Probably not necessary if you've read Jim's articles and Q&A, no. It really is a very forward approach.
That said - It's $20, and considering that folks are willing to drop 2-3 times that for the latest T-magic - which is to say, the same canned programs they've already bought with the exercises in a different order - I don't think it's outrageous at all, not for something that can be milked for quite awhile.
It's worth the purchase just to give a kickback and to have all the info in one spot.
__________________
Articles | Blog | Pirate my book. "Yeah, but you did your post grad thesis on trolling, so you don't count."
-JP, endorsing how awesome I am
Nice review. I just started doing this program last week. I like it for the same reasons you stated in your article. He provides some nice alternatives for programming, but like you said, it's more of a training strategy book. No magic bullets offered. Just a plain and simple strategy for progressively getting stronger.
Good stuff Matt - glad you picked Jim as one of your internet gurus
I like the idea of strategy rather than a single program. Thinking along these lines makes much more sense long term.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
While i was dubious of his first book at first, after reading over it a few times, there's a ton of info in it, and this book is probably the same. I was used to seeing books of programs with lots of filler, but his first book was straight to the point, just like you said this one is. I'll probably purchase it some time just to have all the info in one spot, like you said.
__________________ True Protein 5% off discount code: ZHS099 www.trueprotein.com
its a fairly solid program for beginners and those out of the game for some time. We have seen great results from the aforementioned folks, but it seems some of our more advanced guys really took it in the shorts on the big 3, and have all gone back to either a pure Westside or Big Iron based approach to their training
I've done it pretty much since I wrote the review (I'm doing a PSMF diet at the moment and I'm not about to try it with that, it'd be suicide), and my opinion hasn't changed. The results have been great, just what you'd expect from a half decent periodized progressive-overload workout.
Very solid, very hard-to-screw-up template. I really don't htink it's appropriate for raw beginners, since the lifts are a little infrequent to really nail technique, but for an old horse like me that's not going to really see form go to hell it's pretty near optimal for a general training program.
__________________
Articles | Blog | Pirate my book. "Yeah, but you did your post grad thesis on trolling, so you don't count."
-JP, endorsing how awesome I am
I've got about 2 years of solid lifting under my belt, but still consider myself somewhat of a beginner -- always continuing to learn, for sure! But, I got my spreadsheet/template all worked out today and with the accessory exercises each workout (doing 4x a week workouts), I think it will work great for me. Once I finish UD2 and transition to maintenance or bulk, I'm going to start 5-3-1....probably October 1. I've got some definite strength goals to meet by the end of the year, and I am thinking that 3 cycles/months of 5-3-1 will help me achieve some of them.
I've got about 2 years of solid lifting under my belt, but still consider myself somewhat of a beginner -- always continuing to learn, for sure! But, I got my spreadsheet/template all worked out today and with the accessory exercises each workout (doing 4x a week workouts), I think it will work great for me. Once I finish UD2 and transition to maintenance or bulk, I'm going to start 5-3-1....probably October 1. I've got some definite strength goals to meet by the end of the year, and I am thinking that 3 cycles/months of 5-3-1 will help me achieve some of them.
Just doing the program for 3 months I don't think is really what its made for, more of a long term, yearly plan, for best results at least. 3 months is not really enough time to get deep into the weight progressions imo.
I am a fan of 531.. very basic, and it will work. I think its perfect for a lifter who wants to be strong and athletic with only a modest amount of time spent in the gym.
Alot of people think its the be-all-end-all powerlifting program, and I don't feel that is true. I think a competitive powerlifter can use it, but a little modification may help out some, more specifically more singles on the '1' days, instead of trying to get more reps in the final set.
Oh, I definitely didn't mean that I would end it by December....I've already got my spreadsheets all ready to go for quite a few months! I only meant that I had some strength goals that I've been working on all year, and I am hoping to achieve them by year-end. Of course, then I just set new ones.
ive just seen quite a few people just do the program for a short period of time, while thats alright, i really think they are not giving the program a chance to really shine.
ive just seen quite a few people just do the program for a short period of time, while thats alright, i really think they are not giving the program a chance to really shine.
Yeah no doubt. Canned programs are fine for beginners but past a point you've got to stop jumping from "program" to "program" and figure out a real strategy.
Something like this is perfect as a long-term training strategy, not just as some "program" to do for a few months before switching to the newest fad to come out of T-mag or Men's Health.
__________________
Articles | Blog | Pirate my book. "Yeah, but you did your post grad thesis on trolling, so you don't count."
-JP, endorsing how awesome I am
Naw, there comes a time you need to invest in thousands of dollars worth of supplements from Biotest adn really push teh limits of what humans are capable of.
Review: Jim Wendler's 5-3-1
Linear Mode
