Barbell is back. Start light, RPE 6-7. Build confidence in the knee.
If any squat rep causes discomfort, reduce depth or switch to goblet squat. No ego loading. The deficit is doing the fat loss work. Your job is to keep muscle.
Mechanical load day: focus on moving heavy(ish) weight through full ROM.
6/6 progression: maintain or beat your weights across all 6 sessions. On a cut, holding weight IS progress.
Metabolic stress day. Short rests, supersets, keep the pace up.
Incline bench + lateral raise = shoulder pump. Flat bench + curls = classic antagonist pairing. Biceps stay fresh because they haven't been pre-fatigued from rows.
Chin-ups are your anchor pull movement. Go heavy. This is the one exercise where you push RPE toward 7-8.
If the deficit is hitting hard, drop lateral raises to 1 set. Protect the compounds.
Muscle damage day. Slow eccentrics are the priority.
Rows: 3 sec down, 1 sec pause at top. Every rep controlled. Pull-ups: 3 sec negative on the way down. This is where you earn the muscle retention on a cut.
Squat cleans stay explosive. Don't grind these. If form breaks, drop weight immediately.
Triceps on pull day = antagonist placement. Fresh triceps, no pre-fatigue from pressing. Skull crushers should feel strong.
Metabolic stress day. Keep rest periods strict at 60s on supersets.
Front squat is a lighter variation to give knees a break from back squat. Lighter load, more upright torso, still builds quads hard.
Sumo deadlift targets inner thigh + glutes. Wider stance, toes out, chest up.
Walking lunges stay controlled. No rushing. If balance is off, shorten the step.
Mechanical load day. Bench is your main anchor. Go as heavy as RPE 7 allows.
Arnold press hits all 3 delt heads in one movement. Rotate through the full ROM, don't rush.
Rear flys balance the pushing volume. Squeeze at the top, control the negative.
Incline curls on push day = antagonist placement. Fresh biceps, no pre-fatigue from rows. Should feel strong.
Muscle damage day. Slow eccentrics are the priority.
Rows: 1 sec pause at top, squeeze hard. Pull-ups: 3-4 sec negative on the way down. This is where you earn the muscle retention on a cut.
Hang high pulls stay explosive. Don't grind these. If form breaks, drop weight immediately.
Triceps on pull day = antagonist placement. Fresh triceps, no pre-fatigue from pressing. Skull crushers should feel strong.
Maintain intensity. Defend muscle. The deficit does the fat loss.