Trouble Understanding 5/3/1/ Workouts

So what book has the percentages I should use for the 5,3,and 1 sets? His example is the book clearly states it’s an example of the 3x3 week but the main lift is 5x5??

Have you read this:

It may help a little

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Yep, and I’m sure it won’t surprise you to hear I started a thread asking a question about that article when I had some confusion :man_facepalming:. Fuck me dude. I thought lifting the weights would be the hard part, turns out the hardest part is figuring out what to lift and when.

So he uses those %’s listed in that article for all of his workouts? He just plays with the reps and sets?

EDIT: so his “3x3” example listed starting on page 234 is a misprint?

I thought 5/3/1 was for hair care?

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I feel the Hardgainer is easier to understand. Easy peasy

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I think the name “531” name is confusing you, because it really no longer describes the program or progression very much. You are expecting the “3x3” week to have have three sets of three, and with most programs, like Krypteia, you are using 5’s PRO and everything is 5x5.

So, the only difference between the 5x5 week, the 3x3 week, and the 531 week is the percentages. You are not “changing your TM” from week to week, just using a different percentage of it.

TM = 200 lbs, let’s say.

Week 1 (5x5). Your working weights are 65, 75, and 85 percent of that. So, you’d do 5 reps at 130 lbs, then 5 reps at 150 lbs, then 5 reps at 170 lbs. Then, you’d do your FSL, which is 5 sets of 5 at 130 lbs (the weight of your first working sets.

Week 2 (3x3). Your working weights are 70, 80, and 90 percent of 200 lbs. So, you’d do 5 reps at 140 lbs, then 5 reps at 160 lbs, then 5 reps at 180 lbs. Then, you’d do your FSL, which is 5 sets of 5 at 140 lbs (the weight of your first working sets.

Week 3 (5x3x1). Your working weights are 75, 85, and 95 percent of 200 lbs. So, you’d do 5 reps at 150 lbs, then 5 reps at 170 lbs, then 5 reps at 189 lbs. Then, you’d do your FSL, which is 5 sets of 5 at 150 lbs (the weight of your first working sets.

That’s it. So you’re right in that 3x3 is a bit of a misnomer. Also, note I didn’t put in the warm up sets, but do those too.

This would be what’s called a “leader”, and what is listed above would be one cycle. You would typically increase your TM by 5-10 lbs, then run it again the same way but with these new (slightly heavier) weights. That would be your second cycle of a leader. You would typically take a week here to deload or test, and Jim calls this the 7th week protocol. Finally, increase your TM again and run it again. The only difference is that you push the heaviest set for a personal record each workout.

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Sounds so simple but I am starting to get a feeling that those of us who have run the old program and followed along for a long time are a bit like members of a sect!!! Seems obvious to us but very weird to an outsider !! :joy:

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Yes a s the 3x3 just refers to the 3 weeks %’s.

Why don’t you run the basic program in the link I added for 2 cycles (6 weeks) just to get a handle on the %s and TM. Then you could progress to 5’s pro for 2 cycles (6 weeks). By then you’ll be used to the % and structure of the cycle and it may make a bit more sense. You won’t have lost anything, if anything you may find you progress well even on the basic program. After all it was good enough to help many others get strong.

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The thing you need to ask yourself about the original 5/3/1 is whether there is enough volume and frequency for the natty or left handed lifter.

:sunglasses:

There definitely is if you run BBB with same as main lift and add FSL with opposite main lift and increase the assistance to 200 reps of the three categories :joy::stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Ok, everything is making a lot more sense right now. Only question I can think of now is do all 3 cycles of Krypteia in part one get 5x5 FSL? Because in all the examples he stops after 5s PRO.

@Chris_Colucci I’ve accidentally started a thread inside another thread. I feel this information is extremely valuable and would hate to see it lost among other posts (that are not off the rails lol).

Would it be possible to take all these posts and somehow keep them in order and move them into a NEW thread?

If not I totally understand, just wanted to ask.

OrDidI

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Ok when you posted this in the confessions thread I was unsure if it was directed towards the Wendler discussion or something else…
now it’s been transferred over to this new thread (thanks @Chris_Colucci) so I assume it belongs.

Not ment for you

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Sorry for the confusion. I was shifting over posts that were replies. Must’ve gotten caught up in the mix. My fault.

No worries. I should have know better not to post in the middle of everything

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@T3hPwnisher @simo74 @strongmangoals

Now I’m plugging numbers and trying to understand BBB. Would y’all mind looking this over to see if I’ve got it right? This is for the original BBB and I’d be doing it 4 days a week.

Example is for Monday of week one. The exercise is back squat.

He calls for:

Warm ups
Jumps/throws

Squat -
5/3/1 sets and reps
Followed by
5x10 with 40-60% TM (I chose 50%)

My 1rm for back squat - 360lbs. My 90% TM would be 325. (still would be testing lifts to get an accurate number)

Set 1. 65% x 5 = 210 x 5
Set 2. 75% x 5 = 245 x 5
Set 3. 85% x 5 = 275 x 5

Followed by the 5x10 at 50% TM

5x10 at 165lbs.

Sound about right?

Alright. So more reading and now I’m confused. In his example he says use the 5/3/1 sets and reps, which of what I found from the Tnation 5/3/1 article. But now I see he lists the percentages for week one at 70%,80%, and then 90%. :man_facepalming: So two different percentages are said to be used unless I’m missing something.

This looks spot on to me. just one observation:

If you are going to use the original program with BBB then the last set (set 3 85% x 5 = 275 x 5) would normally be a 5+ set. This means you would do as many reps as possible,

If you are using 5’s Pro then every set is 5 reps and there is no + set.