HLM vs. Bridge 2.0 - Anyone done both?

Other Discussions Programming Discussion
1

Coming off the hypertrophy programme and looking to pick up the HLM or Bridge 2.0 template next. Has anyone done both and could give me some high level ideas on how they compare? I see them frequently suggested as an “either/or” option so intrigued to know similarities / differences including if they both take around the same time to complete a session.

Thank you

2

They are very similar…

The Bridge 2.0 has instructions on changing things around for more of a press focus vs the default of slightly more of a bench focus, which I really appreciated. HLM has a little more volume in the first half for the major exercises, and a more extreme “realization”/specialization phase, going to sets of 3 on the last couple of weeks. I.E., targeted at a slightly more advanced user than the Bridge 2.0, which makes a ton of sense given the names of the programs.

3

I have tried both the Bridge 1.0 and the HLM template. The HLM template was harder for me. I felt like I had been run over by a truck by weeks 7-8, but my presses and deadlift both responded much better on the HLM template than the Bridge. My work capacity improved more on the bridge and I had more energy outside the gym. I’m a 40 year old man, ~210lbs.

4

Thanks both for replies!

:hushed: have downloaded HLM, bring on the truck!

In the HLM intro video Jordan mentions something like “if you’re coming off the bridge you can go straight into week 2” development week rather than start in the low stress wk 1. Can anyone flesh that out for me? Feeling alright coming off the hypertrophy template but would be good to know if worthwhile starting on low stress or just getting straight into wk2.

Thanks

5

I expect the idea is that since the last week of The Bridge is a “low stress” week, doing a second low stress week from the beginning of the HLM template isn’t necessary. That was the logic I read for discarding Week 1 running The Bridge a second time in a row. The answer to whether skip HLM Week 1 would be dependent on what you did immediately prior to starting HLM rather than if you’ve ever done The Bridge before in your life.

6

Got it, thanks!