Fire Your Trainer
Q: "Hey James, love your blog! Quick question:
"I am currently doing a 5×5, 4 times a week routine per your site, and recently got sick and have been backtracked this week. Normally train Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and this week I got a slight cold on Sunday, and haven’t been able to go to the gym.
"Thankfully today Wednesday I am feeling a lot better, but I am already behind for my routine for the week. My question is, what is a good quick training routine you would recommend to someone in my situation? Say once or twice this week, in order to basically maintain strength, or not lose their progress in the gym?
"I’ll probably adjust weights for next week depending on how I feel, but it would be great to stay at the level I was, or not lose much progress from this backtrack. Thanks for addressing my question, and thanks for the great information!"
Regards,
Jenaro L. Jimenez
My Answer: It’s a tricky thing when you get sick, but when you’ve recovered, just resume your program from where you left off. Since you coming off a mini-layoff, however, I suggest you cut the volume down to half and not train to failure. Jumping right back into the program full force would be too much of a shock for your system.
In other words, if you’re doing 5×5, then you should bring it down to 3 sets of 5 reps with a weight you can do 6-8 reps with. Next week when you feel better, resume the 5×5 program.
Q: "I have read your article on Bodybuilding.com and was wondering whether you are able to advise me further. My name is Darren Chan, originally from Malaysia (Chinese). I am currently working in London and have been going to the gym for almost 4 weeks now. However, I am definitely an ectomorph. I have been working out a lot and even have a personal trainer, but I am unable to achieve my personal goal of getting stronger and having six pack abs. Would you able to advise me further what do I need to do?”
Thanks,
Darren
My Answer: Why do I feel like my long lost cousins have been coming out of the woodwork lately to hit me up for training advice? Anyway, Darren, I don’t know anything about your diet or your training, so how can I advise you on what to do? I will tell you this, though: 4 weeks is not enough time to get you six pack abs if you’re not pushing yourself. You should, however, be getting stronger.
Having a trainer doesn’t mean anything, because most trainers don’t know jack. Bottom line if you’re not getting stronger from week to week after one month, then you should fire your trainer.
