Skipping the Break In?

[chownrus]

Hi all,

Just picked up NRoL, and was wondering if I should skip the break in, since my current routine is similar in style to some of the more advanced workouts:

A-Day
Hang Clean 4x3
Front Squat 4x10,8,6,4

Superset : 4x10,8,6,4
Barbell Push Press
Pull Up
Medicine Ball Push Ups
Barbell Row

Wood Chop


B-Day
Muscle Snatch 4x3
Romanian Deadlift 4x 10,8,6,4

Superset: 4x10,8,6,4
DB Overhead Press
Mixed-Grip Chin-Ups
DB Bench Press
Inverted Rows (Close grip)

Plank

Thanks for the Input!

[BJones]

How consistent have you been in working out the last 3 months? Which program are you planning to do?

I would guess most people here would say stick with the program. I just finished the Break-in - so I'm certainly no expert - but if you have been working out consistently and have good core fitness, it doesn't seem that skipping it would be that big of a deal. I hadn't been working out consistently, so it was crucial.

Since the Break-In is aimed at preparing you for the exercises that will follow, you might look at the Break-In exercises to see if you're doing comparable exercises.

Squats - yes
Lunges - ?
DB row - yes
Push up - yes
Swiss ball crunch - ?

Deadlift - yes
Step up - ?
DB one-arm Shoulder press - yes
Lat pulldown - yes
Reverse crunch - ?

I don't really know how to compare the plank and woodchop to the core exercises in the Break-in. And I don't know how to compare the step-ups and lunges with what you were doing.

So...I guess I haven't done you any good at all. I'm interested in what those who know what they are talking about will have to say about this.

Good luck!

[chownrus]

Thanks for the reply.

I've been working out consistently for the last 18 months, (Lost 40 lbs and went from 30% bf to around 12%).

The routine I described is part of a 4-cycle program which also included lunges, step-ups, etc (everything except the swiss-ball stuff).

I'd like to get my bodyfat down to single digits and put on a few pounds of muscle (going to PV in December), so I'm planning on starting w/ Fat loss I --> Hypertrophy I ---> Fat loss II (Beach) --> Strength I ---> Hypertrophy II ---> Strength II ---> Hypertrophy III ---> Fat Loss III ---> Strength III.

Lifting 3 times per week (Tu, Th, Sat) plus training BJJ twice per week.

BTW. I'll be working out at home, so I'll be substituting for the cable stuff as follows:

Cable row == barbell row or inverted row (surprised that on isn't in the book)

Pulldown == Pull-up / chin up (use whichever grip is recommended)

Wood Chop == ????????

[BJones]

Congratulations! In the last 18 months, you have accomplished exactly what I want to do. It sounds like you've got it together...and I would think that you don't need what Break-In is intended to do.

Hopefully, some of the veterans here will start chiming in on substitutions for you.

[Lisa~]

Originally Posted by chownrus

Wood Chop == ????????

Either choose a rotational MB wall slam or choose an anti-rotator movement like elbow touches.

I think you should go right into the programs and skip the break-in. It's mostly to familiarize you with the squat, deadlift, and single-leg movements and get your conditioning up to a point where you're ready to lift 3x/week. I think you're already there, don't you? Unless you think you need some technique work on your squat and conventional dead, just dive into FL1.