I’ve been using 5/3/1 for almost 2 years. My question is when do you know it’s time to back the weights down ? And how much? Do you back them down after not being able to hit the reps that equal your true 1rm,or the reps that equal your training max ? Or when you stop hitting the “prescribed reps” or when u fail to break rep PR’s. Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks!
Here is a question i posted recently. Should help. http://tnation.T-Nation.com/hub/Pete86#myForums/thread/5837535/
Have you gone 2 years with out stalling!?
5 steps forward and 3 steps back has kept many a lifter healthy and strong. Knowing when to back off is completely auto regulated. Some signs of serious overtraining are lack of sleep. Even when you are exhausted you cant sleep. Also your appetite has decreased and you just generally feel terrible. Dont confuse this with just having a bad workout and being sore. Like I said this is autoregulation which most lifters don’t know what to look for. Thats why Jim has recommended the 5 steps forward 3 steps back. It has worked for me and it will work for you
5 forward and 3 back - as noted before.
Jim when did this idea come about I don’t in all three books I bought I didn’t see this. you always said 3 steps forward 2 step back but never understood what you meant by this. anyways I making great progress in 2 years and haven’t wavered off of your training methods. great stuff broski 
im mean coach hehe