Intensive Cruise Options?

[jonmiller]

Apologies up front if this is a dumb question. But haven't seen other threads about this specifically. If I say something in an unclear way, let me know and I'll try to explain more clearly.

Scott (and anyone else with input): Have you ever had someone or a situation where you handle the intensive cruise differently? Specifically I am thinking pump sets instead of Muscle Round sets.

Here is why I ask. For me, muscle round sets are done with weight really darn close to my load sets. I'll use the hack squat for example since it is my most brutal exercise. On my most recent times using this exercise, I did a muscle round with 5 plates each side failing on the 6th set. The other night I did my heavy loading set on the hack squat using 5 plates+25 on each side. Got 6 reps.

So from my perspective when I hit the end of a blast (which I have been pushing really hard) I start hurting in general, joints aching, sleep affected, etc. And for me this usually comes on very quickly. Often times 1/2 way through the week. When I hit this point hard (such as this current blast), the last thing I want to do is cruise with Muscle Round sets that are (for me) heavy and continue to beat and batter me.

All that said, Scott, I'm still loving FT. I stay on Tier 1 with only modification of adding shrugs as a 3rd exercise on back loading day. I also add a second set for arms on bi/tri pump set & bicep pump on Leg MR day.

I started FT with my squats stuck at 275x5. In 10 months I hit 345x9. Took about 3 months away from FT. Now back at it again for the last 6-7 months and just squatted 385x6. Pushing super hard trying to get a good loading set of 4 plates on squats. (and you have seen videos of my squats and saw they are good depth ) But, FT is definitely tough!