5/3/1 Spreadsheet Question

Bigger Stronger Leaner
1

Hi people, I was looking for a good spreadsheet for the Boring But Big 3 month challenge (mostly out of laziness since I didn’t want to make my own). And I was lucky enough to find one, but there seem to be a few things off with it that I wanted to run by you all before I use it starting Monday. Here is a link to it — (Copy of 531 Boring But Big 3 Month Challenge - Dr Workout - Google Sheets) I will be referencing this spreadsheet in this post. I also want to note that I put all the training maxes as 100LB for simplicity’s sake when testing it out.

  1. For one, the percentages for the main lift seem a bit off. As far as I understand, the main lift of the BBB 3 month challenge uses the same reps, sets, and weight as the original 5/3/1 program’s main lift. The original 5/3/1 has week one percentages at 65%, 75%, and 85%, But on this spreadsheet for week 1 the percentages are 75%, 80%, and 85%. Similarly the week 2 percentages are also a bit off from what the regular 5/3/1 percentages are. I know that this is probably a small issue but I want to follow the BBB 3 month challenge as it was written, so my question is should I use the 5/3/1 percentages as shown in this (5/3/1: How to Build Pure Strength) post, or do I go with what is in the spreadsheet.

  2. My second question is on that of the deload week. In Wendler’s Ebook when he talks about the deloading weeks on the 3 Month challenge, he says “the only difference with the deload is that the 5 sets of 10 reps will be cut to 3 sets of 10 reps. everything else remains the same.”
    So am I also cutting down the weight to the original 5/3/1 deload percentages for the sets of the main lift, those being 40%, 50%, and 60%, on top of cutting down the assistance work from 5 sets of 10 to 3 sets of 10? (Interestingly this spreadsheet seems to also get these percentages wrong as it lists them as 60%,65%, and 70% which just adds further confusion :skull:)

Thank you for your responses!

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Cant u just use a pen and s notebook like a normal person?

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Yeah, ive used excel for 531 before (never trust someone elses, make your own) but TBH its so simple you don’t really have to. Sit down Sunday night and calculate monday Morning’s lifts, takes less than a minute. Or if you forget, calculate them during warmups the day of!
But yeah following the article and ignoring that internet spreadsheet, making your own if you want, you wont regret it.

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