it could simply be a case of always being fatigued by squats by the time you actually get deadlifting. as long as you don't stop deadlifting altogether, strengthening your low bar squat should definitely result in a stronger deadlift. the thing about the program you laid out is it uses a "novice type" stimulus (3x5) in an intermediate style program. the reason TM uses 5x5 is because 3x5 is no longer supposed to be enough stimulus to make progress. you can see how the program you laid out somewhat contradicts itself in that regard.

i do think deadlifting and squatting is the hardest thing to figure out in an intermediate program, because they are both so heavy and make the other lift suffer if done too close to each other. if you are truly ready for intermediate progress on squats, one thing you can try is to take deadlifts and squats similarly to how most do the bench and press in TM. squat a full TM week with possibly one moderate pulling workout (speed pulls, 10 rep RDLs or something). then the next week, still squat multiple times, but never go all out, and deadlift as heavy as possible for 1x5 or 2x3 or whatever on one of the days.

The reason I only put 3x5 for squat was because I was planning on it not fatiguing me, I realistically expected to increase the weight every other week. I had not considered the carry over from squatting to deadlifting though.

I do like the idea of a "squat/press centric" week followed by a "bench/deadlift centric" week. I'll see if I can come up with a good template.

WRT me being "truly ready" for intermediate squats... I know that I started TM too soon, in that I was not completely finished with SS gains. I started it because I wanted to do something with a more gradual progression so that I could cut fat/calories. I think it worked pretty well. But now that summer is over, I am eating again. I failed the squat last week due to psyching myself out I think. I am quite sure I have the musculature to squat 315, but my brain thinks I can't for some reason... but that's a whole different issue :P

Each workout alternates upper/lower. First week will progress on squats with DL assistance. Second week will progress on DL with squat assistance. I am not sure about the set/rep ranges though for stuff like RDL and the rows on recovery days. Feel like I could do more reps...

also all the recovery can be 2x5 instead of 3x3. that's where i'd start. i think you had way too much pulling both weeks and some stuff where it didn't make sense. i've never tried many halting deadlifts or rack pulls but i know when rip recommends them he has someone do one in one week and the other the next, alternating (unless they are weak specifically in one part of the pull). he definitely doesn't have them going back to back in the same week as power cleans and then trying a max set of deadlifts the week after. also, starting simple can help when you do run into trouble.

Holy ****

- Leg press there instead of a squat was because I figured my back would be toast by that point in the week/wo.

- 3x5 chins (pulls) with weight vs 3x10 I can do. I've only done +25 lbs but I guess I could start there and progress.

- Swap DL and FS? Why deadlift on "recovery" day?

- Speed DL you recommend 15 singles? I was planning on doing around 60% 1rm.

- Bench and Press on recovery day, should i use my current 5RM weight for 3x3?

- Was considering 3x8 for rows. What is wrong with doing t-bar & pendlay? what do you recommend... bent over bb? single arm DB?

- I guess my problem is I feel like I can do a lot more than I "should". I have problems with intensity, not volume. Or so it seems. I have been spending 1.5+ hours in the gym recently, but I am still missing my heavy PRs. For example, the pull ups on volume day. I always seem to have a little bit of gas left in the tank at the end of the WO, so I figure I wont have problems adding those. Do you think they are adding too much residual fatigue? Is that even something I should worry about? (because i'm not.)

If I deciphered that John Madden play book correctly, It looks like this:

the deadlift part isn't TM, so the second week doesn't go v/r/i. remember my point in the post in the beginner thread was that you may just be exhausted every time you actually deadlift and that progressing on squats should carry over to deadlifts. this lets you be fresh to death to deadlift.

leg press: your back would have been dominated every day of your life imo.
swap deadlift: that way you have more rest between deadlift and 5x5 squat.
speed dl: 15 singles is the first way they're used in PPST.
recovery day bench/press: just use less than your 5x5 weight for 2x5, it's faster.
t-bar/pendlay - nothing is wrong with them. pendlay rows are the same as the row in SS. i would just do those both days.

intermediates take longer to recover and need more to provide a stimulus. it's the reason for the long gap between the volume and intensity days and a workout specifically meant to aid recovery. if you add a bunch of stuff between, you're not letting yourself recover enough to do the intense workout. try it this way before you try adding all the other stuff.

i'd make the second friday front squat into a squat and try to go decently heavy for one set (at least to the 5x5 weight you'll use on the following monday). also wouldn't use 5x3 for that monday squat. make it like a 2x5 with a recovery level weight or so. otherwise, yeah i'd try it out like that. give it a month or two and don't do anything extra and see if you make progress in the deadlift. if you ever feel tired on the day you're deadlifting, drop the speed deadlifts.

