Limb construction is a big part of this. Those dudes killing it in weightlifting are all torso with stubby limbs. They’re recruited from a young age for just that because of those qualities. You’re built like a conventional deadlifter: we’re an awkward breed.
All that said, for the front squat, make it a front squat. You’re most likely trying to back squat with a bar in front of you. Try to sit more DOWN than back with it. Squat BETWEEN your knees. Check out what I shared with @boilerman
Regarding those 5 days off: it’s what I was talking about post Super Squats with the 5x5 program for 6 weeks. A diet break can go a long way. The sad thing is that the body LIKES homeostasis so much that it will adapt to CRAZY stuff, to include insanity. So you keep ramping up the food and the body eventually goes “I guess this is what we do” and adapts to THAT. So if you take a break, it resets itself, and then you don’t need to keep such a high dose of training and nutrition intensity.
All that to say: breaks can be good too. But like you’ve witnessned first hand: life will provide them.