I agree, I usually take it as a sign to adjust my TM down.
In any case, I am thinking of NOT doing this program this time. I dunno.
Might as well do something familiar to test strength levels before heading off into Deep Waters. Iām hoping to have time to run a 531 cycle or two before embarking on a 16 week hash job of a program.
ā¦I never said I would do Deep Waters!
Give me something more like Very Shallow Waters, Just Up Past The Ankles
You didnāt actually say it, we just read between the lines.
1 Like
Isnāt that exactly what 531 is. If you read Jimās first book the very foundation of the program is to train with sub maximal weight any to try and set rep PRs every session.
1 Like
Yes. I donāt know about the book, but his articles here have presented it as recommended, but optional. I have a feeling a lot of people just do the prescribed reps. Which probably also works.
There are so many variations now, I donāt even know what they call for.
Itās absolutely first book basic programming, yes. The issue with it is that most people arenāt going to be able to set rep PRs every week indefinitely, and since no-one follows Jimās original recommendation of 5 steps forward, 3 steps back, he had to find other ways to encourage āprogress slowlyā, hence Leaders and Anchors.
That is pretty much my take on it as well. I work under the assumption that the original program is his best program, so I have never tried any other variation.
And hey, those other variations may work as well or better. I literally have no idea.
1 Like
I intend to go through the palava of getting my hands on Forever this year, not because of the new templates, but because Iām told itās a great resource to learn how to program indefinitely.
Anyone with a few years experience can knock together a workable 531 template, it takes a lot more skill to program a whole year, or two, or ten in a smart way.
This is exactly why I quit 5/3/1. I would figure my e1RM before my PR set and hated it. āI have to deadlift 315 17 times???ā
Iāve been confused by his recent writing where he says āItās a PR set, not an AMRAP.ā
Arenāt they the same? Why would you set a PR of 5 if you could do 8? It seems like an encouragement to hold back early on so you can keep setting new PRs.
I think the problem is that we, as users of the program, have to learned when to back off. Like Dagill said above, 5 steps forward, 3 steps back. So when you get to that crazy stuff, you need to dial it back or change it up. Logically, I know from my own experience that is exactly what I should have done. Like reset, up the weights and lower the reps.
As far as AMRAP is concerned, I think it is a good idea in 531. Certainly the idea would be to AT LEAST make it a PR set. On the other hand, maybe there is an argument to be made that if you AMRAP too often, you will top out too quickly and longer term gains become more difficult? This is exactly what I am chewing on right now. Maybe trying a variation where I do them as pure PR sets, and increase the weights while decreasing the volume.
1 Like
Thatās my thoughts, yeah. I usually aim to beat a previous rep PR by 1 or 2 but very rarely more. On a bad day, I may only be aiming to equal it.
To be fair, though, I always manage add lots of weight over the course of a few cycles, and the real thing that has stopped me was my lack of willingness to keep eating and getting bigger. I donāt actually know if I could keep going if I was willing to fatten up.
Only one way to find out.
But yeah, I think my days of intentionally bulking are done. Iām too old for it to be a valid idea anymore.
I just always get to a point where it doesnāt feel comfortable any more, and I fear losing too much athleticism. And maybe it is also a bit less healthy for me. But it is tempting to try it once, I have never really gone past 85.
How tall are you? I forget, because Iām old.
This made me laugh 
Lol, no shit.
I am about 174 if I stand up straight. 5 foot 8 ish.
2 Likes
So 85kg isnāt small at all.
@ChickenLittle I say old as shorthand. What I mean is i donāt have the time to consistently sleep as needed or train as needed to make a bulk work productively. Maybe also i donāt have the mental fortitude to train hard enough in the 2 sessions a week to make it work, I donāt know.
2 Likes