Originally Posted by
Kyle Aaron
Yes.
I simply remembered the principle, always do more than you did before, even if just 1lb or 1 rep. First try to add weight, if you cannot add weight add reps, if you cannot add reps add sets. Thus something like,
77.5kg 5,5,5 - great, time to add weight
80kg 5,3,1 - WTF, it's only 2.5kg more, oh well I did more weight
80kg 5,4,3 - I didn't get 3x5 but did get more reps, all good
80kg 5,4 - fuck this, I'll just do more sets - 3x3
80kg - this time I won't even try to do a 5th rep in the second set, I'll just do more triples afterwards - 5,4,5x3
80kg - same as before - 5,4,8x3
80kg 5,4,10x3 - alright next time I should be right
80kg 5,5,5 - awesome
82.5kg 5,5,5 - that went up easy, wow
That's an abbreviated version but it gives you the idea. Always try to add more weight for the target reps and sets. If you can't add weight then add reps. If you can't add reps, if you physically can't get it up there for that 5th (or whatever) rep, then add sets - even just a set of 1. For example, from 5,4,4 to 5,4,4,1 would be progress.
This is not what is advised by Starting Strength, at least not my 2nd edition.