Beelze's lifting routine

Beelzebub

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Some may find this helpful, others may not. This is my routine to a T, similar to the routine that DC advocates but I've made a few modifications of my own that make it not so "DC" incorporating principles from SB, goldenear, etc. So, to coin a phrase from a certain clown "this is mine b!tch, so fvck off".

Upon request from SB, I’m writing this for anyone that may be curious about my routine and the continued success I’ve had with it. First off, let me start by saying that I am ‘on’ but the dosages I’m running are lower than they were during my first cycle, so gear cannot account for all of the gains, although they most assuredly did not hurt. As most of you know, I follow a self-modified DC program. Some DC advocates would bash me here saying that if I’ve modified it, then it’s not DC – to which I would reply 'fvck you and the horse you rode in on’, it’s closer to DC than anything else so by all means refer to the previous statement. Anyhoo, for those not completely spun up on how this program is designed – here is my simplistic breakdown: you choose your 3 favorite exercises for each bodypart and assign them to different days thereby with an end result of 3 different workouts. The body is broken down into two days – Day 1: chest/shoulders/tri’s/back width/back thickness and Day 2: bi’s/forearms/calves/quads/hams. Here comes my first modification: since my arms have always been my ‘forte’ and larger than any other bodypart while legs have been left behind due to inadequate training in my younger days, I decided to change up the order on Day 2 – quads/hams/forearms/bi’s/calves. Nothing major but as discussed previously, the DC nazi’s would be quick to point that out. With each bodypart, you’re only doing one exercise per day and saving all of your energy for that last ‘all-out’ set where you go until you can’t possibly go anymore. All sets before the last one are nothing more than warm-up sets to prepare you for the biggie. Here’s a cutout from my last squat day as an example:
(2) 135 x 8
225 x 5
315 x 3
belt
405 x 1
495 x 1
Belt/wraps
585 x 2

As you can see, as the weight increases, the reps are cutdown in an effort to conserve all energy and strength for the last set. Immediately following the last set, a stretch is performed. The easiest way to visualize the stretches is to venture over to intensemuscle.com (DC’s board), subforum ‘dogg pound’, sticky entitled “extreme stretches with inhuman” or something to that effect. The stretch is held for a minimum of 60 seconds, I prefer 90 when pain allows it, and some even go for 2 minutes but I’m convinced these people are clinically insane. As for choosing exercises, I would recommend choosing 3 that are compound movements whenever possible as these provide the most benefit in terms of strength and mass gains, IMO of course.

DC advises that most trainees should start out with a M/W/F routine. Meaning if you did chest/shoulders/tri’s/back on Monday, you would follow up with quads/hams/forearms/bi’s/calves on Wednesday with Friday bringing on the 2nd day of chest/shoulders/tri’s/back. The following week would begin with quads, etc. on Monday – chest, etc. Wednesday – quads,etc. Friday. I bumped this up to a M/T/T/F routine for myself in an effort to see how fast I recovered which has yet to fail me so I have not changed it since starting this. DC adamantly advises against most trying this as he believes most will overtrain rather quickly with anything more than a M/W/F scheme and I agree. As stated, I just wanted to see how it worked for me and it never stopped, so I didn’t either.

Now, this is where the program would end if we all had unlimited genetic potential and could continue growing with the same 3 favorite exercises forever. Unfortunately, this is not the case nor will it ever be. Eventually, you’re going to stall out on certain exercises, the question is not ‘if’ but ‘when’. Let’s say you’ve been using incline bench press for about 3 months now, you’ve been improving every workout by at least a rep or two, sometimes adding new weight but today you hit 225 for 13 reps where as last week you hit 15 reps. This means it’s time to replace it with something else. This is very difficult for most to do as they believe that it’s simply a bad week (which is possible but the point remains) or that they are different than 99.9% of other trainees. YOU CANNOT UTILIZE THE SAME MOVEMENT FOREVER. It just doesn’t work that way. If it did work that way, I’d easily be raw benching over 1K by now. Again, when that time comes, drop it and replace it with something else so you can eventually max out on that as well. Here enters my little modification that DC doesn’t mention in cycles for pennies. Progressive overload. The one exercise that I refuse to drop is squats. Blame it on the fact that squats were my weakest lift a little over a year ago and it is my neuroticism that keeps me from dropping them completely. Whatever the case may be, I picked up this little tip from Goldenear when he was referencing deadlifts. When you reach your 1RM on whatever lift you’ve stubbornly chosen to keep (like me), take it back to 75% and work your way back up by 10lbs every week. An example from my squat routine just so recently reset, I had just hit 585 x 2 last week and was guesstimating to hit 605 x 1 but the voices in my head told me to let it go and just reduce to 75% and work my way back up as to avoid a possible injury. So, 75% of 605 is ~455lbs. So, this past squat workout, I hit 455 for a max set and next week I will hit 465 for a max set, so on and so forth. When I eventually get up to 585 again, I will most likely hit 4-6 reps and perhaps continue onward until I max out around 635 or so. Again, these are just estimates but I’m sure you see the point. I wouldn’t advise utilizing progressive overload for every exercise, just the big 3: squats, deads, and flat bench (which DC hates but until competition changes it to incline dumbbell, we’re kinda locked into it).

