# Program modification **URL:** \ **Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\ **Created:** [August 16, 2023, 2:32pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/program-modification/13800 "2023-08-16T14:32:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![saintpierre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@saintpierre](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/saintpierre)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 2:32pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/program-modification/13800/1 "2023-08-16T14:32:05Z")
Hello Drs, After recovering from a back injury, my squat and deadlift are now following the beginner template whereas I’m re-running STR I for bench after having great results. I will eventually do PL II after STR I for bench at some point, requiring me to train 4x/week. Is there a way I can squeeze the PL II bench work into 3 days to align with my current training schedule? I’m not quite sure how to go about it. If there’s a better way to arrange the training days/schedule, I’m all ears. I prefer to train 3x/week (current setup), but I will train on more days if necessary. Thank you!​​​ ---
**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/program-modification/13800/2 "2023-08-16T16:16:50Z")
There are 6 upper body slots in PL II and I’d plan on doing 2/day when training 3x/wk. It might look like: ​​​​​​ Day 1- supplemental Bench 1 from PL II (e.g. day 2’s bench) and accessory press 2 from PL 2 (slot 3 on Day 3). I’d remove a set from each here. Day 2- Comp bench (slot 2 from day 1 on PL II) + accessory press 1 from PL 2 (Slot 3 on Day 1) Day 3- supplemental bench 2 and 4 from PL II (e.g. day 3’s, slot 2 and day 4, slot 2). I’d remove a set from previous day 4’s bench Hope that works for you! -Jordan ---
**Author:** ![saintpierre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@saintpierre](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/saintpierre)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/program-modification/13800/3 "2023-08-16T17:47:40Z")
Thanks for the suggestion Jordan. Appreciate it! I admit, I’m not too fond of the idea of reducing volume from the workload (even if it’s only 3 sets). Could I combine the two templates so it looks something like this: **Day 1** squat comp bench (PL 2 - Day 1, slot 2) DL​ **Day 2** supplemental bench 1 (PL 2 - Day 2, slot 2) accessory press 1 (PL 2 - Day 1, slot 3)​ **Day 3** squat row​ **Day 4** supplemental bench 2 (PL 2 - Day 3, slot 2) accessory press 2 (PL 2 - Day 3, slot 3)​ **Day 5** DL supplemental bench 3 (PL 2 - Day 4, slot 2) squat​ Would this work?​ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Average\_Lifter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/the_average_lifter/32/510_2.png) [@The\_Average\_Lifter](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/The_Average_Lifter)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/program-modification/13800/4 "2023-08-16T17:54:29Z")
Mind sharing your experience with Strength 1? ---
**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2023, 2:25pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/program-modification/13800/5 "2023-08-17T14:25:29Z")
> [@saintpierre](#): > > Thanks for the suggestion Jordan. Appreciate it! > > I admit, I’m not too fond of the idea of reducing volume from the workload (even if it’s only 3 sets). Could I combine the two templates so it looks something like this: > > **Day 1** > squat > comp bench (PL 2 - Day 1, slot 2) > DL​ > > **Day 2** > supplemental bench 1 (PL 2 - Day 2, slot 2) > accessory press 1 (PL 2 - Day 1, slot 3)​ > > **Day 3** > squat > row​ > > **Day 4** > supplemental bench 2 (PL 2 - Day 3, slot 2) > accessory press 2 (PL 2 - Day 3, slot 3)​ > > **Day 5** > DL > supplemental bench 3 (PL 2 - Day 4, slot 2) > squat​ > > Would this work?​ You could certainly do that. If doing the 3x/wk plan as mentioned before, I favor reducing the volume to keep the training load similar in its application. In other words, by combining all that work together, I would expect a higher training load when done 3x/wk vs 4x/wk due to the cumulative stacking there, you know? ---
**Author:** ![saintpierre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@saintpierre](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/saintpierre)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2023, 3:29pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/program-modification/13800/6 "2023-08-17T15:29:54Z")
> [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](#): > > You could certainly do that. If doing the 3x/wk plan as mentioned before, I favor reducing the volume to keep the training load similar in its application. In other words, by combining all that work together, I would expect a higher training load when done 3x/wk vs 4x/wk due to the cumulative stacking there, you know? Interesting, you learn something new every day! I do have one question though - Wouldn’t day 3 (of the 3x/week version) be a bit much even with the 1 set reduction? I can’t imagine doing both of those variations in 1 session (even with another movement between them) due to the amount of weight that can be lifted with those variations. ---
**Author:** ![saintpierre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@saintpierre](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/saintpierre)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/program-modification/13800/7 "2023-08-17T15:55:31Z")
> [@The\_Average\_Lifter](#): > > Mind sharing your experience with Strength 1? I have run this program multiple times now (this is the 4th time if I remember correctly) and have had great results. The first 2 times I made great gains, however, both times I deloaded I lost the gains which was really annoying (I only did the dev blocks). This time around I did the specialization block as well and I have been able to keep my gains so far (now in week 2 of the re-run). I’m going to attribute maintaining my gains to doing the specialization block, which I didn’t bother doing the previous 2 times, but who knows? My 1@8 has increased by 15.4lbs/7kg (~10%) so I’m extremely happy with that considering I had stagnated for over a year. Hope this helps! P.S. I did the low fatigue template for ~6-8 months prior to running STR I for a third time. I returned to STR I based on Jordan’s recommendation. ​ ---
**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2023, 4:07pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/program-modification/13800/8 "2023-08-18T16:07:25Z")
> [@saintpierre](#): > > Interesting, you learn something new every day! I do have one question though - Wouldn’t day 3 (of the 3x/week version) be a bit much even with the 1 set reduction? I can’t imagine doing both of those variations in 1 session (even with another movement between them) due to the amount of weight that can be lifted with those variations. I don’t think so, no, though it does depend on the person. I’ve programmed 3 and 4 bench slots in a single session before. For the right person, this can work just fine. ---
**Author:** ![saintpierre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@saintpierre](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/saintpierre)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2023, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/program-modification/13800/9 "2023-08-18T17:02:59Z")
Cool. I’ll have plenty of time to decide which split I’ll run. Thanks again!