First week of BBB done, should I lower my TM?

Training
1

Hi everyone. Im new here, so I’m sorry if i didn’t post in the right category. I have been lifting for 2 years so far, and decided to hop on 531 BBB since my progress was slowing.

The results of my 5+ sets for my first week are:

OHP: 7 reps

Bench: 8 reps

Squat: 7 reps

Deadlift: 6 reps

I was told that the “unwritten” rule of the 5+ reps is that I’m supposed to be able to hit 9-12 reps unless the TM is too high. What should I do in this case, do I

  1. Lower my TM for week 2 and train from there

  2. Lower my TM at the end of the cycle

  3. Stay at my current TM after the cycle and keep going until I hit the recommended reps

2

If it’s unwritten, then JW didn’t write it, which means it’s not a rule of 5/3/1.

I’ve run a fair amount of 5/3/1 over the years, including BBB, and I’ve not been concerned with hitting any specific rep count on 5+ sets according to some unwritten rule.

If you’re able to hit 5 good reps with your TM, then it is correct and your percentages based on that TM should be correct as well.

I say, “Carry on!”

Edit: I’m curious—have you read any of JW’s 5/3/1 books?

2 Likes
3

Also didn’t jim say that i should be able to do 5 reps of 95% TM in a forum post before?

4

I read some of it, but I did just get the book. In the meantime ive just been relying on internet guides

5

Best advice I can give is to get the book, you can get it as a Kindle book on Amazon for a very reasonable price or the hard copy from his store.

6

I don’t know what you read and where but in his last book, 531 Forever, Jim now recommends a 85% TM for BBB. One of the main principle of 531 is start too light. Do you consider you are starting too light right now and are confident that you will hit some great PRs at the end of the cyle?