Free Programs and Spreadsheets
Below you'll find powerlifting and strength training programs that utilize undulating periodization.
If you don't find the undulating periodization program you're looking for, check out the Lift Vault Program Library, which lets you search based on periodization type, training goals, and much more.
Related: powerlifting programs, powerbuilding programs, bodybuilding programs, strength training programs
By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 6
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
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This is a 6 week conjugate powerlifting program. It trains a wide variety of compound and isolation movements to build strength and develop muscle mass.
This program is described as a high-frequency, full-body training program. It was designed by Parakonan Training for the “humble-hungry” lifter: humble enough to know when to take weight off the bar and hungry enough to take what’s there.
[Read more…] By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 6
Periodization: Block Periodization, Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: No
Program goal: Strength
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
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This is a 6 week week bench press program based upon the Prilepin chart. As it only utilizes two bench press training days per week, I’d probably recommend it for more advanced bench pressers that are not able to recover from three bench press training days per week.
[Read more…] By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: Indefinite
Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: No
Program goal: High Volume, Strength
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
May 2020 Update: Added Simple Jack’d 2x spreadsheet. You should probably run v2.0, as the creator of the program considers it superior to v1.0.
Simple Jack’d is a modified blend of the Bulgarian Method and the Smolov base cycle. It’s essentially a flexible one week volume accumulation block that can be run indefinitely for powerlifting and general strength goals.
[Read more…] By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced
Weeks: 10
Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: No
Program goal: Deadlift, High Volume, Off Season
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
This is a 10 week deadlift program designed for building up work capacity during the competitive off-season. It was shared by Alex Bromley (Empire Barbell) on his YouTube channel, where he shared his experience using this style of deadlift training to help prepare for a strongman competition.
[Read more…] By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 6
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: Hypertrophy, Peaking, Powerlifting, Strength
Uses RPE: Yes
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Tiger Shark is a 6 week bench press program for intermediate and advanced level lifters. It was created by Nik D (@niklas.damb). As it only programs for the bench press, it is recommended that this is combined with a squat program and a deadlift program. [Read more…]
By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate
Weeks: 11, 12, 8
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: High Volume, Peaking, Powerlifting
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Dietmar Wolf is the head coach of the Norwegian powerlifting team. Below you’ll find some programs that are either attributed to him or have been released directly from the Norwegian Powerlifting Association. One program is from a Norwegian powerlifter named Frode Haugen; this program is labeled accordingly to reduce confusion. [Read more…]
By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced
Weeks: 7
Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: No
Program goal: Peaking, Powerlifting, Strength
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Atlas Rising is an advanced 7 week powerlifting program with 3 training days per week. It is formed from a combination of the Russian Squat Routine for squats, MagOrt for deadlifts, and Hepburn Method A for bench press and overhead press. I would expect this program to improve the squat and deadlift, but not the bench press or overhead press, which simply would be maintained.
This “frankenprogram” was created by /u/PaulTheMediocre, who used it to achieve the following results: [Read more…]
By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended
Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate
Weeks: 7
Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: Peaking, Powerlifting
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Connor Lutz is a powerlifting competitor and coach at Calgary Barbell. These are a few different powerlifting programs he shared several years back. There are three powerlifting programs in total: a beginner program, an updated intermediate program, and an old intermediate program. [Read more…]
By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 12
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: Hypertrophy, Mass, Peaking, Powerlifting
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
This mass building workout focuses on stimulating muscular hypertrophy and developing raw strength. It is a 12 week powerlifting program built on 4 high volume training sessions per week and was developed by Ryan Mathias at Mathias Method. It is a peaking program that is designed to build your one rep max in the squat, bench press, and deadlift for meet day. [Read more…]
By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 6
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: No
Program goal: Fat loss, Hypertrophy
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Here are reviews of Jim Stoppani’s Shortcut to Shred strength building and weight loss program from people that have run the program. Overall, Shortcut to Shred reviews are positive and show that the program can be effective for building muscle and leaning out. [Read more…]
By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended
Experience level: Beginner
Weeks: 3
Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: No
Program goal: Strength
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
5/3/1 is one of the most popular strength training programs ever, influencing other programs like GZCL and nSuns along the way. Its popularity has stemmed from its simplicity, flexibility, and ability to be run over and over for long periods of time. It favors slow, steady, repeatable progression over the long term instead of programs that pile on the weight for a few weeks or months before progress grinds to a halt.
[Read more…] By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 4
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: No
Program goal: Hypertrophy, Strength
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Boring But Big (BBB) is a variation of Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 template that focuses on high volume accessory work to induce hypertrophy after the main “5/3/1” work is finished. The BBB supplemental work follows a scheme of 5 sets of 10 reps (5×10). It is both brutally simple and effective, making it one of the most popular 5/3/1 variations.
[Read more…] By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced
Weeks: 5
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: Powerlifting
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
This is a high frequency, up to 5 training days per week, daily undulating bench press program shared by Empire Barbell. It is a peaking program for the bench press that aims for the athlete to achieve a new one rep max in 5 weeks. [Read more…]
By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 12
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: No
Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Make way, here comes another hybrid program from /u/benchpauper, the mad scientist that brought you MegaZord, Starscream, and other programs. [Read more…]
By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 5
Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization
Program goal: Hypertrophy
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Note: The below spreadsheet is based on the 2019 version of Mike Israetel’s articles on muscle group hypertrophy. As of March 2020, he is in the midst of updating these articles with new guidelines. These guidelines have not yet been taken into account in the spreadsheet, but an updated spreadsheet is in the works. For the latest thinking from Mike Israetel, please read the articles linked in this post. A second update will be posted here when the spreadsheet is updated.
Dr. Mike Israetel published a very popular article entitled Training Volume Landmarks for Rennaisance Periodization.
A summary of the article is below, though reading the article in its entirety is recommended.
[Read more…] By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate
Weeks: 10
Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: No
Program goal: Hypertrophy, Strength
Uses RPE: Yes
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): No
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
The BarBend 10-week powerbuilding program was designed with the expertise of BarBend’s Fitness Editor Jake Boly MS CSCS, and is a program that was created in partnership with Gravitus mobile app.
[Read more…] By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended
Experience level: Beginner
Weeks: 6
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: Peaking, Powerlifting
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
This is a 6 week beginner powerlifting peaking block from Squats & Science.
This is a pretty unique program because there aren’t many peaking program designed strictly for the beginner powerlifter. I believe [Read more…]
By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Beginner
Weeks: 6
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: No
Program goal: High Volume, Powerlifting
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
This is a 6 week long powerlifting volume block for novice lifters from the smart folks at Squats & Science. [Read more…]
By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate
Weeks: 6
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: Peaking
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Hey TikTok! Welcome to Lift Vault.
Any questions, please drop it in the Russian Bench Press Program discussion thread or email me. Good luck increasing your bench press!
To your continued gains,
Kyle
This is a no nonsense 6 week bench press peaking program styled after the infamous Russian Squat Routine. It is a 3 day bench press program that accumulates volume around 80% to 85% of a lifter’s 1 rep max before tapering down volume and increasing intensity. It ends with completing two singles at 105% of the lifter’s beginning 1 rep max.
[Read more…] By Kyle Risley
Last updated
Experience level: Intermediate
Weeks: 10
Periodization: Undulating Periodization
Meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: Peaking, Powerlifting
As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure
Created and shared by /u/Kroamatik as a “generic 10 week program” structured around 4 days per week. It is designed to be started 10 weeks out from a competition or a max testing week (so the competition occurs during week 10). [Read more…]