Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 program has, at its heart, doing main lifts according to his 5/3/1 progression (to way over-simplify things). Assistance work is a strong part of the program to help you better meet your goals be that addressing strength weaknesses, building mass, or whatever.

But Jim also realizes that sometimes life’s other goals get in the way. So while my primary program template is his “Boring But Big” template, there’s one called “I’m Not Doing Jack Shit”. In short, you walk in, do your main lift, and walk out. There are plus and minuses to this variation, and at my level it’s nothing I really want to do regularly. But if it has to happen now and again, it has to happen.

Today, it had to happen.

Week 2 – “3 reps”

• 5/3/1 – Squat (working max: 220#)
  • 2x5x45 (warmup)
  • 1x5x90
  • 1x5x110
  • 1x3x135
  • 1x3x155 (work)
  • 1x3x180
  • 1x6x200

And that’s all she wrote today. I went in, did my main lift, and left. I just don’t have the time today… a bunch of things came up late last night that are going to make today difficult. As well, I should be finalizing the sale of my motorcycle today, and with that taking a few hours out of my work day well… I had to trade-off somewhere. So, I’m not doing jack shit. 🙂  (tho, shouldn’t that be “I’m doing jack shit”?).

I’ll admit tho… a small part of me was not looking forward to today’s workout. Squats. I hate them. But funny thing. Once I finished my work set? I wanted to keep going. The squats felt good; I didn’t hate it. Yes, I think my hate for squats came from the overwork the Rippetoe approach gave me. I’m happy I did that program, but I’m happier to take on a more long-term program that allows me better recovery because hey… I’m not 18.

I wanted to push out at least 1 more rep… I felt I had 2-3 left in the tank, but I noticed on that last rep my form wavered just a bit (bent forward slightly) and I figured not to push it. Upon looking back? I should have pushed it, especially since that would have been the last rep for the day. Oh well, live and learn.