Calves: courtesy of SB. (you’ve been warned)

Leg Day 1—Donkey/Leg Press Raises, 2/3 tempo.
Go for one minute straight, THEN bend your knees and continue for another minute.
Rest three minutes.
Repeat.—drop weight if you have to.
Rest Three minutes.
Repeat.—drop weight if you have to.

Leg Day 2—Standing Calf Raises
Moderate Weight, usually ¾ of the stack
3 sets of 10 reps, in a 2/4 tempo, stretching at the bottom, contracting at the top.
Reverse Raises—sit on a lying leg curl machine backwards and put your feet under the pad. Roll the pad up and down working your “front” calf muscles.
3 sets of 12 reps, in a 2/4 tempo, contracting at the top.

Leg Day 3—Donkey/Leg Press Raises, ½ tempo.
Go for thirty seconds straight with your knees locked, THEN bend your knees and continue for thirty seconds, THEN do thirty seconds of calf squats. Calf squats/presses are kind of cheat movement where once your calves are fried, you continue going by doing a quarter squat. This is done easiest on a leg press machine. Move the sled about 8 inches. You will find the burn becomes more intense because of the forced stabilization that the calf has to do with the calf squats. These are done as a quick pumping movement.
Rest three minutes.
Repeat.—drop weight if you have to.
Rest Three minutes.
Repeat.—drop weight if you have to.

Rest pausing and static holds. I’ve yet to try static holds but they’re rumored to be quite effective among the DC community. An example of a static hold on last set of flat bench would be after you’ve achieved your last rep, hold the bar in the top position for as long as possible then racking it, you’re done (might be an over simplistic way of looking at it but that’s the gist of it). As for rest pausing, I’ve grown to love it on certain movements. An example of rest pause would be: standing alternating dumbbell curls. Do as many as you can with your last set, set them down for 15 deep breaths, pick them back up and go again (most likely getting 3-4 reps), set them down again for 15 deep breaths and go one more time for a total of 2 rest pauses. It would be impossible to utilize RP on squats purely for safety reasons alone so choose where you want to use these wisely. Common sense plays a factor here.

Time off. Necessary? Definitely. DC protocol requires a 4 week blast period followed by a 2 week cruise period where weights and volume are reduced and is considered somewhat of a deload period. Yeah, I didn’t like that. So, I go for 6 weeks of balls to walls training followed by 1 week off of everything. I know me and I know I cannot come into the gym and piddle around with some light bullsh!t in an effort to ‘deload’. In a matter of sets, I’d be going for a PR of some sort convinced that I had evaded the system. So, I alleviate this problem by not going at all. No cardio, no weights, no gym, nada. During this week, my diet remains unaltered as I believe that my body needs the same amount of nutrients as before only now they’re being used to recuperate the hellish 6 weeks that preceded it. Try to get more sleep during this period as well, after all, it’s rest week.

Cardio – Low intensity for 20 mins after each weight session to avoid excess fat gain and for overall health. If you’re looking to drop some additional fat, bump up cardio to ED trying to perform at least a 20-30 minute session every morning on an empty stomach.

Carb cutoffs – Once again, goal depending. If you’re looking to drop some additional fat and/or are carb sensitive, have a carb cutoff after your PWO shake. Replace them with healthy fats such as flax oil, almonds, etc.

Review of my modifications:
1) Order of exercises on day 2 switched to quads/hams/forearms/bi’s/calves
2) Most, if not all, that try this should stick with M/W/F. Many have tried more frequency and ended up overtrained.
3) Progressive overload. When a movement stalls out, DC says ‘drop it’. I say ‘not so fast’. If it is a great compound movement that you just can’t simply live without, then try progressive overload.

