If there was one best program for everyone, that’s all that would be needed. It’s not uncommon for people to find that different training methodologies are more or less successful for them.
I’m not suggesting there is a best program. I don’t even do 5/3/1 myself.
It’s just that most of the time when I see this on the internet it tends to be someone (normally beginners) who didn’t do the basics right and then blame the program. That’s why I asked for more details.
I don’t claim that there aren’t individual differences (some thrives with high reps, some with occasional max effort etc…), but I personally believe that the role of the program is often over estimated.
Like Alpha said it once: everything works, (granted it has some basic things working like progression and you can recover from it.)
Lifters mentality plays a big role too. I like the 5/3/1 since it is so well balanced, adjustable and just smartly build. It’s also done to be used for a longer period of time.
So I completely agree with you about the sceptisism. There are 100 things besides the program what can cause the lack of progress. And usually it has been some of these things when I search for reasons why I’m not getting better in my training.
Yeah… The core of 5/3/1 is literally the programming of ONE LIFT for 3 SETS. so when people say "5/3/1 this " or “5/3/1 that” they are almost never taking about the actual 5/3/1 programming.
They are generally talking about the infinite variety that comes after that initial lift for 3 sets when they talk about the program
As Alpha said, hard work… works. The devil is in finding what works for you