# Starting Bridge 1.0 after 3 week layoff of Ramadan **URL:** \ **Category:** Programming Discussion\ **Created:** [May 24, 2019, 6:11am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/starting-bridge-1-0-after-3-week-layoff-of-ramadan/5898 "2019-05-24T06:11:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MarlonH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/marlonh/32/1303_2.png) [@MarlonH](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/MarlonH)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 6:11am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/starting-bridge-1-0-after-3-week-layoff-of-ramadan/5898/1 "2019-05-24T06:11:13Z")
Greetings from Charlotte, NC! I started barbell work in July 2018. I’m M, 53 yrs old, 173 lbs, 5’8". My first competition (raw) in April 2019 after training with Texas Method gave: DL: 350 lbs SQ: 325 lbs Bench: 195 lbs I have not continued on TM since reading about the Bridge. Right now, it’s Ramadan (fasting) and i’ve done very limited work in the gym but started tinkering with a few of squat and bench Bridge warm ups. My questions: 1. Ramadan ends in early June, should I be doing some preliminary work before starting the Bridge in early June? 2. My rival/son says that the Bridge is made for guys on juice since the warms ups and short breaks are impossible to proprely recover and build strength for drug-free lifters. Thoughts? My goal by Aug is to do 4 plates on DL and squats and do at least 2 plates on bench. I have anterior shoulder pain, which explains the weak bench but I’m working on that. Thanks, Marlon ---
**Author:** ![Rubendanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Rubendanger](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Rubendanger)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/starting-bridge-1-0-after-3-week-layoff-of-ramadan/5898/2 "2019-05-24T16:18:32Z")
> [@MarlonH](#): > > - Ramadan ends in early June, should I be doing some preliminary work before starting the Bridge in early June? I would start training the main movements now but keep the frequency and intensity at a level that you can recover from. I would also work on your conditioning so that you are prepared to start the bridge. > [@MarlonH](#): > > - My rival/son says that the Bridge is made for guys on juice since the warms ups and short breaks are impossible to proprely recover and build strength for drug-free lifters. Thoughts? LOL no. You will be fine! The programming is well thought out. Enjoy your gainzzz. ---
**Author:** ![ionRod](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/ionrod/32/5557_2.png) [@ionRod](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/ionRod)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 10:09am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/starting-bridge-1-0-after-3-week-layoff-of-ramadan/5898/3 "2019-05-25T10:09:51Z")
> [@MarlonH](#): > > My rival/son says that the Bridge is made for guys on juice since the warms ups and short breaks are impossible to proprely recover and build strength for drug-free lifters. Thoughts? I thought so too until I tried it. If you keep your rests short you body adapts just like with everything. Here is my thought process. Would I be able to lift slightly more weight if I took 7 min rest? Maybe. Would my workouts take more time? Much more! Do I care about that miniscule advantage in the long term? Not at all. Do I care about not spending all my evening in the gym? Yes, yes I do. Overall I consider the ability to recover in short amounts of time after lifting a lot of weight a more useful adaptation than the ability to lift a little bit more weight but spend forever to recover. ---
**Author:** ![MarlonH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/marlonh/32/1303_2.png) [@MarlonH](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/MarlonH)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/starting-bridge-1-0-after-3-week-layoff-of-ramadan/5898/4 "2019-05-25T17:46:15Z")
> [@ionRod](#): > > I thought so too until I tried it. If you keep your rests short you body adapts just like with everything. Here is my thought process. Would I be able to lift slightly more weight if I took 7 min rest? Maybe. Would my workouts take more time? Much more! Do I care about that miniscule advantage in the long term? Not at all. Do I care about not spending all my evening in the gym? Yes, yes I do. > Overall I consider the ability to recover in short amounts of time after lifting a lot of weight a more useful adaptation than the ability to lift a little bit more weight but spend forever to recover. Excellent perspective! I come from an aerobic background so the “workout” is a welcoming one!