Week 9 - Strength Phase Begins (Month 3!)
🎯 Week 9 Objectives
New Rep Range!
Month 3 drops the rep range to 6-10 on compound lifts. This means HEAVIER weights. Take longer rest (90-150 sec) and focus on STRENGTH.
🔄 Month 3 Changes
| Parameter | Month 2 | Month 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Compound rep range | 8-12 | 6-10 |
| Isolation rep range | 12-15 | 10-15 |
| Rest (compounds) | 90 sec | 120-150 sec |
| Rest (isolation) | 60 sec | 60-90 sec |
| New technique | Drop sets | Supersets |
What is a Superset?
Perform two exercises back-to-back with no rest:
- Exercise A (e.g., Bench Press)
- Immediately → Exercise B (e.g., DB Flyes)
- THEN rest 90-120 seconds
- Repeat
🏋️ Day 1: Push - STRENGTH FOCUS
Exercise Selection Changes
| Old Exercise | New Exercise | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Same | Same | Building on foundation |
| + Dumbbell Flyes | Added | Superset with Incline Press |
Full Workout
| Exercise | Sets | Reps | Rest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbell Bench Press | 4 | 6-8 | 150 sec | HEAVY - add 5kg from Week 8 |
| Incline DB Press | 4 | 8-10 | - | SUPERSET with... |
| ↳ Incline DB Flyes | 4 | 12-15 | 90 sec | ...Flyes |
| Seated DB Shoulder Press | 4 | 8-10 | 120 sec | Add weight |
| Lateral Raises | 4 | 12-15 | 60 sec | SUPERSET with... |
| ↳ Front Raises | 4 | 12-15 | 60 sec | ...Front raises |
| Tricep Dips | 3 | 8-12 | 90 sec | NEW - Bodyweight or weighted |
| Tricep Pushdowns | 3 | 12-15 | 60 sec | Standard |
Superset Example
Incline DB Press × 10 → (no rest) → Incline DB Flyes × 12 → REST 90 sec
Incline DB Press × 9 → (no rest) → Incline DB Flyes × 12 → REST 90 sec
Incline DB Press × 9 → (no rest) → Incline DB Flyes × 11 → REST 90 sec
Incline DB Press × 8 → (no rest) → Incline DB Flyes × 10 → DONE
🏋️ Day 2: Pull - STRENGTH FOCUS
Full Workout
| Exercise | Sets | Reps | Rest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbell Rows | 4 | 6-8 | 150 sec | HEAVY - add 5kg |
| Weighted Pull-ups | 4 | 6-10 | 120 sec | NEW - Add weight or use band assist |
| Lat Pulldowns | 4 | 8-10 | - | SUPERSET with... |
| ↳ Straight Arm Pulldowns | 4 | 12-15 | 90 sec | ...Straight arm |
| Seated Cable Rows | 4 | 8-10 | 90 sec | Standard |
| Face Pulls | 3 | 15-20 | 60 sec | Shoulder health |
| Barbell Curls | 3 | 8-10 | 75 sec | Heavier |
| Incline DB Curls | 3 | 10-12 | 60 sec | NEW - Full stretch |
🏋️ Day 3: Legs - STRENGTH FOCUS
Full Workout
| Exercise | Sets | Reps | Rest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbell Back Squat | 4 | 6-8 | 180 sec | HEAVY - add 5-10kg |
| Romanian Deadlifts | 4 | 8-10 | 120 sec | Heavier than Month 2 |
| Leg Press | 4 | 8-10 | - | SUPERSET with... |
| ↳ Leg Extensions | 4 | 12-15 | 90 sec | ...Extensions |
| Leg Curls | 4 | 10-12 | - | SUPERSET with... |
| ↳ Glute Bridges | 4 | 15-20 | 90 sec | ...Bridges |
| Walking Lunges | 3 | 10 each | 90 sec | Heavier DBs |
| Calf Raises | 4 | 15-20 | 45 sec | Standard |
💪 Weight Selection for 6-8 Reps
Use approximately 85-90% of your 1RM (one rep max) OR:
Estimation Method
| Your 10-rep max | Estimated 6-8 rep weight |
|---|---|
| 60kg | 67-70kg |
| 70kg | 78-82kg |
| 80kg | 89-93kg |
| 90kg | 100-105kg |
| 100kg | 111-117kg |
Weight Selection
If you could do 10 reps with a weight last month, add 10-15% for your new 6-8 rep working weight.
📝 Week 9 Workout Log
Day 1 - Push
| Exercise | Weight | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bench Press | |||||
| Incline Press + Flyes (SS) | / | ||||
| Shoulder Press | |||||
| Lat Raise + Front Raise (SS) | / | ||||
| Tricep Dips | N/A | ||||
| Tricep Pushdowns | N/A |
Day 2 - Pull
| Exercise | Weight | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbell Rows | |||||
| Weighted Pull-ups | |||||
| Lat PD + Straight Arm (SS) | / | ||||
| Cable Rows | |||||
| Face Pulls | N/A | ||||
| Barbell Curls | N/A | ||||
| Incline DB Curls | N/A |
Day 3 - Legs
| Exercise | Weight | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squat | |||||
| RDL | |||||
| Leg Press + Extensions (SS) | / | ||||
| Leg Curls + Glute Bridges (SS) | / | ||||
| Lunges | N/A | ||||
| Calf Raises |
✅ Week 9 Checklist
- Lifted heavier with lower reps (6-8)
- Performed supersets correctly
- Took longer rest on compound lifts
- No form breakdown with heavier weights
- Feeling stronger!
Week 9 Complete?
Welcome to the strength phase! The heavier weights will build dense, powerful muscle. Continue to Week 10 where we add more advanced techniques!