If I am looking at it correctly, it still does go v/r/i, just that the DL "v" is the same day as the squat "I" (friday). Squat actually goes V R I R _ R, where the blank is the DL intensity day (weds).

ps. I forgot to change the 3x3 to 2x5

kind of, but the RDLs are more of an assistance exercise and not something you'd use solely as a volume workout to push your deadlift along. honestly i haven't ever seen a texas method routine with deadlifts in the VRI format. usually people are just throwing random sets of deadlifts in wherever they can.

Removed pull ups from week 1, because I know my grip will be fried after doing that many RDLs, Im not gonna want to try and hold my self up.

Taking a break for a few days because my dad is in town, and I also injured my shoulder. I think it happened while benching during my last WO.

Hurts to use my arm when my elbow is behind me at all. Feels like tendon pain. Taking ibuprofen and not using the arm. Will resume workouts on Tuesday.

Yesterday I did 2x10 neutral grip pull ups and ran a mile (12:22 lol). Slight DOMS in my quads today. Still planning on hitting the gym tonite. Will not bench though (Shoulder still hurts).

Volume Day

Starting the new program miles helped me devise above. Went to the gym, and immediately had a terrible feeling because every treadmill in the place was taken. BB area was packed like sardines. Can't wait til I can build a home gym.

Squat
2x5x45
1x5x135
1x4x185
1x3x225
1x2x245
5x5x270

Not bad. First time squatting in my new do-wins. They felt very good. Was able to get a very nice bounce out of the hole. Felt very stable as well. Pretty massive failure on my part to wait this long to get them. Will continue with 275 next week, but it won't be easy.

Press
2x5x45
1x5x65
1x4x85
1x3x105
3x5x120
1x2x120

My arms were feeling like jello. Not sure if this is because I was not resting enough between sets (bro's were rushing me, kept asking how many sets I had. They wanted to curl). It might be due to my 2x10 chin ups yesterday, which did not seem like a big deal at the time, but might have added some residual fatigue. Also my right forearm and shoulder have been quite sore for the past few days. Shoulder did not hurt while pressing though. Will repeat this weight in 2 weeks.

Hang Clean
2x3x45
2x3x65
2x3x75

Obv the weight is loltastic, but I am starting to be happy with my rack position. Pressing the elbows together was the cue I was missing. I was able to get my upper arms pretty well horizontal. Did a few front squats and jerks on some of the reps, just for the fun of it. Will continue doing cleans, will try to get a video next time. My arms were still pretty sore, so I did not do 5x3. Might increase the weight by 10 or 15 next time. Will use chalk, as my hook grip started slipping on the last set due to sweat. One problem I was having was when I was trying to catch, the bar landed more towards the front of my shoulders, then I would kind of roll it back to the proper spot while lifting my elbows. I feel like it should initially land closer to my throat, and I should be able to swing my elbows up much faster. Forearms were very sore, this is a flexibility issue though.

Recovery Day

Had the worst DOMS I can remember yesterday. Running that mile then squatting volume the day after was a bad idea. Oh well, foam rolled my balls off last night so I felt much better today.

Squat
3x5x45
2x5x85
1x4x135
1x3x185
2x5x215

Upper back was extremely tight at first, hence the 3 empty bar sets. Got loose and did the weight. Was considering going heavier, but w/e.

Pendlay Row
2x5x45
1x5x65
1x5x85
3x8x135

Pretty light, very explosive. I think this is a good starting weight. Will go to 140 next week.

Bench Press
2x5x45
1x2x85

Shoulder started hurting slightly. I did not want to exacerbate the injury, so I called it a night.