Yer not a good idea. Remember that hitting all the reps even if you have a couple in the tank is where we want to be with our program. We want to accumulate volume and slowly build. I also think I read above that you changed the 5x5 to 5x10 for another session also. This is not going to help. The 5x5 at lower weight is all about practice and getting the form really ingrained.
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Roger that. I’ll drop weight significantly for next Monday, then I’m traveling for a week with no barbell. Will reevaluate while away.
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Thank you! I’ve been lifting for a while, and I have lots more fat than you 
Plus, I’m older (43, to be precise.) Contrary to mainstream thinking, I’ve discovered I can gain strength lots easier now than in my 20s and early 30s. At around 38 years old, I realized I’d naturally gravitated to low volume, high intensity lifting. For whatever reason, it’s like my biology morphed from preferring endurance exercise to strength training. I wouldn’t be surprised if you find the same, too - as you move through your 30s and into your 40s, strength gains become more natural.
Thank you! I read about your elbow troubles - you had a long, hard road when recovering. I’m glad it’s healed for you!
When I read about it, my first response was “less barbell, moar dumbbells.” Alternatively, the last time I overhead pressed, I used… an EZ curl bar! Mine is just long enough to sit on my squat rack and holds at least 200 pounds. The handle areas are at a gentle angle, so the bar doesn’t spin or twist when using it for other lifts; semi-supinated rows feel amazing. If you have an EZ curl bar, it might be a good change of pace for OHP (or rows.) The slight angle is easier on elbows and shoulders, and the bar allows for greater stability than dumbbells on heavy lifts.
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I think 315 is achievable in that timeframe. Lowering your TM on the squat and continuing Coffinworm is a good idea. I don’t know how explosive of a lifter you are – based on the videos I’ve seen, you seem more like a grinder – but Jim emphasizes in the strength-oriented programs that bar speed should remain high despite the higher percentages.
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You nailed it!
Yup. I need to get comfortable with 225 before I worry about 245. I’ll probably take 30lb off the TM, execute as written with high speed, and wait weeks before adding.
Thanks!
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Did you have success with 5/3/1 before? I like the concept Wendler laid out in the Forever book and will probably use it for a long time, but my strength regresses every single time I actually follow a 5/3/1 program. %-based training does not work for where I currently am.
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I don’t have enough experience with it to answer. I ran BBB 3 month challenge but I was new to consistent training at that time.
I chose Coffinworm because of all the 5/3/1 it actually uses top-end strength (100%tm) quite a bit.
But it does occur to me that this may not be the best path to 315. I hit a 135 strict press following my own simple stupid plan and that worked, so possibly I could make my own path… life is too busy for me to think a lot about it though, right now.
I am a simple minded person so couldn’t work this out. Here is what I read from your log.
Mon 9 Aug - 5x165,190,210,188,210. 3x235 - Need to be stronger next Monday so those squats don’t suck as much
Mon 16 Aug - 5 x 165, 190, 210, 190, 210, 2x235, rerack, breathe, 1x235 - That SUCKED from the beginning. Felt like dogshit.
Mon 23rd Aug - 200 x 5 (3 sets) - This was a great session. Just the right amount of work for me today.
Mon 30th Aug - 220 x 5 (2 sets) then 245 x 1
If you hit a double at 245 earlier in the year and lets assume your current max was 255 for a single. Then 235 would be 92% of you max.
Just to give you some perspective, My most recent strength block had my final week at sets of 4 at 147.5kg, this was 87% of the max I used for the program of 170. Bear in mind that the max number 170 was a number I hit in the gym last year. Just tested again and hit 177.5 so it was only 83% of that.
I am not sure how your current program works in terms of progression but looking at those weights and your commentary, it looks like you may have the TM to high or progressed it too quickly.
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Yes, hitting top-end strength without peaking would not be a good path to 315lb.
I think a straightforward path to 315lbx1 in 10 months would be to spent a lot of that time (6-7 months) doing something like greyskull LP for squat only and be willing to gain weight.
Hopefully you got pretty strong within a 8 month period and went from doing 225x10+ to like 275lbx10+ on your top set. Then you peak and smash well past 315lb because 315lb would be a joke if you can do 275lbx10+ and then prepare for the max effort with a proper peak.
