When to Taper during NLP

[hill.1338@osu.edu]

Male 5'10" 203lbs 30 y/o

All are 3x5s except cleans
Squat 340
DL 365
Press 145
PC 165 5x3

I'm wondering if it's almost time to taper squats on the NLP to 1 heavy set and 2 backoffs. I'm really really fucking gassed after my first set, but I'm still hitting depth with pretty good form (a little chest pulling) - I had my form checked by Ryan on the technique forum.

My question is, how will I know when to taper? Do you recommend actually failing a lift before you consider tapering? Are there guideline weights for average males?

I'm not going to lie, Ryan told me that you don't know where your limits are that you should push it... but I am not sure if I want to fail a lift with 350+ lbs on my back. I have literally NEVER failed a squat before. I am self taught, with no spotters (y'all need to open a DC location). Gym has bars in their cages that can be used for safety.

As always, any help is much appreciated.
Zack

[Mark Rippetoe]

The First Three Questions | Mark Rippetoe

[Jr_Geezer]

The First Three Questions | Mark Rippetoe

When I saw the title of the post, I knew exactly what Rip's reply was going to be, without having to open the post.

[hill.1338@osu.edu]

I’ve read this article many times. It’s the reason I’m asking these questions because resting more between sets helped a lot from 315 to 340.

Resting 10+ minutes between sets. I set my alarm for 9 minutes, put my belt on and shit and then get focused, so it’s definitely 10+ minutes.

Sleeping well at least 8 hours a night. Not going to act like I’m the best sleeper in the world, but I’m definitely getting 7-9 and averaging 8.

NEVER gone up by more than 5 lbs on a squat other than ramping back up to 285 (took a month break due to changing cities and job). Took 10 lbs jumps on DL for awhile but stopped back at 315.

Eat a ton.

Morning:
3-6 eggs
3-6 sausage links
Brussels sprouts or asparagus
Big ass glass of milk and small glass of milk with creatine and beta alanine
Coffee

Lunch1:
Beef or venison with barley vegetable soup with carrots, mushroom, green beans and onion.

Lunch 2:
Same as lunch 1

Dinner:
Either 1) a serving of fish (salmon- wild caught) with Brussels sprouts, asparagus or some other vegetable medley or 2) you guessed it, more venison with barley vegetable soup. I also make burrito bowls as well that are loaded with chicken, brown rice and other stuff.

There are nights where I’ll eat a second dinner if I’m feeling it. I really do eat as much as I can.

30 min before training I drink coffee which has helped a lot with my first sets.

After training and the day after a training day I have a big ass protein shake as well.

Also taking HMB 3x a day.

Total intake of milk is probably about a half a gallon of day, leaning towards 3/4 a gallon on heavy days or if I’m just feeling like drinking milk.

[Mark Rippetoe]

What are your total calories/protein? Do the math.

[hill.1338@osu.edu]

Lower calorie day
Calories 3750
Protein 215g

Higher calorie day (basically add a shake and more eggs)
Calories 4400
Protein 255

I did two scenarios (less food vs more food). On average, my week is 4 days of high calories (days of and after heavy days - 2 heavy days per week). Tonight I'm doing 345... so I've already eaten a lot today and will eat a lot tomorrow.

The Beef with Barley soup I make is pretty loaded with either beef or venison. In fact it's less of a soup and more like stan efferdings monster mash. There was 9lbs of venison in the last pot that lasted me Monday - Friday lunch.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Sounds like it might be time to move to intermediate training. You have the gray book, right?

[BastiatBB]

Male 5'10" 203lbs 30 y/o

All are 3x5s except cleans
Squat 340
DL 365
Press 145
PC 165 5x3

No bench?

[hill.1338@osu.edu]

I do. Texas method would be my first choice unless you think there’s something better given the circumstances.

I just did 345 yesterday. Felt better than 335 and 340. Really trying to keep bar speed up by not pulling my chest when I grind on the later reps in later sets.

[hill.1338@osu.edu]

No bench?

Not that it matters in this thread since I'm only talking about switching to intermediate programming on the squat, but I simply forgot.

I have a trash right shoulder and don't consider bench to be very important. I train it because it contributes to full body strength but I have to balance the fact that if I work it too much it will take away from the other lifts (I went through about a month of this from 200-225). Therefore, I do A/B/A and not B/A/B in a given week. Benching too much makes it sore.

I bench tomorrow and my working set is 235x3x5... but I occasionally stop after the 4th rep on my last set if I feel it is going to shit. I didn't need to do this last week with 230, but I did at 225. I tend to play it by ear and adjust the workout if need be.