So, you’ve completed your initial test and you’re keen to start the program? Great!
- If you managed 6 or less dips in the test, follow column 1.
- If you completed between 7 and 13 dips, column 2 is for you.
- Between 14 and 26 consecutive dips? Impressive! Column 3 is what you’re looking for.
- More than 26 dips? I would suggest starting the program on Week 3.
For example: let’s say you managed 10 dips. Looking at the second column, Day 1 begins with Set 1 (6 dips), a rest period of 60 seconds, before moving on to Set 2 (6 dips). Rest for 60 seconds and continue with Set 3 (5 dips) and Set 4 (5 dips), before finishing with Set 5 and as many consecutive dips as you can comfortably manage (at least 6, but not so many that you damage muscle tissue). The 60 seconds rest between each level should allow you to complete the workout, but you’ll probably experience some minor fatigue towards the end.
Treat yourself to a rest day before moving on to Day 2, and then again before you complete Day 3. I find that Monday, Wednesday, Friday works well and allows you to use the weekend for rest and recovery before moving on to the next stage of the program. Feel free to juggle the plan around to meet your busy schedule, but make sure you rest in between workout days.
|
DAY 1
REST 60 SECONDS BETWEEN EACH SET (LONGER IF REQUIRED) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| up to 6 dips | 7 – 13 dips | 14 – 26 dips | |
| SET 1 | 3 | 6 | 13 |
| SET 2 | 4 | 6 | 15 |
| SET 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| SET 4 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| SET 5 | max (at least 4) | max (at least 6) | max (at least 12) |
|
DAY 2
REST 90 SECONDS BETWEEN EACH SET (LONGER IF REQUIRED) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| SET 1 | 4 | 8 | 13 |
| SET 2 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| SET 3 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
| SET 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 |
| SET 5 | max (at least 5) | max (at least 9) | max (at least 15) |
|
DAY 3
REST 120 SECONDS BETWEEN EACH SET (LONGER IF REQUIRED) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| SET 1 | 5 | 10 | 14 |
| SET 2 | 6 | 13 | 19 |
| SET 3 | 5 | 9 | 12 |
| SET 4 | 5 | 9 | 12 |
| SET 5 | max (at least 6) | max (at least 13) | max (at least 16) |
Hopefully you made it safely through the first week and now you’re keen to move on to Week 2. However, if for some reason you struggled with the program, I would suggest either retaking the initial test or repeating Week 1. You’ll probably be surprised at how much stronger you already are and will sail through the first week and be fired up and raring to go.
If you’re ready to move on, let’s take a look at Week 2 of the one fifty dips program.