The MAB, Classic Physique Challenge.

[jslep]

Originally Posted by glwanabe

I have some more to add to this post.

The Steve Reeves Ideal Body Measurement




Height Weight
5'5" 160lbs
5'6" 165lbs
5'7" 170lbs
5'8" 175lbs
5'9" 180lbs
5'10" 185lbs
5'11" 190lbs
6'0" 200lbs
6'1" 210lbs
6'2" 220lbs
6'3" 230lbs
6'4" 240lbs
6'5" 250lbs

at what % BF

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by jslep

at what % BF

While he doesn't specify (that I know of) it's higher than our standards today. Maybe 10-12% ish?

[glwanabe]

My version of a Reeves intermediate style routine.

This is Reeves intermediate routine.

Steve Reeves’ Intermediate Routine!
Exercise Sets Reps
Dumbbell Swings (warm-ups) 3 15-20
1. Upright Rowing 3 8-12
2. Bench Press 3 8-12
3. One-Arm Dumbbell Rows 3 8-12
4. Dumbbell Laterals/Flyes 3 8-12
5. Incline Press 3 8-12
6. Triceps Pushdown 3 8-12
7. Barbell Curls 3 8-12
8. Seated Dumbbell Curls 3 8-12
9. Regular Squats 3 8-12
(superset with following exercise)
10. Light Barbell Pullovers 3 8-12
11. Breathing Squats 1 20
(superset with following exercise)
12. Breathing Pullovers 1 20
13. Deadlifts 2 8-12
14. Good Mornings 2 8-12

As you can see, that is a lot of work for one session. I've taken the basics of that routine, and split it up into a weeks worth of work that can be done in more reasonable time frame for a single fullbody session. This is still a lot of work and is not for a beginner. You should have several months of fullbody conditioning before attempting this program.

The Reeves Classic Physique, is a solid program that can take you a long way. I would recommend utilizing the Reeves Classic for at least 3-6 months before attempting the intermediate program. Realistically, if your a beginner you could use the classic program for a few years, and make good gains, if you kept progression moving.

This is the the Reeves Classic.

Reeves classic physique

Squat..........3x8-12
BB/DB row........3x8-12....DL 3x5* see note
BHP............3x8-12
Bench.........3x8-12
BB/DB curl...3x8-12
Dips............5x10@BW Try for sets of 10.
BB calf raise 3x15-20
AB work

Perform M-W-F

**On Friday drop BB row and do 3x5 deadlifts** Deadlifts are to be done Reg park style. 2 warmup/ 1 heavy work set.

================================================== =======

Transitioning to this program. Even if you have been doing fullbody for several months this will be a huge workload increase during your week. If you have been doing well on your previous program the last thing you want to do is stall. I would work into this program a little easier at first over the course of a few weeks to a month.

One way to do this is to only do one set of the superset moves for a few weeks.

For instance:

Legs

Squats
3x8-12 /superset pullovers 25lbs
On Monday following squats
1x8-10 SLDL


Back

BB/DB rows 3x8-12/ super set wide grip chins.
2x8-12 row
wide grip chin BWx10
1x8-12 row
Drop this last set of chins


Shoulders

BHP Shoulders superset
2x8-12 bhnp
1x12 upright row, light flush
1x8-12 bhnp
Drop this last set of upright rows


The variable rep scheme has been around for a long time. It offers the advantage of a built in deload after you reach the top rep range. If your not familiar with how to work it, this is one way.

Pick a weight that you can just get a

3x8 set-rep completed.

Each session try to do at least one more rep total than you did the last time. Continue building reps until you are doing,

3x12 set-rep completion.

At this point you add weight. Generally, I would add 10lbs for lower body moves, and 5lbs for upper body moves. You will have actually increased your strength to the point that those increases will not feel like very much weight. You still want to go back to doing 8 reps, and build back up. You may find that you can add a rep or two for each set after adding weight. This is fine, but I would not do more than a two rep increase per set. The deload is an important part of not stalling.

