TM Volume Day- The Ultimate Thread

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

KSC,

Instead of asking a bunch of minor, repetitive questions I feel like this thread/expose' might be useful to others who use the Texas Method template. My question pertains the the progression on volume day- not in loading- but rather in overall set/rep scheme. Assuming form is not the issue, injury does not occur, and it's merely a certain level of strength acquisition the requires a change in how the volume is accrued. Currently my idea of progression looks like this (to avoid resets):

Initial > 5x5 > 4x5> 3x5> 5 x 3> 3x3 + back off sets/ DE squats (i.e. 10 x 3)

What are your thoughts on this progression model? 3 sets of 5 and 5 sets of 3 have the same total weight lifted even though it's obvious that the demands of multiple 3 rep sets are different than multiple 5 rep sets. I guess the simple answer is that "if it drives up the ID then don't worry about the method."

Somewhat relevant- I squatted 365 x 5 x 5 today. It was fine. I imagine at some point - maybe in the 380's I will have to drop to 4 or 3 sets but then are five triples the next logical step or would you recommend more of a DE setup to acquire volume?

[Andy Baker (KSC)]

It makes sense for sure, but its hard to just categorize this stuff in neat little boxes for people to follow. Training programs evolve and change slowly over time with the individual. But yes, with alot of lifters will get to the point where heavy 5x5 week in and week out is certainly not going to work and volume must be reduced, or accrued in a different manner such as DE training.

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

I wholeheartedly agree. I always answer these sorts of questions with it depends. I just wanted to hear your thoughts/experience on when the volume becomes too little/too bastardized to drive ID? Have you ran TM with a 5 x 3 on Volume day, or 3 x 3 for that matter? I would think somewhere around there it would be useful to switch to a DE setup but admittedly my clients are not this advanced so I don't have as broad a base to pull the data from.

[Andy Baker (KSC)]

The majority of mine are not either, and in a personal training scenario, a pure TM set up is hard to do simply because of time constraints. I can't recall a scenario when I have used lots of triples on a volume day, but not saying it wouldn't work.

[hamburgerfan]

I've made some good progress with triples on volume day.

[Andy Baker (KSC)]

Excellent. Again....not arguing against it, just saying I haven't really done it with any sort of regularity

[Domjo54]

I know a lot of people seem to like 8x3 volume days, especially after making changes like 5x5 ==> 6x4 ==> 8x3 as progression slows.

(sorry for blowing up your forum with posts all of a sudden Andy, I read it everyday but don't post often, and I just decided that I wanted to start posting more frequently)

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

The majority of mine are not either, and in a personal training scenario, a pure TM set up is hard to do simply because of time constraints. I can't recall a scenario when I have used lots of triples on a volume day, but not saying it wouldn't work.

Freaking tell me about it. I do lots of consults with ppl outside my gym and am pretty confident in my programming, but this is my first brush with TM in a purist sense. I don't think I can implement it in the traditional 1 hour sessions x 3 sessions per week. Oh well, they still get stronger despite these constraints. Good info Andy! Hope to see you at the Rippetoe Invitational.

[Andy Baker (KSC)]

You can't really do it in the traditional personal training set up. Just not enough time.

[Brian Zahn]

You can't really do it in the traditional personal training set up. Just not enough time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og9tIQtmxko&t=4m51s