Conclusion: This has worked great for me as I’m still consistently hitting PR’s every workout. I believe DC is one of the most effective programs out there but I just happened to make a few adjustments of my own that are customized to my needs. I’ve had two guys follow my version to a T and they are having the same continued success as I have. One of which is el naturale and the other ‘not so much’. One thing is for sure, this program is fun and it’s the change that keeps it interesting. Coming into the gym knowing that today I will be stronger is all the motivation I’ll ever need. If you’re not in there for that, then why bother? Take up golf and quit doing curls in the squat rack – we’ve got work to do.
 

myfathersboy

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Great information as always Beez.....

I'm due for a routine change in about 6 weeks, Maybe I'll try this...It's just so far removed from everything I've done in the past...Kinda worries me to make such an extreme change, even though I know it needs to be done....
 
Beowulf

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Awesome post Beelz :squat:

I'd rep ya if I could :cheers:

I'm gonna start DC in probably 6-8 weeks, so this post is perfect. BTW, I love the Progressive Overload idea. I think I'll try to maintain the emphasis on arms, though. Mine aren't exactly my forte. More like my weakte :eek:
 
Jayhawkk

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Ya man, lots of workouts get posted on sets and reps but not how they are done.
 

FitnFirm

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WOW!!!!!!!!!! Beelze you ROCK!!!!!!!!!!


You better go take a little nap after all that typing !!!!!!


LOL, Ill be on your tail making sure you stay on track :whip:
 
Mulletsoldier

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Good job Big Fella. I'm glad you decided to post everything I taught you!!!....

:think:
 
motiv8erJR

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Shiot... how much did you pay SB to let you post the super secret calf routine? :):)


Thanks brother of skinny calves.....

~Mk
 

myfathersboy

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Beelz,

This type of Training seems like it would be geared more towards strength rather than hypertrophy, would you agree or disagree? Also, what do you think of incorporating some TUT principles into a routine like this? If so, how?
 
Beelzebub

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myfathersboy. the word that is used to describe it is called 'powertraining'. the theory behind it is, the heavier the weight - the larger the muscle. to coin another phrase, it would translate into "talking the talk and walking the walk." while you look like you can squat 600, can you really? you get the idea ;) i imagine if you incorporated TUT principles into the program, it would switch more to a hypertrophy workout with less emphasis on strength. although, it would still work well.

fitnfirm on my tail? this sounds.......intriguing :D

motiv8tr, being this was SB's idea in the first place - free of charge. ;)

glad ya'll like. it's a good change for those looking for some variation.
 
Dwight Schrute

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Beelz,

This type of Training seems like it would be geared more towards strength rather than hypertrophy, would you agree or disagree? Also, what do you think of incorporating some TUT principles into a routine like this? If so, how?
It already is. What do you think static holds and and rest pausing does? :)

Fancy names, simple concepts :) Strongmen been doing it since the 50's.


Every routine has TUT. If it didn't, you wouldn't be lifting weight.


"Carb cutoffs – Once again, goal depending. If you’re looking to drop some additional fat and/or are carb sensitive, have a carb cutoff after your PWO shake. Replace them with healthy fats such as flax oil, almonds, etc."

Better yet, drop the fats and eat smarter carbs. Then slowly reverse this trend over a period of time once bf% levels become lower.
 

guyfromkop2

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myfathersboy. the word that is used to describe it is called 'powertraining'. the theory behind it is, the heavier the weight - the larger the muscle. to coin another phrase, it would translate into "talking the talk and walking the walk." while you look like you can squat 600, can you really? you get the idea ;)

post of the year right here
 
Dwight Schrute

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motiv8erJR

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who is SB LOL?????
SB can be translated into a lot of things... when your doing his calf routine... SOn of a biatch... or when you see him on MMI deadlift 650 on a trap bar... you truly under stand why his avatar has a silver back gorilla giving you the bird :)

~Mk
 

guyfromkop2

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Well it does contradict itself a bit.
yea, but if you're going to look strong might as well be strong, kind of like a girl with a padded bra, false advertising
 
Dwight Schrute

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yea, but if you're going to look strong might as well be strong, kind of like a girl with a padded bra, false advertising
That is like the same sterotype that all powlifters are fat.