You will build back up to the 12 rep set fairly fast after adding weight, and be adding weight again within a couple weeks. It is not uncommon to follow a pattern of a slower hard climb in reps, followed by a faster easier climb, and then again a slower harder climb.

Going up by smaller weight increases can be a very valuable way of working this set-rep scheme.

You could choose to only go up by 5lbs for lower body work, and 2.5lbs or even less for upper body work. Even these seemingly very small weight increases are actually a lot of weight lifted during the course of a weeks worth of lifting.

The worst thing you can do is let your ego have you make too big a weight jump. You will kill your momentum if you increase your weight too much.



The routine

__________________________________________________ _______________

LEGS SECTION

M-W-F

Squats
3x8-12 /superset pullovers 25lbs

On Monday following squats
2x8-10 SLDL


On Wednesday following squats.
1x20 squat flush set.

========================================
BACK SECTION

Do this on Monday

BB/DB rows 3x8-12/ super set wide grip chins.
2x8-12 row
wide grip chin BWx10
1x8-12 row
wide grip chin BWx10

Do this on Wed

BB/DB rows
3x8-12 row


On Friday.

2x10. med wt. deads, and chins.

Would look like
2x10 deads
3x BW sets wide grip chins


Consider doing both DB and BB rows throughout the week. Find what feels comfortable for you, and alternate which days you do the DB and BB rows on. You might find you like to do DB rows as the superset row move, and perform BB rows on Wed. Find what works best for you.


========================================

SHOULDERS


Do this on Monday-Friday
BHP Shoulders
3x8-12 bhnp

On Wednesday do this.

BHP Shoulders superset
2x8-12 bhnp
1x12 upright row, light flush
1x8-12 bhnp
1x12 upright row, light flush


Performing upright rows.

Use a wider than shoulder width grip, and only pull until your upper arms are parallel to the ground. With your arms at the correct width at the top of the pull your arms should be roughly bent at 90 degrees. This is a medial delt move more than anything, but you will have some trap involvement.

========================================
M-W-F

Bench press
BB/DB3x8-12

BB/DB curl
3x8-12

Dips
5x BW sets

Calf raise
3x15-20

AB work

[strkout35]

i'm lovin' it. liking the extra work to spice things up. is there no shoulder work on fridays?

[glwanabe]

Originally Posted by strkout35

i'm lovin' it. liking the extra work to spice things up. is there no shoulder work on fridays?

Yes there is. I had to hit enter or lose my work. Let me look it over, and make sure I have it all in there. This has been a lot work, to get it how I like it.

[glwanabe]

We are about 1 week away from the official start date of the Challenge

So far I have these members as participating utilizing a fullbody program.

BTB, His own routine.

Bamazav Reg Park , Bama's set/rep scheme

Coopdawg Reeves classic

Glwanabe Reeves classic, elements of the intermediate mixed in.

Jslep Eder Hybrid

Strykout Reeves classic



If I have forgotten anybody let me know.

This looks like it will be a great training cycle for all of us.

I plan to take new stats next week, and post those up. Looking forward to the next few months of training with you all.

[CoopDawg]

mY home gym will be setup at just the right time then i get everything tomorrow just gotta do a lil cleanin in the shop and by saturday christmas ill be ready

[bamazav]

I made a few tweaks to my routine that starts next week. Rather than 3 working sets and two high rep chasers, I will do 4 working sets and one chaser. For a fuller description see the attached spreadsheet.

[glwanabe]

Originally Posted by bamazav

I made a few tweaks to my routine that starts next week. Rather than 3 working sets and two high rep chasers, I will do 4 working sets and one chaser. For a fuller description see the attached spreadsheet.

That looks like a solid plan Bama. Starting gun is in the air, just waiting for the trigger pull.

[bamazav]

Originally Posted by glwanabe

That looks like a solid plan Bama. Starting gun is in the air, just waiting for the trigger pull.

I am itching to get going. Gonna take this week to recover and rest up to hit it hard. I want to figure out some accessory work to use and prepare to blast at the sound of the gun.