As I mentioned in the other thread, I am leaning towards giving DFT a try for my next program. I will make the switch on Monday which will give me time to establish my 1 rep maxes over the weekend. Be on the lookout for my journal.

So heres a little background on what I have been doing and my experience with 5x5:
The current program I have been using is Needsize's 5x5 program and I have been doing it for roughly a year. I know you made a reference to his program 0311, so I just wanted to share my opinion that this program is an easy to learn 5x5 program and I have had good results with it like many others have had at EliteFitness. However, with that being said, even with moving down to sets of 3 as he suggests when you hit a plateau, I still haven't really been able to overcome my plateaus in a reasonable amount of time since I have been on the program so long. That is why I am looking for a change in my routine without completely moving away from 5x5 training.

Here are a few questions I have:

1) For the accessory exercises, are we basically limiting ourselves to one exercise or how ever many we want? With Needsize's I am use to doing multiple exercises for each muscle group in addition to the 5x5 focus. For example on tricep days would I just pick my favorite tricep exercise or a few different exercises? Same question for the ab workouts.

2) I know what my current 5x5 limits are because I am currently plateaud on most of my 5x5 exercises. When I am starting this program would you recommend cutting back on my 5x5 max weights to ease into the program or begin at my current 5x5 points?

I think I am answering my own question here because I know have stayed on this regular program so long that most of my 5x5 exercises have reached plateaus so I should probally kick it back some. But how much would you recommend?


I am sure I will have many more questions as I re-read through this thread a few times.