I'm archiving the Texas Method program here just in case the Testosterone Nation link dies someday:

Monday — Volume Day

A) Squats, 5 x 5 @ 90% of 5RM

B) Bench press or overhead press, 5 x 5 @ 90% 5RM

C) Deadlifts, 1 x 5 @ 90% 5RM

Wednesday — Recovery Day

A) Squats, 2 x 5 @ 80% of Monday's work weight

B) Overhead press (if you bench pressed Monday), 3 x 5 at slightly lighter load than previous 5 x 5 OHP weight, or bench press (if OHP on Monday), 3 x 5 @ 90% previous 5 x 5 weight.

C) Chin ups, 3 x Bodyweight

D) Back extensions or glute-ham raise, 5 x 10

Friday — Intensity Day

A) Squats, warm-up, then work up in singles or doubles to one single, new 5RM

B) Bench press, (if you bench pressed Monday) or overhead press (if OHP on Monday), warm-up, then work up in singles or doubles to one single, new 5RM

C) Power clean, 5 x 3 reps or power snatch, 6 x 2 reps (dynamic effort is what counts here)

Posted by: leoncaruthers at 09:53 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I'm not really a novice lifter any more, at least not in the sense that I can reliably add 5lb to a lift every workout, or even every week. I'd hoped to get further before I was forced to consider myself intermediate, but there it is.

Time to consider new programs, so here are my candidates:
The Texas Method
Reverse Pyramid with the Big 3
Madcow's 5x5

If I go with the Big 3, I may just drop bench press and do the standing press exclusively for awhile.  Benching at any kind of real volume seems to tweak my golfer's elbow, and re-injury would utterly suck.

Posted by: leoncaruthers at 08:42 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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