Squat getting heavy

Hi BBM,

Firstly, I’m new to RPE and have been doing a squat program similar to what Alan describes in this video 5/3/1 Vs. My Current Program

Monday - Single @8, 5x5@80% of single. I’ve been adding 2.5kg each week and have been doing the program now for 7 weeks(just started week 7). The single is beginning to feel like an RPE 8.5/9. Do I keep adding weight each week, keep the weight the same or adjust the programming?

Friday - 5x5 @10kg less than Monday’s 5x5.

Stats.
Male
33
6’
BW 108kg
Squat 1RM around 200kg.

Thanks for your time.

The single is beginning to feel like an RPE 8.5/9. Do I keep adding weight each week, keep the weight the same or adjust the programming?

If the difficulty of the single is increasing as you add weight, that is evidence that you are increasing the load faster than your strength is increasing. It may be reasonable to take the same weight again on subsequent weeks until enough strength adaptations accumulate, such that the next load increment stays @8. However, if you don’t demonstrate continued improvement with this strategy, the next move would be a programming adjustment, yes.

I recommend listening to podcast episode 129.

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Many thanks, Austin. I appreciate your time.

I might be getting ahead of myself but what would the adjustment be? Reduce the intensity and add more volume, OR reduce volume and continue to add weight and ‘peak’?

If your goal is to peak for a 1RM in the short-term, you could do that.

If not, there are numerous other potential options for adjustment here that are a bit beyond the scope of the forum. This could involve adjusting almost any combination of the other programming variables including total volume, exercise selection/frequency, rep ranges, or your intensity distribution. If you’re interested in more specific suggestions for your individual situation, a form check/programming consult with one of our coaches would probably be the easiest way to go about that.