Starting Strength and Conditioning Programing

[Blackguilt]

I'm currently 6 weeks into Starting Strength and making gains as expected. I would like to add in some barbell complexes for conditioning. I saw the July conditioning challenge and thought that routine would be perfect. My current schedule is MWF SS lifts in morning with grappling in the evening MWF. Could/Should I add the BB complexes to the end of my SS workout? I considered doing them on my off days, but dont want to inhibit my recovery.

 

[viciousleglock]

I'm currently 6 weeks into Starting Strength and making gains as expected. I would like to add in some barbell complexes for conditioning. I saw the July conditioning challenge and thought that routine would be perfect. My current schedule is MWF SS lifts in morning with grappling in the evening MWF. Could/Should I add the BB complexes to the end of my SS workout? I considered doing them on my off days, but dont want to inhibit my recovery.

Super sets-tri-sets- quad sets FTW.

 

[ssdd]

Super sets-tri-sets- quad sets FTW.

Wtf are you talking about?

TS I think you might be able to squeeze one in on friday since you'll have two days to recover, but the 20min BB complex might be too intense on mon+weds on top of the BJJ

 

[DrBdan]

Add them at the end of SS but keep it short and intense.

 

[TheeFaulted]

I would do SS longer than 6 weeks before altering the program.

 

[JerseyTrash]

I'm not sure how successful this will be, but I'll tell you this much: If you were to post this on Rip's message board, you'd get a big "YNDTP" as a response.

 

[scoopj]

If he's adding barbell complexes for conditioning, he's not altering SS. He says his goal is to add in some conditioning.

I agree that you should add it to the end of SS, and I like the idea of just adding it to the end of Friday (at least for starters) and see how you feel. If you can add it to M or W at a later point, have at it.

 

[XTrainer]

If he's adding barbell complexes for conditioning, he's not altering SS. He says his goal is to add in some conditioning.

:icon_conf

Adding conditioning to the program is, quite obviously, altering the program, probably to the detriment of strength gains. If you don't believe me, ask Rip.

 

[scoopj]

:icon_conf

Adding conditioning to the program is, quite obviously, altering the program, probably to the detriment of strength gains. If you don't believe me, ask Rip.

The way I read it, he's not adding conditioning "to the program". He wants to do conditioning apart from SS.

Nobody does SS in a vacuum. If I'm on SS and I happen to walk down my driveway to my mailbox once per day, can I still say I'm on SS, or do I need to stay in a pod 24/7 and only get out to "do the program"?

 

[DrBdan]

The way I read it, he's not adding conditioning "to the program". He wants to do conditioning apart from SS.

Nobody does SS in a vacuum. If I'm on SS and I happen to walk down my driveway to my mailbox once per day, can I still say I'm on SS, or do I need to stay in a pod 24/7 and only get out to "do the program"?

Doing any other training on top of lifting means you aren't doing the program. That doesn't mean you can't do other stuff, it just means you aren't really doing SS and thus if you complain that you aren't getting the results that are typical Rippetoe will say YNDTP.

 

[scoopj]

Doing any other training on top of lifting means you aren't doing the program. That doesn't mean you can't do other stuff, it just means you aren't really doing SS and thus if you complain that you aren't getting the results that are typical Rippetoe will say YNDTP.

That makes sense but it strikes me as a little nazi-esque on his part. So if someone is "running SS" as well as grappling or playing football or another sport, then they're not actually "running SS"? I always assumed the whole YNDTP thing was if you wanted to change the set/rep scheme or change out Power Cleans for Chins or something along those lines.

 

[Midnighter]

That makes sense but it strikes me as a little nazi-esque on his part. So if someone is "running SS" as well as grappling or playing football or another sport, then they're not actually "running SS"? I always assumed the whole YNDTP thing was if you wanted to change the set/rep scheme or change out Power Cleans for Chins or something along those lines.

I'm not sure if he counts activities as not doing the program, does he say anything about cardio, I can't remember.

 

[Blackguilt]

Thankfully as long as I'm still making gains in strength I'll be satisfied. As my lifting is mainly just for the sake of being strong and to compliment my grappling game rather than to obtain monumental PR's in each lift. I just wanted to know from people who have been training longer and much stronger than me if I was setting myself up to fail by doing the complexes after my lifts, or if I would screw myself by doing them on off days. I will try this Friday as my first complex day and see how it goes from there.

 

[TeddyRoosevelt]

That makes sense but it strikes me as a little nazi-esque on his part. So if someone is "running SS" as well as grappling or playing football or another sport, then they're not actually "running SS"? I always assumed the whole YNDTP thing was if you wanted to change the set/rep scheme or change out Power Cleans for Chins or something along those lines.

Or makes for an easy cop-out.

And I like Rip, and I think it's a great basic program. But for some of us, it's ridiculous to disregard any other form of training just to maximize strength gains, even if they happen to be precious, fast, noob gains.

Do the program as your strength program. Don't try to throw other strength work on top of the program, because then you would no longer be doing the program.

But do the other things in life you feel the need to go. Grapple, and do a weekly muscular endurance circuit if need be.

(Also, your circuit isn't exactly "cardio." Why not let your grappling work handle the sport-specific muscular endurance, and then do a day of real cardio work?).

 

[scoopj]

Also, your circuit isn't exactly "cardio."

I agree with everything in your post except for this. 20 minutes of the Randy Couture barbell circuit is indeed cardio. Granted it's only one arrow in the cardio quiver and does not challenge all systems.

 

[TeddyRoosevelt]

I agree with everything in your post except for this. 20 minutes of the Randy Couture barbell circuit is indeed cardio. Granted it's only one arrow in the cardio quiver and does not challenge all systems.

I don't disagree. And we could argue all night over where the distinction lies between cardiovascular system training / energy system training / muscular endurance training, etc. (though, obviously, they are inter-related).

But for ideal cardiovascular system training, I think something else would be more efficient and effective. That is not to say that the Couture circuit wouldn't be moderately challenging, depending upon fitness level.