Generally if I am 250 at 8% I'm not benching 125lb.


It also could be a girl with implants in whch I don't think you would complain.
 

guyfromkop2

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That is like the same sterotype that all powlifters are fat.

Generally if I am 250 at 8% I'm not benching 125lb.


It also could be a girl with implants in whch I don't think you would complain.
yea, but too many 5'10 165lb guys are worried about tut, and how big their muscle is going to look, and forget about if you got strong your muscles would grow.
 
ryansm

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yea, but too many 5'10 165lb guys are worried about tut, and how big their muscle is going to look, and forget about if you got strong your muscles would grow.

Define strength? Would a 169 pound guy that can clean and jerk over 400 pounds, squat ATG over 500, and front squat close to the same be strong?? (yes this is a real person)

Muscle fiber efficiency. . .
 
Dwight Schrute

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yea, but too many 5'10 165lb guys are worried about tut, and how big their muscle is going to look, and forget about if you got strong your muscles would grow.
And too many people preaching strenght are worried about those 5'10 165lb guys.


TUT is simply time under tension. I don't know why people throw it around like its a friggin routine. And no, if you got strong, muscles don't just "grow". Its two compeltely different principles. 90% of you preaching strnength training have more hypertrophy aspects in there than you even realize.

Case in point this "powertraining". If you have static holds (which is imply Isometrics) and rest pausing you are increasing TUT which does what? Helps you grow.
 
Dwight Schrute

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guyfromkop2

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Define strength? Would a 169 pound guy that can clean and jerk over 400 pounds, squat ATG over 500, and front squat close to the same be strong?? (yes this is a real person)

Muscle fiber efficiency. . .
i know there are strong guys that are light, i meant to say 5'10 165lb guys who cant squat or bench over 200lbs, sorry for the confusion
 
ryansm

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And too many people preaching strenght are worried about those 5'10 165lb guys.


And no, if you got strong, muscles don't just "grow". Its two compeltely different principles

So true so true
 

guyfromkop2

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we're just from 2 completely different schools of lifting
 

guyfromkop2

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Define strength? Would a 169 pound guy that can clean and jerk over 400 pounds, squat ATG over 500, and front squat close to the same be strong?? (yes this is a real person)

Muscle fiber efficiency. . .
not too many guys out there are like this
 
Dwight Schrute

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we're just from 2 completely different schools of lifting
Its not a school, its recognizing that what you preach has an enormous amount of hyptrophy specific training. Something that you don't seem to realize.
 

guyfromkop2

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Its not a school, its recognizing that what you preach has an enormous amount of hyptrophy specific training than you realize.

i know, i'm not saying it's wrong or knockin it, and i was wrong before about it and you corrected me, it's just newbies need to learn the basics and build from there, perfect example is dannyboy9's routine, the kid cant squat over 100lbs yet he's doing some routine that takes up like 50pages, just wrong. either way though, beelze's routine is good and has a lot of both worlds in it, i was just praising him because he thinks like me. if you want to look strong why not be strong. hence why this is in the powerlifting/strongman section. we have a problem with always wanting to lift heavier weights :D
 
jecko29

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Damn fine post Beelze, if you don't mind I'd like to use some of your explanations over at M&F.com. I've been trying to explain the DC Routine over there and have actually linked your other thread for some examples.

jecko
 
Jayhawkk

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So much to learn and enjoying every minute of new found information :p
 
Dwight Schrute

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i know, i'm not saying it's wrong or knockin it, and i was wrong before about it and you corrected me, it's just newbies need to learn the basics and build from there, perfect example is dannyboy9's routine, the kid cant squat over 100lbs yet he's doing some routine that takes up like 50pages, just wrong. either way though, beelze's routine is good and has a lot of both worlds in it, i was just praising him because he thinks like me. if you want to look strong why not be strong. hence why this is in the powerlifting/strongman section. we have a problem with always wanting to lift heavier weights :D
You are fighting the dogma that more equals better. You are involved in a sport in which people seem to think they have to drastically overhaul their routines to get big. You are in a sport in wihch 99% don't even pay attention to what they put in their stomach. You are in a sport in which more time is spent on researching the HTPA (which they get wrong) than what makes up a simple protein. Of course you are going to have completely ignorant people because people aren't in this for the marathon. Give me some fancy training routine with a nice marketing ploy, shoot up 1g/week and talk to me in 8 weeks. Thats what they want.

