splits versus texas method

[sandcracker21]

well I just finished about 4 months of SS by Rippetoe (highly recommend this program, even I was skeptical but it gave me great results!)

now I am wondering what is next, and can't decide between the texas method and a 4-day-a-week split

The texas method seems like it would not let me do enough lifts, as i want to do squats/deads/ benchpress/ press / row / and curls, chins, and dips in my program


I am going more for mass than power or strength, but understand that strength = mass

[ZenMonkey]

Do the Texas Method. If you had success with SS you will like TX Method


Size is a function of diet

[brihead301]

Check out my journal, I'm doing the TM right now. I've been doing it for about 6 weeks now. My gains basically stopped in SS because I wasn't recovering enough to keep lifting heavier and heavier every single workout. Switching to the TM helped push my 5RM numbers up a lot:

squat: 265 >> 315
Deadlift: 375 >> 390
Bench: 220 >> 250 (for 3 reps)
OH press: 135 >> 150 (for 3 reps)
power clean: 155 >> 170 (for 3 reps)

It works.

Then again, a good split would work too.

[ELmx479]

I'm doing SS now and was planning on doing a 4 day split or the Texas Method when I stop making gains. I really didn't like the idea of a full body workout plan but I really like them now that I gave it a try. If I do the split it will be..

Mon- Chest, Tri's
Tues- Back, Bi's
Wed-Rest
Thurs- Legs
Fri-Shoulders, Abs

[brihead301]

I'm doing SS now and was planning on doing a 4 day split or the Texas Method when I stop making gains. I really didn't like the idea of a full body workout plan but I really like them now that I gave it a try. If I do the split it will be..

Mon- Chest, Tri's
Tues- Back, Bi's
Wed-Rest
Thurs- Legs
Fri-Shoulders, Abs

How could you go from a routine like SS to a split like that? I'm just saying that after seeing what a heavy full-body routine is capable of doing for you, how could you possibly go back to doing the bodypart split stuff?

I could never go back.

[ELmx479]

How could you go from a routine like SS to a split like that? I'm just saying that after seeing what a heavy full-body routine is capable of doing for you, how could you possibly go back to doing the bodypart split stuff?

I could never go back.

Well I was planning on still using all compound lifts. I would like to bulk up to 210 by march then go on a cut in the spring and use a body part split to tweak some areas then back on a full body routine and bulk next fall/winter.

[ZenMonkey]

How could you go from a routine like SS to a split like that? I'm just saying that after seeing what a heavy full-body routine is capable of doing for you, how could you possibly go back to doing the bodypart split stuff?

I could never go back.

I could not agree more.

[sandcracker21]

honestly, i thought that the full body approach was a little borring. Its the same routine every day in the gym...even though I can not argue with the results...

but now that I have hit the wall between novice and intermediate, I need change

[dumbbell]

honestly, i thought that the full body approach was a little borring. Its the same routine every day in the gym...even though I can not argue with the results...

but now that I have hit the wall between novice and intermediate, I need change

I've been rotating 2 full body routines with much success. I think it eliminates the boredom of doing just 1 workout over and over.

[brihead301]

I can see the full-body thing getting a little boring. Personally, I don't think it's boring because I'm always shooting for new numbers, and therefore everyday is a new challenge for me. Some guys in my gym say the same thing to me, "How can you do that same routine all the time? Doesn't it get boring?" I just tell them that it's not the same routine because I'm constantly adding weight to the bar, but they still don't believe me.

Anyway, if I ever do decide that the full-body thing gets boring for me, I have the perfect 4-day split that I'm gonna do. It's program that Lunarfault gave me which has one day dedicated to each big lift - squat, dead, bench, OH press. And there's a rep range variation every week or two as well. That looks fun.

[sandcracker21]

would u mind letting us in on this routine? lol

[brihead301]

I gotta look it up again. Maybe Lunarfault would post it again if he sees this.

[Kastro]

I stopped thinking about it being "full-body" a long time ago. I merely consider it squat training, press training,....

[brihead301]

I stopped thinking about it being "full-body" a long time ago. I merely consider it squat training, press training,....

Me too. I think that's what happens to us all eventually

[sandcracker21]

well what if i drop all the weights down to 5 x 5 OR 3 x 10 and instead of being married to the week, made my routine 2 days on 2 days off and kept rotating them?

I feel that with a split like this i can do more different exercises then i could with the texas method, but if the texas method is that much better, i will just do that and try not to get bored with it (i was getting very bored with SS after about 3 months of it, but it did get me results)

edit: this is with THIS split http://www.wannabebigforums.com/showthread.php?t=118986

[Kastro]

Yes, texas method will work better. But after only 3 months of SS, I'm not sure you're ready for it.

[sandcracker21]

no, I was on SS for 4 months, (it was simply boring after the 3rd month) and I simply can not make workout to workout progress anymore, I am stuck

[Cmanuel]

Texas method sounds like something that could work for you.


And why not throw in the exercises you mentioned? The Texas method is not a template, it is a theory. At least that's what I got out of reading practical programming. Are you looking at that crappy template on the stronglifts site?

[sandcracker21]

i understand its a template, but rippetoe in PP says 5 lifts a workout is pretty much the ceiling, and i agree, as my form and energy gets low after 4-5 core lifts of 3+ sets

If monday is your basic lifting day, and wen. is a recovery day, and friday is a PR day...where can I fit all the lifts I want to do in?

.....unless I put one heavy lift in on wen. that is semi unrelated to what I did on mon. and another one on friday that is not just a PR attempt

im just looking for some input, and so far I have gotten great input, and I am honestly leaning more towards the texas method so far