Powerbuilding 2 or 3 - what’s the nuance?

Hey, the template picker suggests either Powerbuilding 2 vs 3, and I’d appreciate some help understanding the difference in programming philosophy.

My goals are to get stronger (600kg total SBD), stay around 105kg at 6ft but reduce my waist size from 39” by becoming super jacked. I guess I’ll try a stricter strength route when I’m 36”…

Question: Why would I pick Powerbuilding 2 vs 3?

Back story if it helps:
I recommenced lifting 14 months ago using SS novice progression (and like many) I tried to “run out the programme”. In 9 months I got strong but fat and fatigued as side effects. My squat was up to 400lb x5 (182.5kg) and deadlift 200kgx5, waist 45” and 110kg. Then along came a back tweak when I ignored the difficulty of warm up sets. Forever thankful for your pain management advice, and to learn about RPE since then! Time for something different.

I decided to shrink my waist and I’ve made it to 39” running Hypertrophy 1 a few times. I’m in Week 8 again, really focusing on the conditioning too and I’ve modified to build volume for the SBD. I’m super pleased to reach these volume levels as 8 years ago I herniated discs and could barely walk with the pain and sciatica. A bigger belly helps with the back pain (I heard) but I reckon the nuance is in the gains.

PB II has a reduced training load compared to PB III and a bit more constraints for lifters who haven’t been doing it quite as long as the target audience for PB III. I think PB II would be the move here.

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