Holy crap, nice skills!
Time for a plateau busting change of pace? Something extreme or at the least extremely different for a bit?
And also, since no-one except @Cyrrex commented, nice skills. Especially for an American.
Even when I tried Brian’s stuff it was similar in that it was one lift per day, pushing for a record on one or more of the sets. I gravitate toward the same kinds of programs. I don’t really have the ability to lift > 4 days per week due to my schedule and also desire to do conditioning. It’s a lot easier for me to focus on one big lift per day also… but maybe I’m simply used to it
plus putting everything into one set appeals to me.
I think Jim has a large enough variety of programs if someone wants to try something radically different. And I don’t feel like I’m a special snowflake enough that 5/3/1 doesn’t work, haha. I was thinking of trying out the 28 week program from Beyond because it gets quite heavy by the end of it. And honestly, though stuff like BBB at FSL sucks, it doesn’t intimidate me whatsoever because I’m way too good at cranking out reps. I think I’d be much more challenged by needing to not only not rein back my TM after a couple cycles but also rep out my TM and jokers by the end of it.
Dan John’s stuff still interests me though. I’ve contemplated Mass Made Simple sometimes, though it doesn’t jive with me as much as 5/3/1.
And hey now, American aren’t that awful. I can’t stand to watch the MLS or our men’s team, but watching the women’s national team doesn’t make me want to turn off the match…
Do you like squatting?
I ran a version in January of this year if you’re interested in what it looks like. It was a mix of two different version that included 531, which may interest you.
Nope, I despise it. Regardless of what I choose, I’d like to improve my squatting and pressing the most. Bench and deadlift aren’t problems. My theory is that the latter lifts don’t require as much muscle mass to improve, ahaha
I still think I’ll lean toward sticking with 5/3/1, but go ahead, I’d be interested.
I’ll sum up Mass Made Simple for you. Each workout looks like this:
2 Basic strength moves on basic, minimal rep schemes (OG MMS uses Bench and single armed press with a few low volume correctives for balance, MMS-lite uses 531 but with front squats instead of back squats, no supplemental or assistance)
Complexes - 3 - 5 complexes of 3 - 5 reps of 6 (?) movements.
High rep squats:
Usually one set of high rep squats, starting at 2 x 25 @ not very much weight and working up to 1 x 50 @ bodyweight (rounded up)
Thats it, that’s your workout. Repeat, with slight variations, 14 times.
Yeah, I’m familiar with the two versions. I don’t have access to DBs, KBs, or a machine row. And honestly, I highly, highly doubt I could manage 1x50 squats at BW within the next several years let alone within several weeks. I understand this program is geared toward male athletes, but still…
So I still think 5/3/1 would be a better choice for me, though I’m quite biased. I’ve still a few weeks to contemplate ![]()
I did it without dumbbells or kettlebells.
Those squats are purely a mindset thing. The weights are light enough that you can always do one more rep, you just have to suck it up and do it.
High rep, high volume squats don’t scare me though – heavy ones do.
I do like the integration of 5/3/1 in the program as well as the semi-“free-for-all” on the OG 3rd day though, so I’ll be keeping it in mind for sure. So you feel you got a lot out of it?
Mentally? Yes.
Physically? I think so, I think it pushed my potential to squat heavy way up, I just didn’t do a good job of realising that after I finished the program.
Makes sense. I’m a bit iffy because I prefer the one big lift/training day approach, my squat technique is already much to be desired, and it seems like a stronger athlete would get more out of it, but I’ll remain open-minded – especially as my legs are very DYEL.
100 cal assault bike in 12:25
Just to clarify: I’m not pushing you to do it, you just mentioned it and I thought I’d fill you in on the “joys” from my experiences.
I do think that if you’ve been doing 531 style training for a few years now, that something very different for a month or two might be the plateau buster you need.
Of course! I appreciate the suggestion. I think the plateau buster I need is simply more food, but I definitely want to try MMS at some point even if I don’t choose it this time around.
Needing more food seems like good news to me.
Good in that it’s a simple solution, though not so good right now because I’m tired of losing weight
but riding it out for a little while longer.
I was thinking more basic: food is tasty.
Although I see Bulldog is aboutnto drop some wisdom.
If you dont have it …I suggest getting Jim’s book 5/3/1 forever
Own it and have read it countless times. Definitely a great book.
I may be partial, but when you do plan on adding in some food, I’d highly recommend looking into Leviathan or another similar TMx1 based program from forever.
It may just be personal preference, but hitting a heavyish single (making sure form is there) and then hammering away at supplemental has brought up my confidence in handling heavier squat weights for reps. After a month of hitting a single at TM, you’re ready to add that ten lbs because you already owned it for 3 weeks straight.
Training like this hasn’t added anything to my physique, or lack thereof, but I know once I switch to a muscle building program I’ll be handling a lot heavier weight than I would’ve 6 months ago.