Planned versus reactive Deloads

84creative
84creative Posts: 128 Member
in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
Originally I had a deload week planned for every 5th week of a mesocycle but after listening to a Greg Knuckles podcast I’ve decided to extend it to every 8 weeks. On the podcast Greg mentions deloading when you feel you need to deload (weight and reps going down etc to reduce fatigue).

What do you guys do. I’ve been training for around 18 weeks now and not lifting that heavy so wonder if my body actually needs deloads at this beginner lifter stage?

My current workout is as follows and I’ll be adding weight to next weeks workout to hit failure for each set.

Then I’ll be moving to the 10 to 20 rep range for the next 4 week mesocycle working from 3 RIR to 0RIR over that 4 week period.

Monday

Dumbell Bench Press
36.5kg each (0.5, 2.5, 4, 10 / 5, 5, 4, 2.5, 0.5 + 2.5 bar)
10 (1RIR)
9 (1RIR)
7 (1RIR)
6 (1RIR)
5 (1RIR)
36 reps
5 to 10 rep range

Single Arm Lying Tricep Extension
18.5kg each (0.5, 2.5, 5 / 5, 2.5, 0.5 + 2.5 bar)
7 (1RIR)
6 (1RIR)
5 (1RIR)
18 reps
5 to 7 rep range

Lateral Raises
6.5kg each (2 / 2 + 2.5 bar)
20 (1RIR)
18 (1RIR)
16 (1RIR)
14 (1RIR)
68 reps in total
14 to 20 rep range

Wednesday or Friday

Chin ups
Bodyweight
8 (2RIR)
7 (1RIR)
6 (1RIR)
5 (0RIR)
26 reps
5 to 8 rep range

Dumbbell Bicep Curls
20.5kg each (5, 4 / 4, 5 + 2.5 bar)
7 (1RIR)
5 (1RIR)
4 (1RIR)
4 (1RIR)
16 reps
4 to 7 range

Dumbbell High Pull
9kg each (1.25, 2 / 2, 1.25 + 2.5 bar)
22 (3RIR)
22 (3RIR)
19 (3RIR)
19 (3RIR)

Friday or Wednesday

Reverse Grip Dumbbell Bench Press
29.5kg each (2, 2.5, 5, 4 / 4, 5, 2.5, 2 + 2.5 bar)
14 (1RIR)
13 (1RIR)
12 (1RIR)
9 (1RIR)
8 (1RIR)
45 reps
8 to 14 rep range

Bent over rows
29.5kg each (2, 2.5, 5, 4 / 4, 5, 2.5, 2 + 2.5 bar)
13 (1RIR)
12 (1RIR)
10 (1RIR)
9 (1RIR)
44 reps
9 to 13 rep range

Hammer Curl
20.5kg each (5, 4 / 4, 5 + 2.5 bar)
8 1RIR)
6 (1RIR)
5 (1RIR)
4 (1RIR)
19 reps
4 to 8 rep range

Lying Barbell Tricep Extension
34kg each (2 2.5, 10 / 10, 2.5, 2 + 5 bar)
9 (1RIR)
8 (1RIR)
8 (1RIR)
7 (1RIR)
32 reps
7 to 9 rep range

Bent Over Row (Elbows out)
12.5kg each (5 / 5 + 2.5 bar)
24 (2RIR)
19 (2RIR)
18 (2RIR)
18 (2RIR)
79 reps
18 to 24 range

Replies

  • maybe1pe
    maybe1pe Posts: 529 Member
    I personally do planned deloads.
    Even if I don't feel like I need it I feel like my performance has always increased after taking one.

    For me whether I "feel" like I need it is not a direct correlation to my body actually needing it.
  • 84creative
    84creative Posts: 128 Member
    @maybe1pe I guess feelng like a need one is different to actually needing one to help my body to fully recover from Training.

    I’m happy to give it a try as opposed to not taking a break if it helps to keep me injury free.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    My coach and I plan my deloads, but it's more like every 12 weeks depending on my training cycle.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    I either program a washout and/or a high intensity deload for myself/my lifters between blocks or the start of a block in all my templates currently.

    Sometimes I have a high intensity deload about two thirds into a template as well depending on the goal or person and how they respond to a training block.

  • Alia_R
    Alia_R Posts: 410 Member
    Finally, a decent thread about this! I just finished my deload phase...
  • Pipsqueak1965
    Pipsqueak1965 Posts: 397 Member
    What does RIR mean please?
  • 84creative
    84creative Posts: 128 Member
    Pipsqueak1965 wrote: »
    What does RIR mean please?

    Reps in reserve. Week one was 3 reps in reserve or 3 reps off failure. I then add weight to bring the reps in reserve down by 1 each week. Week 4 is 0RIR, which is taking all sets to failure.

Categories