SSLP Press Stuck, Not Bench

[Dlk93]

Client of mine press has been stuck for a while now. We've tried a couple resets and we've had form checked on the FB forum (rebound with the hips could use a little work but doesn't seem to be what's holding her back). Her bench is still steadily going. Is it intelligent at this point to change to benching 2x/week and press 1/x per week until the bench stalls? I'm also going to change pressing to 4-5 sets of 5@8 to back off intensity and increase volume. After her bench LP runs out she'd like to focus on the press, in which case pressing frequency will swap with bench (2x/week).

Thoughts?

[Royce Nichols]

Yeah, I am curious to see what people say to this, too. I was training my girlfriend and I think the biggest thing was that we just didn't have small enough microplates. Do you those? They are invaluable, especially for females. I also switched her to 5 sets of 3 on her bench once that second stall hit. That has been working fine for a bit. But when that slows down I'll probably do similar and add more volume. But curious to see how other people train females!

[Ben Patterson]

The First Three Questions | Mark Rippetoe

Also, how long as the LP been?
Have you switched to triples yet?

I wouldn’t use RPE to determine load for a novice.

[Dlk93]

The First Three Questions | Mark Rippetoe

Also, how long as the LP been?
Have you switched to triples yet?

I wouldn’t use RPE to determine load for a novice.

She's eating enough, resting enough between sets, and we've tried microloading down to 1# per session. She's been doing her LP for about 3 months now. Her press always stalls around 70 pounds (for 3, so yes we've switched to triples). I'd say she's not a novice any longer and she's competent to use RPE to the point that it's effective.

[Dlk93]

Her build is very close to Vera Nahce. Those damned long arms make her press a rather length endeavor. Her squat made it to 170 before a hip injury, bench is 95.

[Brian Goldstein]

I'd say she's not a novice any longer and she's competent to use RPE to the point that it's effective.

There's your answer. It's time for intermediate programming of some shade.

[Dlk93]

There's your answer. It's time for intermediate programming of some shade.

Well I wasn't asking whether she was an intermediate or novice anymore, so that's not an answer. I'd consider the suggestions I made intermediate programming. I was trying to make the simplest modification and ask for thoughts on that modification. The complication is that she's still running LP on bench so I was asking whether switching bench to 2x/week and press to 1 as well as adding some additional volume for press is an intelligent move from here.

[ChasingCurls69]

The First Three Questions | Mark Rippetoe

Also, how long as the LP been?
Have you switched to triples yet?

I wouldn’t use RPE to determine load for a novice.

If you're coaching someone and choosing their loads, does it really matter what you call it? It's functionally similar to using RPE and telling us 4-5x5@8 gives us an idea of what kind of training stress is planned.

[Brian Goldstein]

Well I wasn't asking whether she was an intermediate or novice anymore, so that's not an answer. I'd consider the suggestions I made intermediate programming. I was trying to make the simplest modification and ask for thoughts on that modification. The complication is that she's still running LP on bench so I was asking whether switching bench to 2x/week and press to 1 as well as adding some additional volume for press is an intelligent move from here.

The answer is yes.

[quikky]

The move to more volume on the press at a lower intensity would be wise. However, what would be the reason to switch to 1x a week pressing? If her press is not going up, the idea would be to press more, not less. If she wants to focus on pressing instead of bench, I would actually switch her to 2x a week press and bench 1x in the middle. Then, adjust the press volume/intensity accordingly within the 2x a week setup.