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Newbie starting the Bigger Leaner Stronger programme...when do I start each phase and substituting exercises

3.3K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  UKGuy77  
#1 ·
Hi guys, I've decided to start the 5 day bigger leaner stronger program training at home and I have 2 questions:

1. When do I start each phase? on the 5 day workout routine there are 6 phases, how long do I do each phase for and once I reach the end of phase 6 do I return to phase 1 again?

2. Substituting exercises, I only have a barbell and dumbbells so I am assuming I can substitute exercises that use machines such as a lat pulldown for the equivalent barbell/dumbbell exercise correct?
 
#4 ·
Believe it's one week per phase, you could start it again or move to another programme.
Lat pulldown alternatives without machine are single arm dumbbell row, which you are already doing, dumbbell pullover & pullups.
TBH I would do lat pulldown and/or cable row with resistance bands (did this myself when I started working out at home and build a decent back).
 
#5 ·
This looks like a poor program to me.
Why don’t you fix the exercises as per your requirements and structure and do some for 3 months and then change it when hit plateau?. Changing the exercises each week is unnecessary in my opinion. I hope i haven’t misunderstood your program by phases
 
#6 ·
3 “Hard sets”?

…which **** wrote that program?
 
#7 ·
Generally,

Any programme advertising as making someone both "big & lean" at the same time is crap.

A deload after every week seems like a complete waste of time.

Honestly, for a basic barbell programme i would look into starting strength, which is well proven, well wrote about, and doesnt feature half of the pointless nonsense in that other programme.

"Hard sets" - that means nothing, you want to be progressing linearly, which you should be able to do weekly especially at the start.


Another i would recommend is 531 using the Boring but Big assistance work;

 
#8 ·
Generally,

Any programme advertising as making someone both "big & lean" at the same time is crap.

A deload after every week seems like a complete waste of time.

Honestly, for a basic barbell programme i would look into starting strength, which is well proven, well wrote about, and doesnt feature half of the pointless nonsense in that other programme.

"Hard sets" - that means nothing, you want to be progressing linearly, which you should be able to do weekly especially at the start.


Another i would recommend is 531 using the Boring but Big assistance work;

thanks for that I'll check out the starting strength programme
 
#9 ·
Just to jump in here - Bigger Leaner Stronger is a great program by Mike Matthews. If you read the book everything he says is backed up by science (which can make it a bit of a hard read!).

But it's basically a high weight, low rep style workout. The 'hard' sets are exactly that - working at around 80% 1RM trying to get to 6 reps, once you can get to 6 reps with good form you increase the weight, so good progressive overload. So he encourages you to do the warm up sets first to avoid any injury.

The program you've posted is I believe a year long program. You do each phase for 8 weeks - then have a 'Deload' week - before moving onto the next phase.
If you've downloaded that program, you should also have got the spreadsheet that goes along with it - which helps to explain this!

I'm sure others will say it's rubbish etc - but I've tried it and really enjoyed it. You should see great progress with the weight you are lifting - and the muscle growth associated with that. It details the calories you need if you are bulking or trying to cut with minimal muscle loss etc

Just give it a go and see if it works for you!
Cheers
Darren