This sport is full of people looking for answers to the wrong questions and its why most of them fail. Of course it gets down to the basics which means you should break down DC, Iron Mans, etc.. routines for what they actually are, material I can find in my college text I bought 8 years ago which has been published for the last 20 years. People actually think static holds, rest pausing and extreme stretching was invented on the internet? Its incredible. A guy in here even used the term "DC Theory". Thats just a riot.

I understand this is the powerlifting section but the routine I read has more to do with hypertrophy than actual powerlifting. And I agree its good because it incorporates 3 differnt type of stimulation similar to what any program based on periodiziation would do. I told Beelz to call it his own program because he is doing what every other trainer that has a reputation on these boards does, take existing information and put it together then call it their "own". If they can do it, why not him?

But the guys that knock "bodybuilders" seem to incorporate a LOT of their techniques when it comes to training. Strongman training HEAVILY incorporates sarcoplasmic hypertrophy to increase muscular endurance but if some guy recommends that to a bodybuilder they get mocked.
 
jecko29

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Its incredible. A guy in here even used the term "DC Theory". Thats just a riot.
Wrong choice of words, shoulda said routine, I remember issues of Flex back in the day when Dorian used to lift the same way........my bad:run: :D

jecko
 
Dwight Schrute

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Wrong choice of words, shoulda said routine, I remember issues of Flex back in the day when Dorian used to lift the same way........my bad:run: :D

jecko
Not a dig on you man. If it sounded that way, I apologize ;)
 
Beelzebub

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i'm not sure why there is a debate going on here. the post was nothing more than sharing with what i have used to get to the point where i am. some may consider it helpful, some may not. when i say TUT, i mean a slow tempo. most understand this and move on without further explanation. there is nothing new here as i've given credit where credit is due as to which lifting principles i learned where. DC made known to me this routine, SB gave me a calf routine with other tips, goldenear gave me progressive overload. i have created nothing and dare i say, neither have they. i have no issue at all with bodybuilders, i started out as one but eventualy became more interested in strength than anything else, hence my routine. yes, it does still involved some bb'ing ideas that i clung to. will strength training alone build more mass? to some degree - yes. but not to the degree of hypertrophy specific training.

this is becoming childish.
 
Dwight Schrute

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i'm not sure why there is a debate going on here. the post was nothing more than sharing with what i have used to get to the point where i am. some may consider it helpful, some may not. when i say TUT, i mean a slow tempo. most understand this and move on without further explanation. there is nothing new here as i've given credit where credit is due as to which lifting principles i learned where. DC made known to me this routine, SB gave me a calf routine with other tips, goldenear gave me progressive overload. i have created nothing and dare i say, neither have they. i have no issue at all with bodybuilders, i started out as one but eventualy became more interested in strength than anything else, hence my routine. yes, it does still involved some bb'ing ideas that i clung to. will strength training alone build more mass? to some degree - yes. but not to the degree of hypertrophy specific training.

this is becoming childish.
Shut up. We're bored.
 

guyfromkop2

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i've never once knocked a bodybuilder on here. and i have a great respect for what they do. and in my sport more does = better. more weight lifted = better at your sport.

and you saying that 99% of powerlifters dont care what they put in their mouth is just a crazy statement.
 
Dwight Schrute

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i've never once knocked a bodybuilder on here. and i have a great respect for what they do. and in my sport more does = better. more weight lifted = better at your sport.

and you saying that 99% of powerlifters dont care what they put in their mouth is just a crazy statement.
I said 99% of the people overall, not just powerlifters. Drinking an occasional protein shake doens't count either.

More sets don't equal more results. You said his routine was 50 pages.
 

guyfromkop2

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I said 99% of the people overall, not just powerlifters. Drinking an occasional protein shake doens't count either.

More sets don't equal more results. You said his routine was 50 pages.

i dont knwo what's exactly in his routine, i just know it was about 50 pages. if i have to read 50 pages to outline a routine then i'm not interested.

and i know more sets done equal more results. i did 12 total sets on monday's workout
 
Dwight Schrute

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I assumed it was a ****load of sets but the point applies. People follow these 20+ set routines.
 
Beowulf

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Am I losing my marbles or was this a sticky earlier? :think:
 
Beelzebub

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I assumed it was a ****load of sets but the point applies. People follow these 20+ set routines.
very true. a lot of them do.......a lot of them don't also :D
 

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