Deloading and Mass building

[rockhardly]

I am due to take next week off from training. When I started the cycle I am about to finish, I was benching 265#, squating ???, and DL ???. I would like to know what my 1RM's are for the main lifts and was wondering if it would be o.k. to do that over the week off, do them next week and then take off the following week, or take off next week and do them the week before starting my next cycle? I think there are pro's and con's to all.

About my next cycle. I have about 4-6 weeks of bulking time before I want to cut. I surf and don't want to paddle around any extra weight and the water is a warmin'. However, before I cut I want to pack on the pounds of muscle. What would you say would be the best training program that would put the most muscle mass in the shortest amount of time?

 

[Gazhole]

On your last week of this program, test your 1rms and do like 2 assistance exercises of 2x10 or something. Then take a whole week off.

1rms are taxing as hell on the body, cns, and the mind. Best to keep other exercises in that session at a minimum, and leave plenty of rest - especially if you're doing 3 in one week.

Do squats on mon, bench on weds, and deads on fri or something. Then enjoy a nice rest week

When you come back after your rest, use those 1rms to calculate the weights you'll be using for that program at whatever rep range you're gonna use for bulking.

 

[rockhardly]

What program would be best to accomplish most mass gains in a 4-6 week period? As I just finished p/rr/s, I was thinking about trying Eric's FD/FS program as he suggest to only do this for 3 weeks. I was also thinking of doing a 5x5 with heavy compounds.

Also, I am currently taking this week off. I am going to delay maxing out for a while. During this week should I still eat like I was or decrease? How about training? Should I lift at all?

 

[rockhardly]

Li'L help here, please.

 

[Perdido]

I don't ever take any time off unless I get sick or hurt. If I'm finishing up a power phase I'll just back way off on the weight.
For best mass gains you'll need to eat. I really don't believe it makes that much difference what routine you do as long as you don't over do it and it's got enough variation.