Training with strength or hypertrophy goals doesn't have to be complicated. While periodization—the systematic planning of training—can be a useful tool, it is not essential to achieve a healthy body or look good physically. Many people progress with simple routines, without structured cycles, as long as they maintain consistency, progression, and adequate recovery.
What is periodization?
Periodization is a strategy that organizes training into phases with different objectives (hypertrophy, strength, power, etc.) to avoid stagnation and improve performance. It is based on physiological principles such as General Adaptation Syndrome, which describes how the body responds to training stress: first it fatigues, then it adapts, and if the load is not adjusted, it stagnates or even regresses.
This is especially useful for advanced athletes, who require careful planning to keep progressing. But if your goal is simply to improve your appearance or overall health, you can achieve it without getting into complex training regimens.
When is periodization useful?
Periodization can help you if:
- You have a specific competitive or performance goal.
- You have stopped progressing after several months of training.
- You have intermediate or advanced experience.
- You are looking to improve very specific aspects (maximum strength, power, etc.).
For beginners and most people who train for health or aesthetics, a simple routine with linear progression may be more than enough.
A beginner could follow a three-day-a-week routine, slightly increasing the weight or reps each week to generate enough stimuli to progress. There are no planned phases, just steady progression and adequate rest. This approach has yielded results for decades.
Key training variables
Even if you don't formally track your training, you must understand and adjust certain elements to make progress:
- Volume: Amount of weekly work. Between 10-20 effective sets per muscle group works well for most.
- Intensity: Load used. For hypertrophy, loads of 65–85% of the 1RM (maximum repetition) are usually optimal.
- Frequency: How often do you train a muscle group? Twice a week works well for most people.
- Selection of exercises: Compound exercises such as squats, deadlifts, and presses are effective for building strength and mass.
- Rest and recovery: Getting a good night's sleep and avoiding nervous system overload is just as important as the workout itself.
Types of periodization (summary and examples)
If you decide to periodize, there are several models. Here are some brief examples:
1. Linear (LP)
You increase the load and reduce the repetitions over time.
Example:
- Week 1: 3×12
- Week 2: 3×10
- Week 3: 3×8
- Week 4: 3×6
Ideal for beginners due to its simplicity.
2. Undulating (ULP)
Vary the load and repetitions throughout the week or month.
Weekly example:
- Monday: 3×12 (hypertrophy)
- Wednesday: 3×6 (strength)
- Friday: 3×3 (power)
It requires more planning but provides variety and prevents stagnation.
3. In Blocks
Each block of weeks focuses on a specific quality.
Example:
- Block 1 (5 weeks): Hypertrophy (8–15 reps)
- Block 2 (5 weeks): Strength (4–6 reps)
- Block 3 (5 weeks): Power (1–3 reps)
Ideal for advanced students with very specific goals.
What does the evidence say?
Studies have shown that, in general, periodized workouts produce better results than non-periodized workouts when volume is equal, especially for advanced athletes. However, for the general population, there isn't much of a difference if training is consistent and progressing.
What should I do if I don't want to periodize?
- Increase the load or repetitions each week (linear progression).
- Change exercises regularly to avoid adaptation.
- Listen to your body and, if you feel fatigued, rest or schedule recovery weeks.
- Make sure you get plenty of sleep and proper nutrition.
- Use basic techniques like supersets if you want more stimulation without changing your entire routine.
Conclusion
Periodization is a powerful tool, but it's not necessary for being healthy or looking good. Most people can make great strides simply by being consistent, training hard, and applying a logical progression. If you reach a point where progress stalls, or if you have more ambitious goals, then it may be worth exploring a more structured approach.