Thoughts on #39?

[kgm]

I am almost finished with my 2nd cycle of sheiko and wanted to get some feedback from those who might have run #39 in the past, or the sheiko vets's opinions on how the cycle looks.

My first cycle was #29 with several substitutions. My second cycle was #39 with less subs. I am working off of ChaseT's spreadsheet.

From the looks and feel of #39 it seems more assistance work oriented. The loading of both (29&39) last weeks is exactly the same, but the volume on the other weeks is generally less for #39. I really like the layout of the assistance work on #39. While I could set up the assistance similarly for #29 it would almost seem to be too much with the main lifts being so high. My main concern on the main lifts in #39 is the lack of higher bench intensity, but it still offers some hard work so I am not worried.

I guess I really don't have any direct questions, but rather just some feedback or random thoughts on they cycle. If you have any questions for my go ahead and shoot.

[joeldibattista]

I think #39 is just a variation of #29 where some assistance has been used to replace some of the fundamental lifts. I don't think the program is written by Sheiko himself as some of the assistance doesn't appear in any of his other programs (e.g. pistol squats).

Personally, I think this is getting away from the essence of the Sheiko programs. If you give it a go, let us know how you get on.

[kgm]

Joel, thanks for your speculations. I just reviewed #29 vs #39 and I think you are right about some assistance has replaced some main lifts. In addition the reps have been lowered on the deadlifts, which goes hand in hand with how I felt about #39. That the deadlifts were not heavy enough. Other than that I liked the cycle and am going to run it again, but will adjust the reps for deads back to the original as in #29.

As to your thoughts on Boris not writing it, would you say the same about #40?

[kgm]

After really looking over the routine and then changes to #29 to make it #39 I don't find it to be getting away from sheiko at all. tbh if you compare the volume calculations in the spreadsheet it is misleading. While the deadlift volume is indeed lowered, which I do not like, the bench volume is mostly the same, other than the replacement of bench for DB press in the first week. In week 3 front squat 5x5 is used as a second squat but is not calculated into the volume. The odd set has been removed but that isn't detrimental to the program from where I sit.

Anyway I will be running #39 again with a few changes to the main lifts to make it more like #29 and actually to have a bit more volume then #29. I have added the missing reps and sets back to the deads and the odd missing set back to squats. With not counting the DB press and the front squat 5x5 the cycle rep totals are 39=950 and 29=981. The total poundage is 211562 vs 216630 for my current numbers.