If there is one thing that bothers me in the powerlifting world, it has to be in-experience trainees combining training programs. I hear at least once a day "Well, I am doing 5/3/1 but I do speed days like Westside." Or "I am doing cube but putting in Mountain Dog Training" and so on and so on.
Where this bothers me is that it is a horrible idea if you do not know what you are doing. I see so often someone changing linear progressing program into a Max Effort/Dynamic Effort style routine. Expecting to add pounds each week in a linear style at maximum effort is usually a recipe for plateauing in 3-6 weeks. There is a reason the westside method uses a conjugate style of training with the max effort movements. Now the modifying of 5/3/1 seemed to be the start of this. Jim Wendler gave us a simple to follow, meat and potatoes program to follow. Its core principals are slow, linear gains, that result from a simple sub-maximal percentage plan. Its virtually plug and play with the main lifts. Then you can choose your assistance lifts to customize the program. Simple right...
Apparently wrong. Most trainees could not resist a chance to fuck up a good program. "Well on the 5's day I do to failure than 2 forced reps," or "I max out after the workouts" etc... This changes the very principles of the program and these same ass clowns then bash the program for not working when they essentially were not doing said program.
Stop thinking you know more than the authors of programs people. If your training age is less than 5 years or your total is less than class 1, you probably have no business altering the core of reputable programs. Now I am not saying you can't alter the assistance or if the program allows, push forward or pull back a little.
Powerlifting is expanding which is great. However novice trainees are driving experience lifters bat shit crazy with issues like these. It is awesome that in a competitive sport so many top lifters and top trainers are willing to give away so much free information. However, they are constantly being driven away by the same dumb-ass questions that get asked 50 times a day about how to change their programs. The most recent offender is the Cube Method. I know Brandon Lilly has to be pulling his beard out over questions regarding such a simple program. The Cube Method facebook page seems more like a powerlifting forum than anything now.
Take it from someone who has only been lifting for 3 years and sticking to the programs as written. I trained for one year on 5/3/1 and totaled 1223 in my first competition. I started out in the gym with like a 900 total. Then I did the Josh Strength Method for a year and totaled 1339 then 1405. So 2 years for a damn near 200 pound bump in my total. I did not modify a single principal and just gave it hell in the gym. This is the recipe for success. For 30 bucks you can get an awesome program that will take you to the next level if you just follow the program and work your ass off.
Stop Thinking and just Do! This goes for all people totaling less than Class 1 or Master Class. A simple approach is best in these situations, for you are a beginner.
Just my 2 cents...
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