The article title sounds silly but believe me, not enough people bother to remember this let alone understand it. Like in anything that you do, you have to work your way up to it and time it correctly. Boxers don't punch hard throughout the whole round (although it seems like it sometimes), they work their opponent around and wait for the right time to throw the big knockout punch. To be a weightlifter, you're also going to have to learn how to peak your body.

Everything is in a cycle. I'm sure you've heard of these programs before. 10 week cycles, 16 week cycles, etc. Some promise you more size, others promise you strength. Whatever it is, it takes time. And requires you to think with long-term mindset when working out. Too many lifters are lifting with that "today" or "right-now" mindset. Lift hard NOW! Lift hard TODAY! This is wrong. The PRO's don't do that and neither should you. Professional bodybuilders and powerlifters all use cycles. They start light and as the weeks go by, they finish heavy. And on the last week, they time it so that they are at their strongest point! What happens after that? A rest period, and then a new cycle begins but now they're much stronger. The whole thing is a series of steps where the athlete changes from workout to workout and prepares himself for the next big step.

 Here are some things that you might not know about: Bodybuilders are usually very FAT and UGLY looking during their off-season. That's when thy're giving the muscles, liver, kidneys, and the rest of their body a break. Professional boxers and fighters are also "out-of-shape" in between their fights. It's not because of laziness. It's because their body needs a break. The first step to become a successful weightlifter is to understand that the weightload and working out takes a toll on your body and that it isn't natural! The easiest indicator that something isn't natural is your body's inability to do it everyday! Can you imagine yourself extremely heavy weights everyday? I sure as hell can't. My muscles would've been torn apart. Taking those supplements constantly will also ruin your liver. Your body isn't made to break down all those hormones, proteins, and toxic stuff. Everyone takes a break and so should you.

So how do cycles work? Easy, for the most part a powerlifter looking to increase his bench press would use this routine below:

Max Goal = 250lbs

Week 1 = 160lbs x 10reps
Week 2 = 170lbs x 9reps
Week 3 = 180lbs x 8reps
Week 4 = 190lbs x 7reps
Week 5 = 200lbs x 6reps
Week 6 = 210lbs x 5reps
Week 7 = 220lbs x 4reps
Week 8 = 230lbs x 3reps
Week 9 = 240lbs x 2reps
Week 10 = 250lbs x 1rep MAX!

It really IS that simple! The routine works. Your body starts out light and peaks out at the end of the cycle. I can't even count the number of times I've seen a beginner start at the heaviest weight his body can push, we'll say 200lbs and then try to force his way to the top. I'll watch someone benchpress 200lbs 3 sets of 5 reps for months straight and then quit because he isn't getting any stronger. I always say to myself when I look at these guys, "Man they're making the same mistake I did years ago." It's true. I did the exact same thing. I even read and knew all about the cycle routines but I never bothered with them. I kept thinking that my body was different, was special and that I could do it MY WAY. Well, 2 years later my benchpress max was stil the same and I began to try the routine. Sure a 10-week cycle seems to take forever, but it DOES work and you WILL see an improvement. Increasing your benchpress max by only 20 pounds in 10 weeks may not seem like much but if you keep up that rate of improvement over time, you will amaze yourself! I guess the problem is that too many beginners are caught up in their early success when they use to make quick gains and increased weight and reps every single week. Once they began to peak out, they kept thinking that their body could do the same but they couldn't.

The final advice, again, you need to use a cycle! Any cycle. I don't care what you use. Stop tryign to force yourself everyday. Time it so that you peak out at the end and then give yourself a break. Your body isn't made to be giving it 100% every single day for months straight. Rest, go light, then heavy, and then peak. Training hard doesn't always have to mean high intensity.

Feel free to look on our site for training cyle routines and good luck!

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