I believe that 5/3/1 works great for people who genuinely know their limits and how to push hard. Then the % and programming Wendler uses in his programs work. Otherwise you need to do AMRAP-1 sets on a consistent basis so that you learn how to work under stress. If you choose the correct starting weight (should be something you can do for 12+ at first), then the bar is light enough so that you learn how to get aggressive with it without sacrificing technique.
Well, either that or you do Deep Water Beginner for 8 months and gain weight as well.
I agree with everyone about the bracing and being more aggressive with the bar. My abs hurt and I feel like I’m going to burst when I brace correctly.
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This is how I see it as well. I generally try to progress 531 by going batshit crazy on it (AMRAP sets where I am always trying to exceed 10 reps, heavier 5x10 backoff sets)…but I only do it for usually 3 or 4 cycles. This gets me great at sub-maximal work. Then I switch to something that looks more like TM and abuse the shit out of it, constantly trying to work on the 1RMs. It takes some time to transition between the two, but it seems to get my body ready to continually add more weight to the bar.
Of course, nothing I do is really according to conventional wisdom, so grain of salt and all that.
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9/1 Wednesday
5s pro dead and press day, c3 w1
1.1 mile jog
10 box jumps
Press 5s pro
5x45, 65, 85, 100, 110
Supplemental:
Press 75lb 15, 15, 12, 8 for 50 total.
Deadlift 5s pro
5x165, 205, 235, 265
Supplemental:
Superset
5x10 ab rollouts from knees
5x10 sldl 205 lbs. Double overhand.
Wow what a session. That final superset - I really pushed it with that SLDL- felt like a monster. Compensation for Monday’s fail eh.
Grabbed this pic in my garage gym:
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Looking strong, man. Keep up the good work!
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I want to thank every single person who has offered feedback/advice/encouragement recently. Too many to tag, but it surprises me - and motivates me so much - that when I hit a PR, so many people are watching and stoked for me; and when I fail a lift, so many people are right there to watch the video and offer wisdom free of charge and encourage me to take a step back and keep trying. I’ve never experienced that IRL (never was in sports LOL) and it means a lot. Thank you.
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This approach is essentially just simple block periodisation. Your 531 with amraps is like an accumulation phase where you get stornger and then your TM or low rep work is like a peaking phase. Nothing really strange here, its been used by many and works very well.
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I haven’t been posting in here as much as I used to, but have certainly been following along. IMO I don’t think it’s surprising at all that people want to drop in here and congratulate you or help out. It’s obvious that you put in a shitload of work and are open and willing to hash out ideas.
Personally, your log is one of my favorite to read simply because it’s full of awesome.info from great posters and honestly I just want to see you succeed.
Looking awesome man, keep grinding and that 315 squat will happen.
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Yeah, I was referring more to my tendency to go past the prescribed weights in general, and I spend a lot of time around my 1RMs. It isn’t exactly the “slow and steady” approach.
Dem quads 
Shoulders and arms have progressed a lot as well! Nice garden hose vein on the bicep
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9/3/2021 Friday
Coffinworm Bench Cycle 3 (first anchor), week 1.
Being smart based off the squat situation, and kept TM the same as it was last cycle.
Bench press 5x95, 145, 170, 190, 170, 190,
5x210 lifetime PR
Joker 1x215 lifetime PR
DUDE! I was so excited to hit those numbers. I knew I could - 210x3 was pretty easy the last couple of times - but I had crap sleep last night (baby) and 190 felt heavy… but I smoked it. The 1x215 moved like nothing, it was a fast rep. I asked the huge guy to be my spotter and he was super supportive too. Didn’t touch the bar except for the lift. Although on the 5 reps LOL he was shouting encouragement at me and I wanted him to stop 
5x5 squats 165lbs. trying to focus on the inhale, brace, and form. Wore my Vans too.
I found it very difficult to baloon my belly full of air.
100 band pullaparts. That has to count for my pulling accessory work, because my left elbow has been pissed for a week or two and needs a break.
5x10 pec flyes, 30lb dbs. Need to use 35s next time.
Superset with 5x8 BSS with 30lb. These still suck but 8 is much easier than 10.
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Cool mate, 2 plates in no time.
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210x3
You can already do 225 my man. Congrats!!
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