Conjugate Strength Training for Beginners

Wenning Strength

Powerlifting, Strength & Conditioning, Weightlifting

Coach

Matt Wenning

Welcome to Conjugate Strength Training for Beginners! Stop trying to "wing it" at the gym or follow bad advice that (at best) won't lead to signifcant gains or (at worst) could seriously injure you. Matt Wenning offers expert, easy-to-follow guidance that will give you RESULTS. Crafted by a three-time world champion powerlifter and biomechanics expert, this program will give you strength gains without the hefty price tag of personal trainers.

All the wisdom you need can be in the palm of your hand.

Whether you're a beginner or seasoned lifter, our comprehensive approach will propel you toward your goals. If you're committed, disciplined, and dedicated to achieving real physical power, then you belong here.

Are you ready to begin?

$199

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Features

Coaches At Your Fingertips

Our Coaches, along with our active community, are here to help you through the programming.

Programming 6 days per week

Programming is usually 6 days per week with 2 max effort days (upper and lower), 2 dynamic days (upper and lower), GPP / Restoration and Recovery.

Step-by-Step Video Tutorials for Each Exercise

Matt Wenning showcases and explains every exercise through instructional videos.

Committed Community

A vibrant community that will keep you pushing to unlock your best!

Delivered through TrainHeroic

Your coaches and team will push you harder, know you better, and keep you going longer, all through an app.

Equipment

Required

Squat Rack // Plates // Straight Bar // Dumbbells (DBs) // Cable Machine // Lat Pulldown Machine

Recommended

Adjustable Bench // Tricep Attachments // Board Bench Press // Foam Roller / Massage Stick // Bands // Sled // Rope // Chains // Kettlebells (KBs) // Leg Curls Machine // Leg Extensions Machine // Seated Calf Machine // Back Extension Machine // Reverse Hyper Machine // Power Rack // Ab Wheel

Sample Week

Week 1 of 12-week program

Sunday

DAY 1: MAX EFFORT LOWER

Dynamic Mobility (Warm-Up)

@ 10:00

Reverse Hyper

3 x 12

Belt Squat

4 x 25

Barbell Squat

5 x 5

Sumo Deadlift

5 x 5

Glute Hamstring Raises (GHR)

Decline Situps

3 x 10

Glute Bridges

Monday

DAY 2: MAX EFFORT UPPER

DB Internal External Rotation

@ 10:00

Rear Delt Rows

3 x 25

Tricep Pushdowns

3 x 20

Lat Pulldowns

3 x 20

KB Bench Press (KB Press)

6 x 6

Board Press

Single Arm DB Row

3 x 10

DB Tricep Extension

Foam Rolling

@ 10:00

Tuesday

DAY 3: RECOVERY

Foam Rolling

@ 20:00

Wednesday

DAY 4: OFF

REST

Thursday

DAY 5: DYNAMIC LOWER

Dynamic Mobility (Warm-Up)

@ 10:00

Sled Drags

4 x 50

Speed Squats

10 x 3

Speed Deadlift (Speed Pulls)

10 x 1

Good Mornings

Lying Band Curls

Friday

Day 6: DYNAMIC UPPER

DB Bench Press

4 x 25

Lat Pulldowns

4 x 15

Speed Bench Press

10 x 3

DB Tricep Extension

Band Rear Delt Pull Aparts

4 x 25

Forearm Work

@ 5:00

Lateral Raises

Saturday

Day 7: GPP // RESTORATION

KB Swings

3 x 30

Hot tub

@ 15:00

Stretch

@ 20:00

Coach

More from Wenning Strength

Matt Wenning

I hold a Master’s Degree in Biomechanics and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Ball State University. I was consistently ranked among the Top 5 Powerlifters in the World from 2005 to 2011 and from 2007 to 2017 in both Raw and Equipped divisions. I currently serve as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for multiple fire departments in Ohio.

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FAQs

I’m new to the program, where should I start?

This program is crafted to help you bounce back after a substantial hiatus from training, whether it's due to surgery, prior commitments like the demands of life, or a desire to rekindle your fitness journey.

I see the term “meso” a lot. What does that mean?

This refers to a “mesocycle,” which is a specific training block. It’s a focus on one particular aspect of a program. You’ll see the term “meso” in this manual quite a bit.

Should I know my 1-rep max for squat, bench, and deadlift?

We highly recommend that you possess a basic understanding of your one-rep maximum (1RM) for squat, bench press, and deadlift. However, this knowledge is not mandatory, as the majority of our workouts and exercises are designed around the concept of Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE).

What does RPE mean and how do I implement it into my workouts?

The Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) serves as our method for gauging the perceived intensity of an exercise. This assessment employs a numerical scale spanning from 1 to 10, where a rating of 1 signifies minimal effort, while a rating of 10 denotes an exceptionally strenuous effort.

How should I warm-up / cool down?

Each session has what we call a Wenning Warmup, this warmup is used to prime the muscle groups we will be targeting for that session. The Wenning Warm Up varies from workout to workout.

What does a standard training week entail?

Typically, our training program consists of four days per week, comprising two maximum effort days (one for upper body and one for lower body) and two dynamic days (again, one for upper body and one for lower body).

Q: Wha if my schedule doesn't permit me to train four days a week?

Not to worry! You have flexibility in your training frequency. You can choose to complete between 1 to 3 workouts per week. We suggest switching up your workout sessions each week to ensure variety and balanced training.

How much recovery time should I allow between each training session?

To adhere to the principles of the Law of Accommodation, it's recommended to ensure a minimum of 72 hours of rest between Max Lower and Dynamic Lower sessions, as well as between Max Upper and Dynamic Upper sessions.

What are tempos?

A tempo is the speed at which you perform an exercise. For example, if you see something with a 3-3 tempo it is a 3-count concentric phase and a 3-count eccentric phase.

Can you help me track my diet & nutrition?

Given the size of our community, individually tracking nutrition plans for each athlete can be quite challenging. To best serve our community, we have developed The Wenning Strength Nutrition Manual, which is designed to provide comprehensive guidance in this area. Find it at WenningStrength.com.

The Proof