Winter Is Here! And That Means It's Bulk Season

Gain size and strength this winter with this hybridized program.

- Lee Boyce, CPT

Winter is here and chances are you're putting back a few more calories than usual — eggnog, cheesecake, mashed potatoes — and maintaining size without packing on globs of body fat is tricky this time of year. Add to that a wooly cocoon of physique-masking clothing and, if you're not prudent, a bloated, jiggly butterfly will emerge come April.

But truth be told, winter is the perfect time to get bigger and stronger: You're not cutting up so you can afford to lift heavier and bulk up a little, and all those extra calories? The perfect fodder for the business of hulking out.

Enter this hybridized plan that attacks strength and size in a complementary way, with the overall focus on getting huge. True, there aren't many programs around that blend these two camps — cuz yeah, bodybuilders and power lifters rarely share training notes — but creating a two-for-one plan can mean big gains in an otherwise flat lined offseason. 

The Bulk Season Workout

This workout blends size and strength training in perfect, symbiotic fashion: Week 1 focuses on strength, and you'll spend the bulk of your workout training close to your one-rep max on your targeted lifts. Week 2 focuses on size, manipulating your rest intervals, tempo, sets and even rep ranges to shock your system and make your muscles grow.