weight after cruising?

[BCSO]

Just wondering whaf kind of weight you move after a cruise. Do you lower the weight at all or do you start back up where you left off?

[steel1970]

You would more than likely be more successful in your blast, resetting your weights a bit lower, so you have room to progress upward.....

[Daniel7908]

You would more than likely be more successful in your blast, resetting your weights a bit lower, so you have room to progress upward.....

I think it was Dusty Hanshaw who said a step back ought to be taken before the next three steps are taken forward after a cruise.

[dcwannabee]

If I only take a 7-10 day cruise then I am usually able to start my new blast with the weight i ended with on the old one. However if I take a longer break, like 2 weeks or so, I will have to lower the starting weight a little bit. On widowmakers I also start with my ending weight, but here I really struggle to get the 20 reps, so usually on the first 1-2 leg workouts I fall a couple of reps short.

[slide]

I dont start where I ended on my blast after coming off a cruise...I usually pick a weight I was using near the middle of my blast, depending on how I am feeling and where the reps ended up, etc. Obviously, a key here is knowing your body and what you can handle that will allow for progression. Seems to work well for me.

-slide

[steel1970]

I dont start where I ended on my blast after coming off a cruise...I usually pick a weight I was using near the middle of my blast, depending on how I am feeling and where the reps ended up, etc. Obviously, a key here is knowing your body and what you can handle that will allow for progression. Seems to work well for me.

-slide

Exactly....why chance stalling when you can reset and blast past the previous weights midway thru. If you go right back to your end weights, it's a pretty good chance you will stall or your blast will be short....

[steel1970]

If I only take a 7-10 day cruise then I am usually able to start my new blast with the weight i ended with on the old one. However if I take a longer break, like 2 weeks or so, I will have to lower the starting weight a little bit. On widowmakers I also start with my ending weight, but here I really struggle to get the 20 reps, so usually on the first 1-2 leg workouts I fall a couple of reps short.

Curious as to where your weights are.....if you are advanced, yet still able to do this, you are prob the exception, not the rule.....

Edit: or you could be stopping your blast short.....my blasts end when I feel like my progression is gonna stop and being beat up is just around the corner....now, if I stopped early and was still making great progression, starting a new blast closer to my end weights might work.....

[dcwannabee]

I dont see myself as an advanced trainee, but also not as a beginner. I am properbly somewhere in the middle. I ended my last blast with squatting 430x6.
I usually keep my blasts at around 8 weeks.

[dakota1981]

For myself, there are several factors I consider when outlining my next blast after a cruise.

-How long was my previous blast?
-What lifts did I stall, and what lifts could I have taken further?
-Why did my blast end (Stall, just generally worn out, outside issues, etc)
-How was my rest and diet during my cruise?

Generally speaking, after a cruise (which usually lasts 7 days) I have almost always come back stronger. I sometimes have to do a double check at the log book. If I do use a slightly lighter weight (example: Shoulder press of almost any kind, as to reset the reps to a higher range) I end up crushing the log book based on reps.

I dont know if this is common or the exception. I am interested in others input.

[FNP90]

Sorry, don't mean to butt in, but I have a question:

Is it effective enough to maintain the weight (when starting a new blast) and just drop the reps to the low-end of the rep-range, or does dropping the weight a little seem more effective?


Thanks.

[dakota1981]

FNP90,

When starting a new blast, you will want to position yourself on the high side of the rep scheme. As you progress, the weight will go up and the reps will slightly decrease. For example, you finished your blast with Incline Bench at 315 for 11RP. Starting you next blast at 315 would not be wise. Selecting a weight that will allow you to accomplish 15RP or slightly more should be considered to get yourself back into the higher end of the rep range.

[Sammich]

I found when I really was pounding food, after about a week and a half of cruising, I usually crushed what I did just before I started cruising -- i.e., I got much stronger over the cruise.

But I think for general best results one should go back about 2-3 "rotations" and start from there.

[FNP90]

FNP90,

When starting a new blast, you will want to position yourself on the high side of the rep scheme. As you progress, the weight will go up and the reps will slightly decrease. For example, you finished your blast with Incline Bench at 315 for 11RP. Starting you next blast at 315 would not be wise. Selecting a weight that will allow you to accomplish 15RP or slightly more should be considered to get yourself back into the higher end of the rep range.

Thanks very much, dakota. Makes sense to me.

[db2000]

Another question about coming back into it.

Should the weights feel heavy and you are a little bit weaker than when you come back? Like you are not as coordinated and used to heavy weights on your back and in your hands?

Or should you feel instantly stronger?

[Kidrok (Hop)]

Another question about coming back into it.

Should the weights feel heavy and you are a little bit weaker than when you come back? Like you are not as coordinated and used to heavy weights on your back and in your hands?

Or should you feel instantly stronger?

A cruise should rejuvinate you so that you come back feeling strong and positive. With a slight drop back in the poundage from your pre-cruise workout you should crush your 1st workout back.