Average volume

[0ni]

There are recommendations on how much volume you should be doing at each classification of lifter. Does this include competition cycles in the average volume calculations?

For example, running #39 three times in a row has the same average volume as 29,30,31,32 but they will obviously give two completely different training effects.

So if you want an average volume of 980 for example, do you factor in the low volume comp cycle or is this strictly average volume across prep cycles?

[superaveragebro]

There are recommendations, but you do not need to adhere to them 100%. For my lifter classification I should be doing 29-30-31-32 and similar programs. But I am still getting optimal results from Dave Bates' Reduced Volume workouts, so why do something harder when something easier and simpler is still giving good results?
I suggest start with Dave Bates' cycles, and when you hit the wall move onto 29-37-40 ecc. Later on move on to 29-30-31-32, and only after this fails to deliver more should you switch to a CMS routine.
39 looks very low volume to me in terms of competition lifts. I may be mistaken and stand to be corrected.
www.powerliftingmalta.com/

[0ni]

Medvedyev essentially says that if you've been lifting less than 6 years with less than an elite total all you need to do is increase your volume each year. No offence to Dave, I ran that cycle when it was suitable for my classification - I've been following the Russian system right from the start lol and would rather follow it right through to the letter for personal reasons. But yeah I just need to know if you count comp cycles in average volume. Maybe I should take a look at the yearly volumes and figure it out from that

[superaveragebro]

Interesting! Yes I think you should count comp cycles too!
www.powerliftingmalta.com/

[0ni]

Yeah that's what I was thinking. I'm actually running 39 at the moment but if you're supposed to run a comp cycle and count that into the volume I'll run 29/30/31/32 for a meet in late april haha

Maybe Dave or Eric can weigh in on this

[superaveragebro]

I took another good look at 39 and I think I underestimated it when I said it is low volume. I think you can get good results from 39. If you decide to go for 29-30-31 let us know what results you achieve.