There are two distinct types of lifters: those who follow programs, and those who prefer to train "instinctively." People who come from athletic backgrounds tend to use the programming approach, while bodybuilders or general fitness folk are more likely to train by instinct.
However, those who program their training still make constant, instinctive adjustments to their training, and even the most disorganized-looking lifters still have some structure to their workouts if you look hard enough.
This is a good thing. There are problems with being too rigid, and an entirely different set of issues can result from not having sufficient structure.
First, programming is a form of forecasting. The problem? Athletic readiness is tricky to predict. Second, many people aren't particularly monogamous. It's human nature to be attracted to anything new.
Being too improvisational carries its own set of problems, the most obvious being that the principle of specificity must be respected to create a specific adaptation. Also, psychological factors come into play. Some are very comfortable with constant routine, while others quickly find themselves looking for that "new car smell."
Neither outlook is intrinsically good or bad – the key is to recognize your personal tendencies and then work with them, rather than trying to plug yourself into an unsustainable format.
You need to find the "sweet spot" – having enough variety to satisfy your wandering eye but not so much that you'll destroy the structure that's responsible for creating results.
Here are five hacks that'll help satisfy your desire for variety while still staying true to a program that'll keep you on track for results.
This first hack simply gives you permission to "wander," but only after you've eaten your vegetables, so to speak. Applying this idea is as simple as it sounds. Your first exercises (and I suggest you limit this to no more than two per session) are what you need to do, not necessarily what you want to do. In other words you're going to get your work done before you "play." An example might look like this:
In this manner, it's not all work and no play, but the "work" always comes first. What's nice about this approach is that you won't be overwhelmed by a long list of exercises since you know that you only have one or two "must-do's."
And more often than not, once the compulsories are completed, you'll likely continue to the optional exercises since you'll be warmed up and (hopefully) spurred on from a good performance on the compulsory movements.
One of the best examples of this tactic can be seen in Jim Wendler's very effective 5/3/1 program. On each "core" exercise, during the last work set, you're encouraged (but not required) to do more than the indicated number of reps. So for example on 5-3-1 week the program calls for 5 reps with 75%, 3 reps with 85%, and finally, 1 or more reps with 95%.
The psychology behind this approach is masterful. Since you aren't required to do additional reps, you're not stressed out by the thought of going for broke on the final set, which increases the likelihood that you'll actually do it.
Also, if the indicated number of reps on the last set seems too easy, you won't go looking for another program because you have permission to do more reps if you feel up to it.
Using this method, I recently pulled a 9RM PR with 375 pounds while using Wendler's 5/3/1 format. I was on 5/3/1 week and my last set was designated as 375 x 1 or more:
These extra optional reps build confidence and work capacity for future workouts, and are also a "cheap" way to get new PR's.
This might strike you as similar to the idea of using optional exercises (and it is), but there's a difference. I use this tactic a lot when employing "timed singles" when preparing for weightlifting or powerlifting meets.
This approach calls for using (as an example) 10 moderately heavy singles with short (typically one-minute) rest intervals, and very small (usually 2.5-pound) load progressions from workout to workout.
This approach is very methodical and requires a high degree of patience because, although each workout leads to new PR's, they're very small PR's. Most trainees find themselves itching to do something heavier, if only to reassure themselves that they're really getting stronger.
That's where reward sets come in. Let's say you perform 10 power cleans with 225 pounds in 10 minutes, with no misses. If you feel compelled to do so, you're allowed to take one heavier set, just to scratch the itch so to speak.
So maybe you take a single with 250 and call it a day. Then, next power clean session, you bump your 10 singles up to 230 pounds.
On any given workout, you only get your reward if you make your 10 singles with no misses, within the allotted time period. If you miss any of your singles, then you repeat using the same weight next session (that's your "punishment").
Typically, this concept would be applied to auxiliary or "assistance" exercises, where the training target is hypertrophy or developing work capacity.
For example, let's say you've just finished deadlifts and now you're ready to move on to chins. Last time you did 5 sets of 5 reps with bodyweight only, and you've got to decide how you're going to increase the challenge today. Obviously there are a lot of choices to pick from, but you don't have to limit yourself to just one.
Instead, why not allow yourself to choose between (say) three types of progression strategies each time you do chins?
Check these out:
There are certainly other progression strategies to choose from, but again, the idea is to give you a few different options, and pick whatever seems the most "doable" on any given session.
Randomness isn't entirely a bad thing; you just need a bit of structure to keep things from getting out of hand. Get yourself a pair of dice (or use a web-based app like from Random.org).
Use roll die to select the exercise you'll do next. Just assign values for each die like so:
Use this method as a good way of forcing you to perform valuable drills that you might not otherwise do, but it can also just be a fun way to inject some variety into your program as well.
You can also roll a second die to randomize your loading parameters for the exercise you just chose. However, care must be taken to ensure that all six loading parameters can be applied to all six exercise choices.
For example, if you assign "10 x 1" as one option, it obviously wouldn't apply very well to at least five, if not all six exercises above.
While I certainly haven't exhausted all the various possibilities that can be applied, I've found these five strategies to be among the most effective.
When considering any of them, however, it's important to remember that structure is what pays the bills, but variety is what keeps you coming back day after day.
Therefore, use these strategies judiciously, and don't get so carried away that your workouts become excessively random. Find a solid program first (some of the best ever conceived can be found right here at T Nation), and then use these hacks as needed to help stay the course.
Ask Me Anything I receive great questions in my T Nation Community Coaching Lab. If…
Ask Me Anything I get a lot of great questions in my T Nation Community…
An Exaggerated Warm-Up Isn't Helpful I don't know when the lengthy warm-up became a thing,…
Training and Your Metabolic State When I think "workout," I think of speeds. Your metabolic…