Customizing The Barbell Prescription 2 day a week to 531 for an intermediate?

[PapaBear59]

Question on programming for a 64-year-old novice who wants to continue the 2 the day a week program as laid out in the Barbell Prescription but has stalled several times and wants to move to Wendler’s 531

His stats:
Age 64
Height 5’9”
Weight: 205 (This may have been the hardest part of the program for him to achieve. Eats a lot, eats a good balanced diet, but claims he has always had trouble gaining weight and keeping it on.

His Max lifts:
Squat: 217
Bench: 153
Dead: 250
Press: 103

We have micro loaded all the lifts and he has stalled several times.
He likes the 2 days a week set up in BBP and wants to continue with the main work. He is unable to do chins and still doing pulldowns (Currently 120 x 8).
He started looking at Wendler’s 531 (which suggested your doing the Starting Strength program first), and combining the basic lifts with Wendler’s Program he came up with this:

Week 1

Monday

Squat
•140x5
•160x5
•185x5

Bench
•110x5
•110x5
•130x5

Pull downs
•120x8

Thursday

Squat

•140x3x3

Press
•65x5
•75x5
•85x5

Dead Lift
•135X5

Week 2

Monday

Squat
•150x5
•175x5
•195x5

Bench
•115x5
•120x5
•140x5

Pull downs
•120x10

Thursday

Squat
•150x3x3

Press
•70x5
•80x5
•95x5

Dead Lift
•155X5

Week 3

Monday

Squat
•165x5
•185x5
•205x5

Bench
•115x5
•130x5
•155x5

Pull downs
120x12

Thursday

Squat
•165x3x3

Press
•75x5
•90x5
•100x5

Dead Lift
•155X5

Repeat by increasing Squat and Dead lift by 5 pounds and Bench and Press by 2.5 until micro loading becomes necessary.
I am not a coach, but a friend and lifting partner.

Pros? Cons? Thoughts? Advice?
Thanks

[Mark Rippetoe]

What did Wendler tell you?

[0ni]

What did Wendler tell you?

I am in direct contact with Jim and this question has come to him many times. The answer is as follows:

Monday:
Squat + Bench 5x5x5/3/1

Thursday:
Deadlift + Press 5x5x5/3/1

5x5x5/3/1 is the normal 5/3/1 percentages each week, but the last set is done for 5 sets of 5 reps instead of doing it for as many reps as possible.

Set your training max at 80% of your predicted 1RM