Stalling on Texas Method

[chowdah]

Some basic information first...

Here's the template:
Volume------------Recovery-------------Intensity
BS 5x5------------90% 2x5-------------102-105% 1x5 or 1x3
BP/OHP 5x5--------90% OHP/BP 3x5-----102-105% 1x5...
Rows/Chins 5x5----90% Row/Chin 3x5---Deadlift 1x5

Here's my stats:
Bodyweight: 195lbs
BS (high bar): 5x5x275, 1x5x290
BP: 5x5x187, 1x5x202
OHP: 5x5x117, 1x5x127
Deadlift: 1x5x340

For the record, I've gained no less than 60lbs in the last 24 months (I started at 5' 11", 135lbs and a 95lb squat), and beat the hell out of linear progression before starting the texas method.

NOTE: If you want to know why power cleans are not in the mix, it's because in the past if I do just 1 clean incorrectly I aggravate and old injury in my elbows to the point that I cannot press, bench, or back squat for up to 4 weeks. Cleans just aren't worth it to me right now.

Here's the situation:
Been doing this Texas method template for 6 weeks, and I've been eating enough since I've gained 3-4 lbs.

For the last 2 weeks my volume day has regressed (only squats) and my intensity day has stalled (only on squats). BP is making great progress, everything else has made slow progress.

I know, I know, I HAVE read the book (which I acquired legally) and you write that this means the 5x5 volume on squats is too much, and I should drop a set. But today I only managed 5,5,2 on squats (I did 5x5 at the same weight last week with marginal form, and the week before that I did 5x5 at 5lbs less with great form and bar speed) before I decided my form was too crappy to continue. So I'm wondering if other actions should be taken, such as:

1) a weeklong deload on all lifts
2) a weeklong deload on just squats
3) Consider the abbreviated session today as a deload and continue at 4x5 next week
4) reset squat weight by 5-10% and continue as before

Do you have any recommendations?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Before getting analytical with the program, note: You've been doing the TM for 6 weeks, 2 of which have shown signs of a stall. You are not getting recovered, probably not eating enough. How much are you eating? It's possible that your jumps are too big, but gaining 3-4 lbs. is no guarantee of adequate food.

[chowdah]

Regarding food/recovery:
Okay I did my best to keep track of calories this past week, and I'm at around 3500-3700 kcal/day. I'm at 197lbs bw, up from 192 6 weeks ago. I'm fairly sedentary the rest of the week except for some mobility calisthenics or walking to work.

Regarding weight Increases:
For the press, I've been doing 2-4lb increases, bench has been 3-5lbs, and both have had pretty solid progress (1x5 is up 10lbs on press, +15lbs on bench). These lifts are currently improving.

I do 5lb increases on squat, and 5-10 on deadlift, depending on whether I'm doing fewer reps (e.g. I'll attempt 1x5x335 to 1x5x340, then 1x5x340 to 1x3x355), and I've seen 1x5 go up 20lbs on squats (till I stalled) and a measly 5lbs on Deadlift.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if it was a diet issue, wouldn't upper body lifts suffer more than the big lifts?

Thanks

[Mark Rippetoe]

Have you done any reading on this board regarding dietary requirements for a guy your size doing this program? And if you're doing the jumps correctly why would you have stalled in 4 weeks?

[Notorious]

Isn't 2x5 @90% too much for recovery day? I wouldn't call 90% light.

[zephed56]

Pretty sure the book says 80% of monday for the recovery day for the squat.

[Robert Callahan]

Isn't doing 90% of his worksets for 2 sets of 5 on recovery days a bit much? I thought it should be in the 70-80% range?

[JLascek]

Rip, is the fact that he's doing high bar significant?

[Mark Rippetoe]

All these things are significant examples of YNDTP.

[Daniel's Jack]

Isn't 2x5 @90% too much for recovery day? I wouldn't call 90% light.

In the example routine of Jesus Quintana quoted in PPST2 at least the light bench press on wednesday is done with 90% of the weight used on monday.