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Thread: Texas Method - Vol Days Kaput ; Rip Ripped Into it, and what's an alternative?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2022
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    Default Texas Method - Vol Days Kaput ; Rip Ripped Into it, and what's an alternative?

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    Hey all,

    This is my first post here but I've been lurking for years, and I've done some research before posting this.

    Summary: I was following Texas Method and after only a couple of months I'm missing reps on 5x5. One week later, I repeat and miss more. I'm a 43 yr old male, approximately 155lb and high-bar squatting 255X3 more or less as my max triple.

    I started researching "deload week Texas method" and found the Internets complaining that TM is a common thing to start to fail on, that lots of people start to have horrendous volume days. Then I found this video: There's a weight at which you can start | Ask Rip #38 - YouTube where Rip says, "Just Don't Do It." He says it's for the young and the male. He says, "I don't know why they put it first in the book before the Split Routine Model." I looked at the split model and it's very broad, making it trickier to whip something together at the last minute before my Sunday Day 1. Oh well. I should plan better, but that's what a Google rabbit-hole will do.

    I'd be thankful for any tips or suggestions. My last four weeks look like this, and it looks like I am falling apart. I'm also starting to experiment due to not getting anywhere.

    I'm discouraged.

    (all in lbs and sets x reps)


    Week 1

    Day 1 - Intensity
    Squat 250 5x2
    Strict Press 125 5x2 attempt became 1x2, 5x1
    Pendlay rows 3x7 115
    Day 2 - Volume
    Squat 225 5x5
    Strict Press 105 2x5, 100 3x5
    Neutral grip pullups 5x5
    Day 3 - Recovery
    225 5x2
    weights dips 5x6 25lb
    wide-grip pullups 5x3

    Week 2
    Day 1
    squat 250 x3
    strict press 125 5x2, 120 x3 (failed after 125 s2)
    Pendlay rows 3x7 120 (recovering from medial elbow pain, otherwise I do weighted chins)
    Day 2
    squat 230 5x5
    strict press 105 5x5 5,5,4,3,3
    5x10 ring rows (again alternative to pullups)
    Day 3
    squat 230 5x2
    weights dips 5x5 35lb
    weighted chins 35 5x2

    Week 3
    Day 1
    squat 255x3
    srtict press 125x3 fail, waited 1 minute to do 3rd rep after failing 2nd
    max chins 3 sets: 10,9,6 (variation)
    Day 2
    squat 235 5x5 5,5,5,3,3 (starting to fail)
    strict press 105x5 5,5,5,4,3
    neutral grip pulls 5x5

    Day 3
    squat 185 2x5 (80% of last) <- trying new recovery
    dips 3x6 35
    chins 35 5x2

    Week 4 - "something's not working out for me realization"
    Day 1
    squat 255xmax 1 set of 4 but terrible form
    strict press 125x2, 30s, 1 more
    pendlay row 120 3x8
    Day 2
    squat 235 5x5 5,5,5,2**,3 < - WTF!
    press 105 5,5,5,5,4 - tiny progress
    deadlifts 225 2x5 - I read I should do this too weekly (I stopped a month ago due to fatigue)
    Day 3
    squat 185 2x5
    weighted dips 3x7 35lb





    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    How tall are you?

  3. #3
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    How tall are you?

  4. #4
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    Height?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by m00t View Post
    . . . I was following Texas Method and after only a couple of months I'm missing reps on 5x5. One week later, I repeat and miss more. I'm a 43 yr old male, approximately 155lb . . . I'm also starting to experiment due to not getting anywhere.
    Most likely, the answer is to do a novice linear progression (NLP), not more advanced programming like Texas method or a split routine.

    The type of stall you describe is covered in the following classic article (which I will highlight as follows: (1) do the NLP, (2) eat a sufficient amount--given that 155lb is very light no matter what the height):

    The First Three Questions | Mark Rippetoe

  6. #6
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    You need to eat more. If you're north of 6 feet tall, you need to eat a lot more. But I'd imagine if you were that tall and 155, you'd have trouble even putting the weights you're doing now up. I'm basically just seconding what's been said, do the work outside the gym (eating, sleeping, not busting yourself up physically doing other stuff) and get on a new LP. Once that starts to flatten out a 4 day split of some sort is probably a good next step. It helps with keeping workouts short. The three day texas method is not only hard on recovery but on time. Heavy volume day workouts can take hours.

  7. #7
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    5'6 and change. (it's change at that height).

  8. #8
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    Gain 50 lbs. There's no point in discussing your programming if you refuse to eat. You should probably do the novice progression (whether or not you think you've done it before) with this in mind.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Matt James View Post
    Gain 50 lbs. There's no point in discussing your programming if you refuse to eat. You should probably do the novice progression (whether or not you think you've done it before) with this in mind.
    I should weigh 205 pounds at 5'6?

  10. #10
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    starting strength coach development program
    Quote Originally Posted by m00t View Post
    I should weigh 205 pounds at 5'6?
    It would help. When I was running a 4-day version of the Texas method, coincidentally also at age 43, I managed to get up to 225 at 5'9". I'm about 210 now, doing a less stressful program. I think I was around 195 at the end of LP, for reference.

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