20 Rep Squat Routine
By Lee Hayward, author of "Blast
Your Bench" and "Bio-Genetic
Muscle Building Program"
One of the fastest ways to gain size and strength in the
entire body is by following the squats and milk program. This is an old
time routine that has been around for over 50 years, but it works awesome
for fast gains. Even if you are a hard gainer.
The way it works is you train 3 days per week (i.e. Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday).
Each workout you will start with full squats. Do 2-3 easy
warm up sets to get the blood flowing and to warm up your joints. Then
take a moderate weight and do 1 set of 20 reps. For each rep take a couple
big mouthfuls of air, hold your breath, squat down and up, and repeat.
As you progress through the reps you will need to take more breaths in
between reps. During reps 15-20 you may need to take 5 or more big mouthfuls
of air in between reps. It takes me 3 minutes to complete 1 set all out
set of 20 rep squats.
Right after the squats while you are still out of breath,
grab a light barbell (i.e. 25 lbs.) and do pull overs while lying on a
flat bench. Take a deep breath in between each rep and really feel the
stretch in the rib cage as you do the exercise. Do 1 set of 20 rep pull
overs with 25 lbs. Keep using 25 lbs. for the pull overs as this exercise
is just for stretching the rib cage.
Each
workout add 5 lbs. to the squats and get all 20 reps. This is the key to
making serious gains with the program. You have to make 5 lb. jumps in
weight each workout.
I just finished a squat routine like this and within
2 months I worked up from doing 20 rep squats with 225 lbs. to 20 reps
with 315 lbs.
When doing this program you should do full squats. I personally
squat down until the back of my legs touch my calfs. This will make the
squats far more effective for muscle growth.
Another thing, do NOT wear a weight lifting belt while
doing the 20 rep squats. By squatting with out a belt you will strengthen
your lower back and it will be easier to take deep breaths while doing
high rep squats.
Make no mistake about it this routine is brutally tough,
those 20 rep squats will take every bit of energy that you have, but the
gains are awesome. This routine will stimulate your entire body to grow
from the stress of the squats. And the pull overs will help to stretch
your rib cage and make your chest bigger.
After you finish the squats and pull overs do a circuit
of chin ups, dips and decline bench sit ups.
Do a set of chin ups for as many reps as you can
Rest a minute
Do a set of dips for as many reps as you can
Rest a minute
Do a set of decline bench sit ups for as many reps
as you can
Do this circuit 3 times and your workout is done.
Do this exact routine 3 days per week. Each time make
sure to add 5 lbs. to the squats and try to pump out more reps with the
chins, dips, and sit ups. This will work every major muscle group in your
body and force you to grow like nothing else.
As for your diet you need to eat as much food as you can
and as often as you can. The program is called "squats and milk" because
the old timers used to drink at least 1 gallon of milk every single day
to help them gain weight with the program. Milk is high in protein, vitamins,
minerals, and calories.
A typical days eating for this
program would look like this:
Breakfast
4 eggs
2 slices of toast
1 glass of milk
Snack
Bran Muffin
1 glass of milk
Lunch
Sandwich (i.e. meat, cheese, tuna fish, etc.)
piece of fruit
1 glass of milk
Snack
Granola bar
Slice of cheese
1 glass of milk
Supper
Meat (i.e. chicken, beef, pork, etc.)
Pasta, Rice, or Potatoes
Cup of veggies
1 glass of milk
Snack
2 slices of toast
1 glass of milk
*drink plenty of water throughout the day
If you like you can mix a scoop of protein powder in your
milk for even more protein and calories.
This is just a sample eating plan, you can change it around
to suit your own taste. But you get the idea of how much you should eat
and how often in order to gain size and strength.
If you strictly follow the squats and milk program you
will gain approx. 20 lbs. of muscular bodyweight in just 2 months.
If you want more specific training and dietary strategies
for bulking up and packing on thick dense muscular bodyweight, then check
out my BIO-GENETIC
WEIGHT GAIN website.
About The Author
Lee Hayward is competitive bodybuilder, weight training
expert, writer and author of unique training system called "Blast
Your Bench"and "Bio-Genetic Muscle Building Weight Gain Program".
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