Monday, September 16, 2013

Generation Iron ( Coming to a theater near you September 20th)

MONSTA WORKOUT (UPPER BODY DOMINANT)


MONSTA WORKOUT (UPPER BODY DOMINANT)
Day 1
Squat- (Work up to a 1 rep max)
Incline Bench Press or Regular Flat Bench- 5 sets of 3 reps (roughly 85-90% of max)
Deadlift or Rack Pull- 3 sets of 5 reps (roughly 75-80% of max)
Pullups- 4 sets 10-6 reps
Dips- 4 sets 10-15 reps

Day 2 (Accessory Day)
Regular Flat Bench – work up to heavy 5 rep max
One Leg Squats- 3 sets 10-6 reps
Barbell Row- 5 sets of 5 reps
Glute Ham Raise - 3 sets 10-4 reps
Barbell Front Raise- 2 sets 12-8 reps
Any kind of shrug (HEAVY)- 2 sets 10-6 reps
Barbell Curl- 1 set of 10 reps
Weighted Planks 2 sets HEAVY
Oblique Side Bends 2 sets (hold heavy dumbbell)

Day 3 (Accessory Day)
Close Grip Bench Press- 4 sets 8-6-4-2
Front Squat- 3 sets 5 reps
Barbell Military Press ( no smith machine)- 3 sets of 5 reps
Speed Box Squats- 8 sets of 2 reps (add bands or chains if possible) roughly 60 % of max
HEAVY Barbell Shrugs- 2 sets 10-6 reps
Hammer Curls- 2 sets 8-4 reps
Dumbbell Curl- 1 set of 10 reps
HEAVY dumbbell side raises- 2 sets of 6-4 reps
Heavy weighted planks- 2 sets
Heavy Oblique Side Bends- 2 sets

ABOUT THE WORKOUT
Day 1- Every week rotates
Week 1 is squat max outs, bench triples, and deadlift 5’s
Week 2 is Bench max outs, deadlift triples, and squat 5’s
Week 3 is Deadlift max outs, Squat triples, and bench 5’s
WEEK 4 repeat week 1
You can also switch off between chin ups and pull ups each week, and you can either chose to do dips or pushup
Day 2
Week 1- Flat Bench- work up to heavy 5 rep max
Week 2- Flat Bench- work up to heavy 3 rep max or speed work (8 sets of 3 roughly 60%max) use bands or chains if possible
Week 3- Flat Bench- repeat week 1
Note- Only use flat bench here if you chose to cycle Incline Bench for DAY 1.  If you chose to cycle Regular Flat Bench for DAY 1, then for DAY 2 do Incline Bench with the programming listed above, 5 rep mx, 3rm, or speed work. 
One Leg Squats can be interchanged with Leg Press or Speed Box Squats weekly- (speed box squats do 10 sets of 2 roughly 60% of max)
Barbell Rows should be done every other week, 5 sets of 5 reps, change your grip between underhand and overhand. For example this should be your back training below…
Week 1- Barbell Row (Overhand Grip- 5 sets of 5 reps)
Week 2- T-Bar Row- 5 sets 12-6 reps
Week 3- Barbell Row (Underhand Grip- sets of 5 reps)
Week 4- Dumbbell Row 5 sets of 10-6 reps
You can interchange other exercises if you would like between your barbell row sessions, however I always stick with heavy free weights.  I think cables and machines are a waste of time and should only be used once every 2 months instead of free weights just to change it up. (15-8 reps)
Glute Ham Raise can be interchanged with stiff- leg deadlifts or pull throughs each week
Barbell Front Raise can be interchanged with dumbbell front raise weekly (only if you want, I usually just use a barbell)
Barbell Curl can be done with an E Z curl Bar or Straight Bar to change it up, only do 1 set, trust me, your biceps will be getting plenty of work in this program. 
DAY 3
Close Grip Bench Rotates weekly, (you can do decline close grip if you want, but I like flat better)
Week 1- Close Grip- 4 sets 8-6-4-2
Week 2- Close Grip- work up to heavy 3 rep max
Week 3- Close Grip- 4 sets 8-6-4-2
Week 4- Close Grip- work up to heavy 1 rep max
Keep cycling close grip exercise in this way, after week 4, go back to week 1 and repeat
Front Squats should be a staple for you in this program, GET GOOD AT THEM
Military Press can be interchanged with standing military (only with barbell) or seated military, or rack press if you have access to a power rack.  Only use dumbbell military press once in a while, roughly once every 6 -8 weeks. Keep the reps between 8-4
NOTE-  If you already did speed squats on DAY 2, do leg press or regular squat here.  3 sets 10-6 reps
Shrugs can be interchanged between barbell or dumbbell but keep it heavy
Hammer Curls can be Interchanged every 3rd week with reverse grip Barbell Curls


Last Big NOTE
Day 2 and Day 3 can be interchanged each week depending on how you feel.  For example if you deadlifted for a 1 rep max on DAY 1 you might be too sore to do back on DAY 2.  Therefore, switch Day 3 with Day 2, for example….Only if you are too taxed… you may do this….
Day 1… Monday
Day 3…Wednesday
Day 2….Friday
I mostly keep it the way it is but I have done it like this before and it is perfectly fine.  This is an upper body dominant workout, this is made to increase bench press, hence why each accessory (DAY 2 AND DAY 3) starts with some sort of pressing movement.  If you want to pick up your squat max then simply do the lower body exercise first on Day 2 and Day 3 (Front Squats or Speed Squats preferably).  If you want to pick up your deadlift max then do your Hamstrings first on DAY 2 with Glute Ham Raises, Stiff Leg Deads, or Pull Throughs.  On Day 3, you can do either a Quad exercise or Speed Deadlifts first.  I am currently not trying to pick up my deadlift, but if I was I would do speed deadlifts first with 8 sets of 1 rep.  Roughly 60 -70 % of max with bands or chains if available. 

Any questions email me at alex10ghossein@gmail.com

Enjoy.