Decreasing spread between 5x5 and 5rm on Texas Method

[dschenck]

Hi, Mark. As I am progressing on TM, my 5x5 and 5rm are coming closer together. For example, my 5x5 squat this week was 161 and my 5rm was 170. In the TM sample in PPST2, you have about a 10% spread between the volume and heavy days, and I am no where near that now - and I don't think I can get my 5RM up to 177 or so..

I guess this decreasing spread is to some extent inevitable, but I am wondering if you have any advice on how to keep progressing. Should I perhaps drop my 5x5 weight to keep a reasonable spread and try to keep pushing up the 5rm, or keep my 5x5 going and maybe start doing 3rms instead?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Change to 5 singles or 5 doubles across, and let the 5RM rest a while.