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Pause Rep Workout Program for Serious

Strength Gains

Break through your current muscle building plateaus

using pause reps! Get Coach Myers' full isometric
contraction workout and put on some serious gains!

Workout Summary

Main Goal Build Muscle

Workout Type Split

 Training Level Beginner

Program Duration 8 weeks

Days Per Week 3

Time Per Workout 60-75 minutes

Equipment Required Barbell, Bodyweight, Cables, Dumbbells

Target Gender Male & Female

Author
Coach Dustin Myers, CSCS

Workout PDF
Download Workout

Workout Description
Have you ever watched someone bench press an impressive weight but noticed
them bounce it off of their chest?

What about the guy curling (in the squat rack of course) 185lbs who swings it up
and then just let it drop?

How about someone taking a heavy weight into a low squat but bouncing out of the
bottom position?

While all 3 of these scenarios require strength, if you train this way you are missing
out on an important component of strength training: the isometric contraction. 

The isometric contraction refers to when muscles tense and contract but do not
change length and there is no movement within the joint. Picture that guy doing the
heavy bicep curl.

The concentric contraction of the bicep occurs as the bicep shortens and the bar
travels upward. An isometric contraction occurs when the bar quits moving at the
top.  And finally, an eccentric contraction occurs as the bicep lengthens and the
weight is lowered to the starting position.
So if traditional weightlifting emphasizes primarily the concentric and eccentric
contraction of the muscle by raising and lowering a weight, why should we be
concerned with the isometric contraction?

Well for starters, studies have shown that during isometric training the body is able
to activate a higher number of motor units than any other type of training. Isometric
training is also a great way to increase the Time Under Tension of each repetition by
utilizing pause reps.

Isometric Training and Pause Reps

Pause reps are the most practical (and beneficial) way to implement isometric
training into your training regimen. Traditional isometric training involves pushing or
pulling against an immovable object at a fixed position for 5 - 10 seconds.

Using the bench press as an example, imagine setting the rack pins at the half way
point and pressing against the bar at max effort for 5 seconds. Although this style is
effective and can be utilized even with no equipment (i.e. pushing against a wall), I
find it to be too much of a departure from my normal routine.

There’s something satisfying about moving heavy weight through a range of motion,
and traditional isometric training takes that out of the equation. Pause reps are the
best of both worlds. You get to move some heavy weight while focusing on the
isometric contraction at a set point in the movement.
Traditionally, a pause rep will be utilized at the point of an exercise where the
movement switches from eccentric to concentric, such as when the bar touches
your chest during a bench press. A major mistake I see when lifters use pause reps
is relaxing slightly during the pause - resting the bar on their chest or letting their
hips get loose while holding the bottom pause on a squat.

The key is to keep everything tight for 3-5 seconds, pressing against the bar as it sits
on your chest even though it is not moving. This is a “transition pause”, the most
basic form of pause reps, and here are a few other variations:

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1.Transition Pause - The isometric contraction is held at the point where the
movement changes from eccentric to concentric. Example: holding the pause at the
bottom of a bench press.

2.Iso-Lateral Pause - This is a style of pause reps utilized on dumbbell movements.

One dumbbell is held in an isometric contraction while the other completes a full
range of motion. Typically the weight is held at the transition pause, and the reps are
alternated back and forth as you complete each side.

Related: Luck of the Draw - Get Jacked with a Deck of Cards

Example: curl both dumbbells to the top, then hold one in place as you complete a
full range of motion curl with the other. Once the moving curl returns to the top
position, hold it in place as you curl the other side.

3. Eccentric Pause - Utilize one or several pauses at different intervals while

lowering the weight. Example: Serrano Pause squats, developed by my mentor Dr
Eric Serrano, which utilize 5 separate 3 second pauses on the way down, with the
last one at the very bottom of the squat.

4. Concentric Pause - Pause during the concentric portion of the movement.

Example: During a deadlift, pull the weight off the floor then pause for 3 seconds
when the bar is just below the knee before finishing the rep.

There are also several different strategies for employing pause reps during a
workout.  You can pause each rep of a set or just the final rep of each set. Each
pause can be held for a set time of 3 to 5 seconds, or you can utilize the rep hold
method, which is where the length of the pause corresponds to the number of the
rep (the third rep is held for 3 seconds, the forth for 4 seconds, etc.).

Mixed set pauses utilize pause reps on the first 3-5 reps then finish the set with a
certain number of regular repetitions. Give this 3 day workout split a try. It
incorporates all of these strategies on several different types of pause reps.

Workout 1
Exercise Sets Reps
1a. Deadlift 5 3*
1b. Pullups 5 10**
2. T-bar Row 5 5***
3. Seated Row 3 10****
4. Dumbbell Iso Curl 3 5 each
5. Plank Positions 1 6 min total

*Pause at knee height

**3 Pause reps and 7 regular reps
*** Pause only on the final rep for 5 seconds
****First rep, pause for 10 seconds, 2nd for 9 seconds, etc until final rep for 1 sec

This workout begins with a superset of deadlift and pull ups. Utilize concentric
pauses on the deadlift, pausing for 3 seconds when the bar is just below the knee.
After the pause, concentrate on pushing your hips to the bar and squeezing your
glutes as you complete the movement. During the pull ups you will pause for 5
seconds at the top of the first three reps, then complete an additional 7 reps.

