- Joined
- Jun 24, 2008
- Messages
- 1,000
- Reaction score
- 0
So I've run into a predicament with my lifting recently, and I was hoping to pull some ideas from here from people who may have dealt with similar situations. The short of it is I've started a carpentry apprenticeship this past week, and will now be doing physical labor on construction sites eight to ten hours a day. The work is pretty intense, and my day right now includes moving large amounts of lumber around, climbing up and down ladders with equipment, lots of hammering/ sawing, etc.. So by the end of the day, I've burned a lot of calories and I'm pretty drained. I'm finding its definitely not compatible with how I've been lifting until now (I'm running a Starting Strength based linear progression).
I'm looking for a new program (not making gains with linear progression) and I'm trying to find something that will be sustainable with my work schedule. I lift just for recreation, and I have no other sports, so my focus is basically on the three big lifts (I would like to compete in powerlifting one day, although I'm no where near a competitive level of strength). I've thought about trying 5/3/1, but I would really like to try a weekly cycle program before I move into monthly progress. Right now I'm thinking about a 4 day split routine (based on the one in Practical Programming) so I have shorter, less intense workouts, but I'm not sure lifting on more days will be the answer. I'm definitely still brainstorming possibilities.
So that's my issue, has anybody had to overcome anything similar? What kind of program did you end up running? What else did you do to increase your ability to keep up a lifting schedule? I did a Starting Strength style workout today (squats, bench, and chins, at heavy weight for my strength level) after a ten hour work day, and it was definitely not something I can see myself sustaining (I can tell I'm going to be very, very sore tomorrow). I'd like to start doing something different next week, so by the end of this week I'm hoping to have a new program sorted out.
I'm looking for a new program (not making gains with linear progression) and I'm trying to find something that will be sustainable with my work schedule. I lift just for recreation, and I have no other sports, so my focus is basically on the three big lifts (I would like to compete in powerlifting one day, although I'm no where near a competitive level of strength). I've thought about trying 5/3/1, but I would really like to try a weekly cycle program before I move into monthly progress. Right now I'm thinking about a 4 day split routine (based on the one in Practical Programming) so I have shorter, less intense workouts, but I'm not sure lifting on more days will be the answer. I'm definitely still brainstorming possibilities.
So that's my issue, has anybody had to overcome anything similar? What kind of program did you end up running? What else did you do to increase your ability to keep up a lifting schedule? I did a Starting Strength style workout today (squats, bench, and chins, at heavy weight for my strength level) after a ten hour work day, and it was definitely not something I can see myself sustaining (I can tell I'm going to be very, very sore tomorrow). I'd like to start doing something different next week, so by the end of this week I'm hoping to have a new program sorted out.