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Reverse Pyramid Method for Bench Press

This document provides guidelines and a workout routine for increasing bench press strength over 8 weeks. The routine involves doing bench press and other chest exercises in a reverse pyramid format, starting with a max triple and subsequent heavy sets of 8-10 reps. It also outlines a full-body 3 day per week routine involving exercises for back/biceps, shoulders/triceps, and additional chest work. Sticking to the routine, eating well, getting rest, and maintaining a positive attitude are emphasized for achieving strength gains over the 8 week period.

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Pablo Curia
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
44 views3 pages

Reverse Pyramid Method for Bench Press

This document provides guidelines and a workout routine for increasing bench press strength over 8 weeks. The routine involves doing bench press and other chest exercises in a reverse pyramid format, starting with a max triple and subsequent heavy sets of 8-10 reps. It also outlines a full-body 3 day per week routine involving exercises for back/biceps, shoulders/triceps, and additional chest work. Sticking to the routine, eating well, getting rest, and maintaining a positive attitude are emphasized for achieving strength gains over the 8 week period.

Uploaded by

Pablo Curia
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The human body is like a machine for it to last longer it has to be tuned properly.

This has to
be done with the up most care and work. The purpose of this report is to put you at your goal of
increasing your bench press through a variety of exercises. To do this you must work HARD and be
willing to push yourself to failure of each set. With this routine your strength will improve each week
with peaks coming on the 8th week. Here are some basic guidelines you to follow.

1: EAT A WELL BALANCED MEAL DURING THE 8 WEEKS.


Do not diet to lose weight during this routine. A thin person should concentrate on foods high in
proteins and carbohydrates as much as possible. This will put inches of muscle on all parts of your
body. For the heavier person maintain your workout and eat a nutritious meal to replace the vitamins
7 minerals you need to stay healthy.

2: GET PLENTY OF REST AND SLEEP.


Get a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Rest gives the body time to rebuild muscle fibers
and replenish its energy by converting complex carbohydrates into glucose which creates glycogen
the main source of energy for the body.

3: KEEP A HAPPY OPTIMISTIC ATTITUDE.


Stress can cause fatigue which leads to lack of energy. Start you workout with a positive attitude.
Knowing within a short time you will see the result. Do not do any exercise other than what is on the
workout schedule for the day’s routine.

Below is the workout that I have developed & used for 17 years straight. I have personally come up
with routine through trial and error along with smalls tips I have picked up over the years all
compounded into 1 routine. I have had my share of peaks and valleys before this routine was finally
developed and realized how well it worked. As I was in dire need for a new workout and after 1 year
of hard dedicated workouts I went backwards 20 pounds I realized it was time to try something new.

The 1st 2 weeks I used this routine I went up 20 lbs and felt great. And after 6 weeks I was up 50 lbs.
I have used routine since 1994. My best bench press is 585lbs @ a body weight of 214 lbs done in
Elizabeth City in May of 2002. I also did a 560 lb bench press at Bench America in Chicago on July
5th, 2003 @ 212 lb body weight. In 2005 I hit 500 lbs RAW for the 1st time in competition in New
England record breakers meet while in the 220lb weight class. In 2006 I hit a 515lb bench at the
100% RAW Worlds and in 2006 I hit 530lbs RAW at the 100% RAW Worlds which has been my best
RAW lift to date. This is done 100% DRUG FREE.
I have named this routine the REVERSE PYRAMID METHOD.
This routine is called the REVERSE PYRAMID METHOD. It is designed for the lifter to utilize their full
power & strength before fatigue and burn out occurs during the workout. The body uses ATP &
Glycogen as its main source of energy when under extreme stress when heavy lifting or sprinting is
performed. There are many variables that come into play when a person goes into the gym to
workout that can affect their workout for the day. Things such as stress, what you ate last night or
today, how hard you worked today at work, were you outside in the heat working all day, are you
coming down with a flu or bug, relationship problems, amount of sleep you got are a few to mention.
These variables can cause you to lose repetitions during the workout and falsely make you feel like
you are getting weaker. Although with this REVERSE PYRAMID METHOD these variables will not
affect you because your body has enough glycogen & ATP stored to do 1 set of 3. The reason I say 1
set of 3 is because a set of 3 keeps your top end max weight without over training.

In a good powerlifting routine you only need to do each body part once a week and let the muscles
rest and recover before putting the heavy demands back on them. You do not want to take off so
much time the muscles begin to atrophy. Guys that try to max each week will over-train and go
backwards after a few weeks. Strength is made when you do sets of (6-10) repetitions using push to
failure. You need to get a certain amount of work in before you tax the muscles and totally break
them down. This routine is for the DRUG FREE LIFTER who wants to make gains the old fashion
way and earn them. This workout is a 3-day routine which will allow your body the time it needs to
rest & recover and replenish its ATP & Glycogen levels for the next workout. When doing this routine
remember that number of repetitions I suggest. Mostly I use (8-10) reps and when I hit 11 reps that is
when I move up on the weight. When I do my 1 triple (1x3) each week at the beginning of my workout
I will only go up if I do 4 reps and this is how I judge my progress.

This routine is for the Drug free lifter who understands that gains are made over a period of time not
over night. Yes you will hit a times were you will be stuck on a weight for a while but remember it
takes time and dedication, just keep fighting through it. You will not over train with this routine as you
will always stay strong and ready. We have a saying we say in the federation “ IXL so can you, there
are no limits drug free”. That saying came Greg Stott the founder of Team iXL.

Good luck and let me know how you like this workout.

Monday (Chest)
Bench
Warm-ups “what ever you need to do to warm up”
Set 1 (1x3) Reps Max weight were 3 is the limit and if you get 4 move up next week.
Set 2 (8x10) Reps “When you get 11 Reps Move up (5-10lbs)
Set 3 (8x10) Reps “When you get 11 Reps Move up (5-10lbs)
Set 4 (8x10) Reps “When you get 11 Reps Move up (5-10lbs)
Set 5 (8x10) Pauses, Have your partner give you the press signal after bar is motionless.

Incline
3 – Sets of (8x10) Reps “When you get 11 Reps Move up (5-10lbs)

Decline
3 – Sets of (8x10) Reps “When you get 11 Reps Move up (5-10lbs)
Tuesday (Back & Biceps)
Bicep
3 – Sets (8x10) Reps Curls Inside on EZ curl Bar
3 – Sets (8x10) Reps Curls Outside on EZ curl Bar
3 - Sets Dumbell Preacher Curls
3 – Sets (8x10) Double Bicep Pull Down
2 – Sets Pull-ups MAX OUT

Back
3 – Sets (8x10) Lat Pull Down
3 – Sets (8x10) Reps Low Row
3 – Sets (8x10) Bent over rows

Wednesday (Shoulders & Triceps)


Shoulder Press
4 – Sets (8x10) Reps

Forward Lateral Raises


3 – Sets (10x12) Reps

Reverse Cable Extensions


3 – Sets (10x12) Reps

Close Grip Bench


4 – Sets (8x10) Reps

French Curls
3 – Sets (8x10) Reps

Triceps Extensions
4 – Sets (8x10) Reps

Dips
2 Sets of Max

Thursday
Board Presses 3” Board
5 – Sets (3x5) Reps

Deadlifts
2 – Sets 10 Reps Light Weight 225LBS

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