Related: 10 Killer Pull Up Variations to Grow Huge Lats

Next up is T-bar row, where you pause only on the last rep. During the sets of seated
row, you will utilize a “reverse rep hold method”. Pause the first rep for 10 seconds,
the second rep for 9 seconds, and keep going in descending order until the 10th rep
is held for a 1 second pause.

On both T-bar and seated row, the pause is held at the “top” of the row when your
scapula is fully retracted. To complete dumbbell iso-curls, curl both dumbbells to
the top, then hold one in place as you complete a full range of motion curl with the
other. Once the moving curl returns to the top position, hold it in place as you curl
the other side.

After 3 sets, finish up with the ultimate test of core isometric strength, a six minute
plank. Switch to side planks when necessary, but hold each position perfectly still
for as long as possible.

Workout 2
Exercise Sets Reps
1. Dumbbell Bench 6 10, 5, 5, 3x3*
2a. Dumbbell Iso-Shoulder Press 5 5
2b. Iso Lateral Raise 5 8
3a. Dumbbell Shrugs 3 10**
3b. Dips 3 Max Reps***
4. Iso Kick Backs 3 10****
5. Pushups 3 Max Reps*****
6. Hanging L-Sit Holds 3 5-10 seconds

*3 sets of 3 pause reps.

**Use the rep hold method, number of rep corresponds with length of hold.
***Pause for 3 seconds at the bottom of each rep
****Hold one side while the other is performing reps of 5. Finish with 5 regular reps.
*****Pause briefly 3 times on the way down of each rep.

Start this workout with a warm up set on dumbbell bench then 2 heavy sets of 5,
before using pause reps on the last 3 sets of 3 reps. Remember to hold everything
tight at the bottom of the pause, do not let the weights rest on your chest.

Next up is a superset of iso-lateral style shoulder press and shoulder flys. Press
both of the weights up and hold at the half way point. Press the other dumbbell up,
all the way down, and then back to the center. Alternate sides each rep. For the flys,
bring both dumbbells all the way up, and keep one at the top position as you
complete a full range of motion on the other side.

Related: Max Adaptation Upper Lower (MAUL) Workout

Utilize the rep hold method on shrugs and superset that with dips pausing at the
bottom. Next up is iso-kick backs. I prefer to do these lying face down and flat on a
bench. Bring both elbows up and kick the weights back locking them into place. 
Alternate sides for 5 reps as you keep one side flexed. Finish the set with 5
additional regular kick backs.

After your 3rd set, complete 3 sets of pushups for max reps, utilizing 3 eccentric
pauses on the way down. The first pause should be about 1/4 of the way down, the
second pause at the midway point, and the third pause just before your chest would
touch the floor. End with 3 sets of hanging L-sit holds of 5-10 seconds each.

Workout 3
Exercise Sets Reps
1. Squats 3 5 warm up sets
2. Serrano Pause Squats 3 3*
3. Split Squats 5 5**
4a. Goblet Squat 3 5 pause reps
4b. Hamstring Bridge 3 5 pause reps
5. Reverse Hyperextension 3 10***

*Pause 5 seperate times for 3 seconds while lowering the weight.

**Pause for 3 seconds at the bottom of each rep for the last 3 sets.
***Pause for 3 seconds at the top of each rep.

This workout starts with 3 sets of squats, warming up to a heavy weight before
starting Serrano pause squats. For a Serrano squat, you will pause 5 separate times
for 3 seconds on the way down.

The key is to try and space the pauses out at even intervals. If you put too much
distance between them, you will find yourself out of room at the bottom of your
squat with 2 more pauses to go. Make sure to stay tight and stable, exploding up
and out of the 5th pause.

Next up is 5 sets of Bulgarian split squats utilizing a 3 second pause at the bottom
of each rep of the last 3 sets. Try to move up in weight each set. Next, transition into
a superset of goblet squat and hamstring bridge.  For goblet squats, hold a
dumbbell or kettlebell at chest height and hold the bottom portion of the squat for 5
seconds.

To complete a hamstring bridge, lay on your back with one foot up on a bench and
the other leg straight up in the air. Push your hips up, aiming for a straight line from
the knee through the hip to your shoulder, and pause at the top. End with 3 sets of
reverse hyperextension, pausing for 3 seconds with your lower back fully contracted
at the top of each rep.

Conclusion
There you have it, a great 3 day workout plan that incorporates every type of pause
rep imaginable. I recommend doing all 3 of the workouts in a row, then take 1 or 2
days of active recovery before starting with Workout #1 again.

Give it a couple weeks and this isometric focus will have you feeling stronger and
more stable than ever. You will be amazed at how light weight will feel on “regular”
reps.

Stay tuned to Muscle & Strength for more unique workouts and make sure to follow
me on Instagram @coachmyers_gutcheck for daily motivation!

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About The Author

Coach Dustin Myers, CSCS

Coach Myers is the co-founder and owner of the Old School Gym in
Pataskala, OH, as well as the strength and conditioning coach for the
Ohio Regional Training Center for Olympic Wrestling.
View all by Coach Dustin Myers, CSCS »

2 Comments+ Post Comment

Posted Fri, 09/02/2016 - 13:01 LIKE 11

Bryan moore
How heavy should we go? Based off the percent of are max

REPLY

Posted Sun, 07/10/2016 - 10:32 LIKE 16

Marty Hughes
The Eccentric Pause works well for me. It does not necessarily build size, but it builds incredible
strength. I have to seriously concentrate and count slowly in the downward motion phase or I
will drop the weight.

REPLY

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