What's Your Favorite Strength Training Program?

Options
tianacaona
tianacaona Posts: 20 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've been looking into different strength training programs and methods and was curious as to others' preferences. Are you a body weight enthusiast (ala "You Are Your Own Gym)" or do you swear by Strong Lifts? Do you live heavy or do you like numerous reps? I'm incorporating more lifting and cutting back in cardio and would just love to hear what is working for everyone else. Thanks!

Replies

  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    Options
    What's working for others will have to do with what level lifter they are.

    I did strong lifts after restarting after taking over a year off because of cancer treatments/surgeries . So I was a novice in my eyes with 25+ years of experience.

    If I could go back, I would of read Starting Strength book and done that program instead. Much better program for my goal of strength, gaining weight, along with the plethora of info that SL just was lacking.

  • jesspen91
    jesspen91 Posts: 1,383 Member
    Options
    Strong Curves for me. Enough variety to stay interesting and it fits my goals. I was pretty much a beginner to weights other than dumbbells and it eased me in well.

    I've also read New Rules of Lifting for Women and will probably do that after Strong Curves.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    Options
    Strong Curves and Get Glutes are my top favourite. Pretty much anything Bret Contreras or Kellie Davis put out.

    I guess I do a mix.. some strength but more hypertrophy. My goals are mostly physique based at the moment.
  • gearhead426hemi
    gearhead426hemi Posts: 919 Member
    Options
    I like to change up my workouts on a weekly basis. Change sets, reps, rest time, or just completely change my workout at random. If I get sore in a muscle that normally isn't sore then I know I have found a week spot and I change the workout until I don't get sore there any more. I like to compete in at least one physical challenge a year that pushes me physically and mentally. Last year I did a Tough Mudder. This year a 30 mile mountain bike race. Next year I am doing a kayak race. Change it up so it doesn't feel like a workout.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,868 Member
    Options
    Before my trainer, I really liked New Rules Supercharged. It doesn't tell you to specifically do this exercise or that but rather provides templates dictating the type of movement to be performed on a given workout and you can choose from a variety of exercises to suit the prescribed movement.

    It also has templates for higher rep work, moderate rep work and low rep, heavy work. It's a lot of variety and more of a generalists/ fitness/ athletic approach vs something like SL which specializes in optimal strength.

    You have to determine what your goals and objectives are and choose a program that is conducive to those...
  • deadliftsandnoodles
    deadliftsandnoodles Posts: 312 Member
    Options
     
    <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.5% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BTwz-xGBY9d/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">3rd deadlift 180kg pb and probably could have gone more. I&#39;ll take it</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by I just love to *kitten* eat yo (@mrvinnyvinny) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-05-06T19:30:30+00:00">May 6, 2017 at 12:30pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
  • ROBOTFOOD
    ROBOTFOOD Posts: 5,527 Member
    Options
    531
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    Options
    Whatever training cycle my coach gives me. He always manages to give me the best version of what I want with reference to where I am in regards to my next meet.
  • LeoT0917
    LeoT0917 Posts: 206 Member
    edited June 2017
    Options
    I do P90x which is uses a mix of weights (dumbbells), body weight, with cardio and Plyo. And Yoga twice a week. Depends on your goals. Mine is to lose weight, increase cardiovascular health, improve functional strength and develop a well balanced overall muscular physique. P90X is definitely moving me in that direction.
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    Options
    Stronglifts. They have a super easy app that really helped.
  • CipherZero
    CipherZero Posts: 1,418 Member
    Options
    Starting strength is what got me to being "that guy you ask at work to move things" despite being twice the age of a fair number of my co-workers. The website, continuing videos being posted, and forums are a godsend for strength training.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,485 Member
    Options
    Started with nerdfitness, bodyweight routine, then moved on to AllPro, barbell routine.

    AllPro is a beginners programme which increased reps before weights, and has a heavy, medium, and light day each week.

    It is not one of the most popular programmes on MFP, but it suits me.

    Cheers, h.

  • WendyLeigh1119
    WendyLeigh1119 Posts: 495 Member
    Options
    My favorite class is Les Mills Body Pump. It's lighter barbell trainikng at faster speeds, but include deadlifting, chest presses, squats and lunges, triceps and biceps, and back. It's great because your HR stays in the cardio zone, but you're adjusting your weight as you progress and learning form while targeting every major area. And no fighting crowds of muscular dudes taking 10 minute breaks in the free weight area!
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    Options
    i settled on stronglifts and was really happy with it as a starter programme - maybe partly because once i had picked up the basic idea i never went near the hysterical Manliness and all the pre-emptive negging of the guy's website again.

    for everything else - form, sanity checks, information, safety, bigger-picture etc etc - i used the third edition of starting strength. there were a few things from that book that i ditched: the hip-bounce to start off the overhead press, and [eventually, finally], his 'elbows up, eyes down' idea for squats. and i never have learned to do power cleans. but apart from those caveats, it was and sort of still is my baseline reference point.

Categories