LP during lent

Hey Jordan,

I am currently trying to grind out the last drops of my LP. I am starting to implement the 3x5 and 5x5 for press and bench and having a weight jump for squat twice a week with my squats at 70% on Wednesday. However, lent has come up and that limits my protein intake on Fridays. I am supplementing 2 extra protein shakes (about 40g of protein for each since I use milk) but am still having trouble finishing 3x5 for squats on Fridays. Would it be possible to stay at a jump every Monday until lent is over then see if I can go back to twice a week after?

As a side note, I am allergic to fish and my cafeteria is very limited on what they serve so Fridays are usually a lower calorie day than I would like.

~185-190 lb and ~20% bf +/-3%

I would not recommend grinding out your LP and your protein intake on a single day is unlikely to have anything to do with your squats on Friday. Your programming needs to reflect your level of training sensitivity and you have empirical evidence that you are no longer responding well to your existing training. Time for a change.

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Even if I am able to go up weight once a week, you still recommend switching to a more intermediate program?

Possibly Heavy/Light/Medium?

That is an intermediate program by Rippetoe’s definition.

HLM doesn’t make sense to me so, no- I wouldn’t recommend that.

What about your HLM program?

I’d argue that it’s not really HLM, but that’s another thing…

As background knowledge I am 18 years old, 5’7," 185-190, and probably about 20-25% body fat give or take. I am a collegiate lacrosse goalie and practice Monday-Saturday. Do you think I could work “The Bridge” and play with the calories and fat count to trim a little body fat while sustaining enough nutrients for practice everyday plus training? Also, do you have a decent estimate on what I should make my fat or carb count? I don’t need hard numbers as my cafeteria has absurdly wrong nutritional information on the food which leads me to estimate.

I don’t think playing a sport at a collegiate level with that much practice works well with a strength program unless one is untrained. That said, a RPE based program will allow progress when it is available and training is > not training.

I don’t think I can estimate anything more accurately than you at this point, as it’s going to be based on your existing intake.

Okay that is understandable, the diet part wont be too hard I believe. Is there anything I can do to alter the bridge, perhaps remove gpp days?

That’s reasonable, but it still may not be appropriate. Hard to say from here.