Originally Posted by
Mark Rippetoe
Have you ever tried just training through the program, i.e. loading the weight on the bar that you program calls for and doing the sets, after making sure that your jump is not too big, that you've rested enough between sets, and that your recovery efforts have been focused in that direction? Instead of assuming that it's going to be "too hard" based on your subjective perception of the warmup and minor schedule deviations, I suggest that you just do the program.
A novice lifter on a LP derives no benefit from lighter volume as back-off load. I can't imagine where you got this idea, but it doesn't work as well as just doing an occasional harder-than-you-like-it-to-be workout.