# 12 week strength program basic question before starting. **URL:** \ **Category:** Programming Discussion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/12-week-strength-program-basic-question-before-starting/2564 "2018-07-04T22:57:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Autolink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Autolink](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Autolink)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/12-week-strength-program-basic-question-before-starting/2564/1 "2018-07-04T22:57:13Z")
Hey everyone, new to the forum and just about to start the 12 week strength program. However, I am just slightly confused with the instructions regarding the volume work. For example, the instructions state to perform 1 rep @8, followed by 5 reps @ 8 for 5 sets. In the program it says to do -20% of the single for volume work which does not come out to the presecribed 5 x 5 @8. What should I follow? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Bryan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/bear_bryan/32/580_2.png) [@Bear\_Bryan](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Bear_Bryan)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/12-week-strength-program-basic-question-before-starting/2564/2 "2018-07-04T23:22:08Z")
I don’t see anything about a 5x5 at RPE 8. It is a single at RPE 8 and then take 20% off that single and do a 5x5. For example a single at 315 and then a backoff 5x5 at 252. ---
**Author:** ![Autolink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Autolink](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Autolink)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/12-week-strength-program-basic-question-before-starting/2564/3 "2018-07-04T23:53:24Z")
Interesting. If you go to the top on row 4 under the introduction of the 12 week strength progression. Do you see anything there? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Bryan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/bear_bryan/32/580_2.png) [@Bear\_Bryan](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Bear_Bryan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/12-week-strength-program-basic-question-before-starting/2564/4 "2018-07-05T00:25:07Z")
Ah, I see it up top. I was looking down in the program. Yeah, that is wrong. At least the first set probably more are going to be RPE 7/7.5 and maybe up to RPE 8 by the fourth or fifth set. At least that is how that 20% drop usually works for me. So yeah, just do the percentage drop and hit the volume. ---
**Author:** ![Autolink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Autolink](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Autolink)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/12-week-strength-program-basic-question-before-starting/2564/5 "2018-07-05T00:33:30Z")
Awesome! Thanks for the clarification. ---
**Author:** ![yohan753](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a587f6/32.png) [@yohan753](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/yohan753)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/12-week-strength-program-basic-question-before-starting/2564/6 "2018-07-05T16:16:00Z")
Do you happen to know what the asterisk is referring to when it comes after the “five sets of five” text? Is that referencing the “take 3-5% off” thing? or something else? I can’t seem to find it. ---
**Author:** ![yohan753](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a587f6/32.png) [@yohan753](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/yohan753)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 1:32pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/12-week-strength-program-basic-question-before-starting/2564/7 "2018-07-09T13:32:21Z")
Haha, yep that was me 🙂