Evaluating Progress on the Bridge Inquiry

Training Q&A [Moderated]
1

Barbell Medicine,

Bio:
26yrs
Male
5’10
201lbs

On the bridge, I understand that ideally we should anticipate and look to increase our estimated 1RM every week. However, I have not experienced any increases but rather a slight decrease in strength. I finished the fourth week on Monday. I begin the fifth week today.

Is this a result of the volume increasing relatively fast from week 1 to week 4, which accumulates quite a bit of fatigue that has not dissipated yet? And thus, I should expect more increases in my e1RM on the back end of the bridge as the volume decreases?

Also, I have been operating under a caloric deficit since March 7th. Maybe this is also contributing to the lack of improvement…

Thank you,

Robert

2

This is probably multifactorial.

Your caloric deficit is likely involved. Additionally, people running this style of programming for the first time often have to deal with the learning curve, and often end up over-shooting RPE targets, inducing more fatigue than planned, or simply start out too heavy in week 1.

If you plan to continue dieting, then by the end of the program you will at least be better prepared to tolerate the necessary amounts of training stress for long-term development.