What do you think of running a low rep strength program and then after 8-12 weeks, switching to a higher rep hypertrophy-based program and then after a similar interval, switching back to another strength program thus sustaining a 8-12 week cycle of switching between strength/hypertrophy training. Are there any innate advantages or disadvantages to doing this, rather than running one style of programming for a longer period of time? i.e. running a strength program continually for more than 12 weeks without switching to a higher rep program and vice versa.
I ask because I discovered that I enjoy switching up the rep schemes in my lifts after a program has come its end. I am also not competing so have no hard strength targets to hit.
This is a viable strategy and we often recommend folks alternate the hypertrophy and strength templates, though it’s not advisable to do this ad infinitum.
It’s unlikely that an individual will see continued results with alternating the same two programs over and over again. I typically program GPP/Conditioning focused blocks in the rotation or strength blocks back to back.
If one were to program two strength blocks back to back, would you recommend cutting out the taper and peak for one of them? For example if one were to run Strength I twice in a row, maybe running the first 10 weeks the first time and then all 13 the second time?
If one is primarily (or at least equally) concerned with hypertrophy as compared to strength, would you likewise recommend running multiple hypertrophy blocks in a row? Maybe Hypertrophy—> Powerbuilding —> Strength?
I am thinking of running cycles of Hypertrophy1 and Powerbuilding1 eventually followed by Hyper2 and PB2. My goals are split between hypertrophy and strength with more biased towards hypertrophy right now. I assume the jump to 4-day versions has the increase in frequency, volume and exercise selection to keep driving the progress?