High-Volume · Hypertrophy · Strength

Mariam's S&C Protocol

Coach's Rules
Volume Warning Rest times MATTER here. 2 mins for Top Sets, 60–90s for back-offs and isolations. If burning out, drop 1 set from every isolation.
Top Sets & Back-Offs 1 heavy all-out set after warmup. Then drop weight 10–15% for the back-off volume sets.
RPE Scale RPE 8 = 2 reps left. RPE 9 = 1 rep left. RPE 10 = absolute failure. Don't leave gains on the table.
⚠️ Calorie Surplus — Urgent At 2000 kcal you're eating at maintenance, not a surplus. You need 2,300–2,400 kcal daily to gain 0.25–0.4kg/week. The fix is simple: add one high-calorie snack every day (Greek yogurt + granola + nuts, or oats + protein powder + peanut butter). Protein target: 110–120g/day minimum. Without this, the program breaks you down instead of building you up.
Day 1 · Upper Body A
Bench, Back & Triceps
01
Dumbbell Bench Press
Top Set
Sets1
Reps6–8
8.5
Back-Off
Sets2
Reps8–10
7.5
Coach tip

DBs give a bigger range of motion than a barbell — feel the chest stretch at the bottom of every rep. Each arm works independently so no side can cheat. Start with a weight you can control fully, then build.

Watch Tutorial
02
Assisted Pull-Ups
RPE 8
Sets3
Reps6–10
Coach tip

Use the assisted pull-up machine. Goal is to reduce assistance each week — we're working toward your first unassisted pull-up! Full hang at the bottom, chin clears the bar at the top. Control the descent slowly.

03
T-Bar Rows
RPE 8
Sets3
Reps10–12
Coach tip

Chest on the pad, pull towards lower chest. Squeeze shoulder blades hard at the top. Don't use momentum.

04
Dumbbell Lateral Raises
RPE 9
Sets4
Reps12–15
Coach tip

Increased volume. Take the last two sets to absolute failure.

05A
Tricep Rope Pushdowns
RPE 9
Sets3
Reps10–15
Coach tip

SUPERSET with Cable Bicep Curls. Pin elbows to ribs, focus on the squeeze at the bottom. No rest before moving to biceps!

05B
Cable Bicep Curls
RPE 9
Sets2
Reps10–15
Coach tip

SUPERSET. Since you're already at the cable machine, immediately drop the rope down, grab it, and curl. Rest 60-90s after this before repeating.

06
Weighted Cable Crunches
RPE 9
Sets3
Reps10–15
Coach tip

Treat abs like any other muscle—load them heavily to grow the core.

Day 2 · Lower Body A
High Volume Quad & Glute
01
Smith Machine Squats
Top Set
Sets1
Reps5–8
8.5
Back-Off
Sets3
Reps8–10
7.5
Coach tip

Extra back-off set for more leg volume. Keep rests disciplined!

Watch Tutorial
02
Smith Machine Hip Thrusts
Top Set
Sets1
Reps6–8
8.5
Back-Off
Sets3
Reps10–12
8
Coach tip

⚠️ Weeks 1–2: Empty bar or bodyweight only. You've never done these before — the pattern needs to be grooved before you load it. Focus entirely on: upper back on bench, bar across hips, drive through heels, squeeze glutes hard at the top and hold for 1 full second. The RPE targets above kick in from Week 3 once the movement feels natural. Watch the tutorial before your first session.

Watch Tutorial
03
Leg Extensions
RPE 9–10
Sets4
Reps12–15
Coach tip

Push to absolute failure on the last two sets.

04
Seated Calf Raises
RPE 9
Sets4
Reps12–15
Coach tip

Pause at the bottom stretch for 2 seconds. No bouncing.

Day 3 · Full Body A
Leg Biased + Biceps
01
Sumo Deadlifts
Top Set
Sets1
Reps4–6
8
Back-Off
Sets2
Reps6–8
7
Coach tip

⚠️ Weeks 1–2: Empty bar only. No working sets yet. Watch the tutorial before you arrive. Spend 10 mins at the start of the session drilling the setup — wide stance, toes out 45°, hips dropped lower than an RDL, bar over mid-foot, chest up. The cue that clicks for most people: "push the floor apart with your feet" — don't think about pulling the bar up.

📹 Take a video of every set and send it to your coach. Form check is mandatory on this lift before loading goes up. We're building this right from rep one.

From Week 3: start at 30–35kg and build from there. You'll move more than you expect.

Watch Tutorial
02
Dumbbell RDLs
RPE 8.5
Sets3
Reps8–10
Coach tip

Push hips back until you feel a deep stretch in the hamstrings. Keep the dumbbells close to your legs and your core braced to protect your lower back.

03
Single Arm Dumbbell Row
RPE 8
Sets3/arm
Reps8–12
Coach tip

Pull towards the hip, not straight up to the shoulder.

04A
Dumbbell Bicep Curls
RPE 9
Sets3
Reps10–15
Coach tip

SUPERSET with Overhead Tricep Extensions. Full stretch at the bottom, squeeze hard at the top. Go straight to triceps after.

04B
Overhead DB Tricep Ext.
RPE 9
Sets2
Reps10–15
Coach tip

SUPERSET. Grab a single dumbbell and perform overhead extensions to target the long head of the tricep. Rest 60-90s after this before repeating the superset.

05
Leg raises
RPE 9
Sets3
Reps10–15
Coach tip

Control the swing. Curl pelvis upward to engage lower abs. Captain's chair is fine too.