low-intensity phase coincides with the period off drugs. Some abusers,
however, even take drugs when they are “off,” because they lose so much size
otherwise.Cycle breakdown
. Focusing on the single-progression scheme—fixed target reps for each exer-
cise, though not necessarily the same rep target for each exercise—here is
a breakdown of a cycle. e breakdown applies to the double-progression
scheme, too, but instead of frequently adding a little weight you add larger
amounts much less frequently. In the weeks between the poundage incre-
ments in the double-progression method, you build up your reps from the
low end of your rep range to the upper end.a. Preparation, and form consolidation
. e first stage of a training cycle, following a layoff for – days in order
to get fully rested and recovered from your previous cycle, has you using
weights – lighter than your most recent best working poundages. is
gives you a running start. With the stress at this stage not being on squeez-
ing out all possible reps, you can focus on developing (or consolidating, if
your form is already good) perfect exercise technique and rep grooves, and
excellent concentration. In addition, your mind and body get a break from
full-bore training.. One of the many snags of jumping straight into full-bore work for a new
program is that exercise form is not well learned or consolidated, and it
quickly breaks down to some degree, inviting injury. is especially applies
to people who train without hands-on expert coaching—i.e., nearly all
trainees.. Your training volume, unless you are a rank beginner, may be at its great-
est during the first few weeks of a cycle, though still modest relative to the
norms of conventional training. As the severity of training increases over
the course of the cycle, the volume of work may be reduced in terms of the
number of work sets you do for each exercise, the number of exercises you
perform, and perhaps the frequency of training.b. Second stage
. Over the first stage of a cycle the poundages are quite quickly built back
to about of your previous best working weights. en during the next