Modifying the 5x5?

[Esam]

I have a question about Bill Starr's 5x5. I am on week 7 now I believe, where I begin doing 3x3 instead of 5x5. Up until this point I have done it by the book. But now I would like to modify it some.

My question is, what is the purpose of the 3x3? Is it to let your CNS / muscles rest? Or is it because you have hit a plateau on the 5x5 and need to lower reps to keep getting your body used to the higher weight.

I'm asking because I am no where near a plateau on squats/deadlifts but I AM at a plateau on bench/SOHP. I'm thinking if the reasoning is the latter, I could just move down to 3x3 in bench/SOHP and keep going 5x5 on deadlift/squat/rows.

Then at the end of the program I would like to simply retest my 5 rep maxes to see how much progress I have made and do a cycle of higher rep stuff.

Does this sound reasonable?

 

[JPC]

From the Starr program I know, the first couple weeks of 3x3 are for deloading, giving your body a break, then the last few weaks you load up to a top triple, getting your body used to even heavier weights. I would do it as perscribed. Even if you think squats and deadlifts can keep going hard, better to save it for the next loading cycle. Patience.

 

[JPC]

http://www.geocities.com/elitemadcow1/table_of_contents_thread.htm
This will explain everything you need to know about the 5x5 programs.

 

[FatAlToTheMax]

I would and did just stick to the program. You need to stick to a 5x5 with DL anyway. Just see this program through and screw with your own ideas in the future. I get to do that with my ideas soon.

 

[GroundC0ntrol]

stick with the 5x5 and do some assistant lifts for your chest like flys, rack presses, half benches, board presses etc.

 

[Esam]

That link is great, thanks!

I think I will leave it alone for now as everyone suggests.

 

[Mark Limbaga]

From the Starr program I know, the first couple weeks of 3x3 are for deloading, giving your body a break, then the last few weaks you load up to a top triple, getting your body used to even heavier weights. I would do it as perscribed. Even if you think squats and deadlifts can keep going hard, better to save it for the next loading cycle. Patience.

The 3x3 was meant to further peak what you have started with the 5x5. Once you plateau in the 3x3, that is tthe signal that it is time to deload

 

[Mark Limbaga]

stick with the 5x5 and do some assistant lifts for your chest like flys, rack presses, half benches, board presses etc.

This is the worst advice iven here. Doing that will just elave you in an overtrained staate and make you weaker than when you begun