Different Gyms/Equipment

Trying to perform the same session (in terms of exercise selection and loading parameters) at different gyms with different equipment than what you’re accustomed to will often require you to make modifications.

When this happens, try to change your session as little as possible (in terms of exercise selection) and attempt to continue with the prescribed progressions where/if you’re able to.

Example 1:

You are traveling for work and have to modify all of machine and cable-based exercises because of the different brands between the gyms. You continue following your progressions on your barbell and dumbbell movements for the week but change the machine and cable work based on the rep ranges and intensities you’re meant to be working in. In addition, the gym you trained at while out of town did not have a hack squat (which was programmed), so you did Smith machine squats instead.

Example 2:

You have to rotate between two different gyms based on your schedule and end up needing to perform the same session at each gym multiple times during the mesocycle. You still aim to follow progressions on barbell and dumbbell-based movements, but modify the other variants as needed and, taking prior knowledge of your strength on those familiar pieces of equipment, implement a realistic progression model for them.

We highly recommend sticking to the same gym for every week of the same session within a mesocycle (though you can vary gyms more liberally within your training week).

If you do have to deviate, make intelligent weight selections within the loading parameters and intent guidelines of the original prescription to get the desired effects.