pretty much stay with the same grip & stance, for a few different reasons.

    For one, most of these exercises are compound & specifically focused on certain, generally larger, muscles or muscle groups. So, for example, I don't want to go narrow-grip on the bench-press to isolate triceps when it's primarily intended to be a chest exercise with compound benefit to arm muscles.

    I added in standing rows to replace curls, but eventually added curls back in. I do EZ bar curls at the end of the work-out. If they fail, they fail ... I don't consider them part of my core workout since they're isolation rather than compound.

    For calf raises, from everything I've read, it seems that all the toes-in, toes-out stuff is based more on myth than science. Here's one perspective: http://www.lookgreatnaked.com/blog/changing-foot-position-on-calf-raises/ ... If anything, it seems as though donkey calf raises might be a better / more compound option, but without a machine that's not something where you can add weight cycle-to-cycle.

    For overhead press, I substitute Arnold press on warm-ups, but use the same grip week-to-week when doing a standard overhead barbell press, basically for the reasons outlined above.
  • BigPapaGato
    BigPapaGato Posts: 96 Member
    Thanks for the feedback guys and thanks for the article Jason. I didn't know that about calf raises. Looks like i'll be sticking to the same stance/grip for my lifts. On to cycle #2
  • jasonheyd
    jasonheyd Posts: 524 Member
    Sure thing. There's mixed "science" on calf raises, so Google around & see what works for you. Narrow/wide stance, different bends in the knee, toes pointed in/out. I figure since most of the routine's standing, my calves are getting pretty well worked without getting too fancy. ;-)
  • law1558
    law1558 Posts: 51 Member
    bump
  • Let's say:

    I completed all 12 reps on week 5 for every exercise except for overhead barbell presses, I only got 10 reps for the overhead barbell presses.

    On week 6, do I increase the weight for all exercises other than overhead barbell presses?
  • jasonheyd
    jasonheyd Posts: 524 Member
    Let's say:

    I completed all 12 reps on week 5 for every exercise except for overhead barbell presses, I only got 10 reps for the overhead barbell presses.

    On week 6, do I increase the weight for all exercises other than overhead barbell presses?

    Yep.
  • Let's say:

    I completed all 12 reps on week 5 for every exercise except for overhead barbell presses, I only got 10 reps for the overhead barbell presses.

    On week 6, do I increase the weight for all exercises other than overhead barbell presses?

    Yep.

    Okay, I figured. On cycle 2, I reset back to day one on cycle one.

    Next time I will make sure I do it right!

    Thank you!