Thread: Periodization for a cutting program?

We've all been told many times that when cutting to drop the volume and increase the intensity so that your body will hang on to the mass as best as it can.

However, bearing in mind that a cut will take upwards of weeks or months, can a lifter really stay in this high intensity zone for such a long period of time? Wouldn't this be highly taxing on the CNS to be in low rep ranges for weeks/months on end? Also, wouldn't a lifter need to change the rep ranges as with regular training?

How would a cutting program be structured in terms of rep ranges week by week?

Originally Posted by Phineas

We've all been told many times that when cutting to drop the volume and increase the intensity so that your body will hang on to the mass as best as it can.

However, bearing in mind that a cut will take upwards of weeks or months, can a lifter really stay in this high intensity zone for such a long period of time? Wouldn't this be highly taxing on the CNS to be in low rep ranges for weeks/months on end? Also, wouldn't a lifter need to change the rep ranges as with regular training?

How would a cutting program be structured in terms of rep ranges week by week?

We're not increasing intensity, our focus is just to at least maintain the weight on the bar. That usually means dropping into a 3-5 rep range (at least for me), but that doesn't mean you go and do your 3RM or 5RM every time you hit the gym. You just seek to maintain (or at least be close to) the same weight as when you stopped your bulk - that usually entails cutting back volume.