Troubleshooting in the LF Template

Training Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hi coaches,

I’m currently running the 3-day Low ISF Template and about to wrap up the first block/6 weeks of training. I’m really enjoying the programming, training is fun, my squat and deadlift and all their supplemental variations have been soaring up, and unlike with previous “higher” fatigue templates, I don’t feel beat up in a manner that makes me look forward to the coming low stress week, and session RPE have actually decreased, which is cool.

Then there is the issue of my bench however. Neither competiton bench nor the variations have moved at all. They haven’t gotten weaker either, so I’m thinking it’s not too much stress and that implementing the “too little stress” troubleshooting would be appropriate. Exercise selection seems fine, and given that my back off sets are consistently at around RPE 3-4 even with only 2 minute breaks, I’m thinking of adding intensity first. My questions:

  1. Given that the coming block has different intensity prescriptions anyway, would you add intensity in that block already, or hold off until I run the template again and then modify the block that I’ve actually collected this data on?

  2. When adding intensity to supplemental lifts, is it ok to bring the RPE 8 top sets to RPE 9, or would you limit the added intensity to back off sets here?

As always, thanks for the great content.

2

I think since the intensity is changing and going up, I’d wait to see how you respond to that before ratcheting it up and making changes. I would add intensity across the board for both top sets and back-off sets, but just a little at a time!

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