Weightlifting and Novice Programming

[Tom Narvaez]

Hello Mr. Rippetoe,

I haven't chosen between weightlifting and powerlifting, I don't want to yet, and I'd like to experiment with both sports at first. With that in mind, I have two questions related to my novice programming and pulling:

1) Is an every-other-day workout schedule suboptimal compared to a three-days-per-week schedule for a 5'6", 180lbs, 20y/o male, who sleeps 9 hours per night, consumes 5000-7000 calories daily, is six weeks into linear progression, currently squats 335x5, deadlifts 345x5, benches 180x5, presses 125x5, and is just beginning cleans?

2) Assuming an every other day lifting schedule, is the below novice progression sensible and realistic for the individual described above?

Stage 1, Now:
Workout A:
Squat 3x5
Bench 3x5
Deadlift 1x5

Workout B:
Squat 3x5
Press 3x5
Power Clean 5x3

Stage 2, First Deadlift Stall:
Workout A:
Squat 3x5
Bench 3x5
Deadlift 1x5 / Power Clean 5x3 (alt.)

Workout B:
Squat 3x5
Press 3x5
Power Clean 5x3

Stage 3, First Power Clean Stall:
Workout A:
Squat 3x5
Bench 3x5
Deadlift 1x5 / Power Clean 5x3 / Power Snatch 5x2 (rotate)

Workout B:
Squat 3x5
Press 3x5
Deadlift 1x5 / Power Clean 5x3 / Power Snatch 5x2 (next pull in sequence depending on pull performed in day A)

Stage ?(could happen whenever), First Squat Stall:
Workout A:
F. Squat 3x3
Bench 3x5
Deadlift 1x5 / Power Clean 5x3 / Power Snatch 5x2 (rotate)

Workout B:
Squat 3x5
Press 3x5
Deadlift 1x5 / Power Clean 5x3 / Power Snatch 5x2 (rotate)

Stage 5, Second Squat or Deadlift Stall:
Monday:
C&J 5x1
Snatch 15x1 on 1min

Tuesday:
Squat 3x5
Press 3x5
Chins 5x5

Thursday:
Snatch 5x1
C&J 10x1 on 2min

Friday:
Squat 3x5
Bench 3x5
Deadlift 1x5

[Mark Rippetoe]

Advanced planning like this is highly speculative for someone who's been training for 6 weeks. But nothing looks weird.

[Tom Narvaez]

Thanks Coach.