Doing strenght training and singles all the time

Training Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hi,

After 2 years of consistent training, I have learned that I simply love basic strenght training. Hypertrophy and powerbuilding type of stuff just is not as fun, and it is not super important to me that I train 100% optimally all the time (I assume here, that if my ultimate goal is to be super strong and healthy, it would be most optimal to do hypertrophy blocks sometimes). I just want to be safe and be crazy strong after 10 years. Hence, I would like to continue my training with using your basic powerlifting and strenghtlifting templates, because I am a boring person who likes to repeat same old stuff over and over again. And besides, they have so much volume that it is hard to imagine that they would not cause some hypertrophy along the way.

However, I have two questions in my mind. (1.) In general, is it OK to just keep cycling your strenght programs if it enjoy it, and if I do not test my ultimate 1rm:s after every single program? (2.) Is it OK to just keep doing singles all time long (if not, how long time should I train without them? For example, after completing a normal strengh program, such as Strenght 3, would it be better to take a break from singles for a month or something like that?), and (3.) is it OK to just keep low bar squatting and deadlifting conventionally until im dead, or should I change these comp lifts on regular basis?

First two worries are not based on anywhere else than my gut feelings. Doing basic strength (meaning here: your programs, I do not have any reasons to change) training and singles all the time just feels somehow wrong. The third question is at least based on somewhere, namely, on Mike Israetel’s youtube videos :slight_smile: In one his video, he talks about injury risk, and if I understood correctly, his main point was that if one just keep doing one excercise with one particular style (such as low bar squatting), your injury risk goes way up. However, is there a problem if I vary my accessory lifts on the regular basis (high bar squats, front squats, sumo dl, tempo dl etc.) and keep my main comp lifts same all the time?

Thanks!

2

Ollip,

1-3) Sure, if you want to and are getting good results.

I don’t think doing singles all the time is likely the best way to train for long-term strength development from a programming standpoint, but admittedly there’s some of my own personal preference bleeding into that recommendation.

I do think that exercise variation is a good idea in general, but I think for a competitive powerlifter an argument can be made to keep the comp lifts the same for the majority of the training year.

-Jordan

3

Hi,

Thanks for quick reply. In a general sense, I think that my own training and goals resembles those of a competitive powerlifter, but I just do not compete. Its like “powerlifting for fun”. If there is nothing wrong in principle wrong to approach my training in this manner, I just continue doing things as I like. I probably just leave singles out for a month (or something like that) after I have tested my 1 rep maxes, and change my main lifts if there becomes a need to do so (frequent pain or something like that).

Thanks and merry christmas!

4

Cheers and Happy Holidays!