Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

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Expand view Topic review: Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

Re: Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

by BjornTitan » Fri May 29, 2026 2:00 am

Will do. Honestly the biggest change is I actually look forward to squat day again instead of dreading the grind. That alone is worth it.

Re: Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

by LiftMaven » Fri May 29, 2026 1:45 am

Come back in another month and post the heavy re-test. Bet you put 5-10kg back on the top end and it feels lighter than the old 140 did.

Re: Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

by AlphaBulk » Fri May 29, 2026 1:29 am

Smart. Leaving 1-2 in the tank on most sets is how you actually accumulate volume week to week without burning out. Save the true failure stuff for the last set of an exercise if at all.

Re: Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

by BjornTitan » Fri May 29, 2026 1:10 am

Yeah sets 9-10 are where form starts to go. I've been racking it if the rep slows down a lot rather than grinding to failure every set.

Re: Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

by BeastModeBro » Fri May 29, 2026 12:51 am

Don't sleep on tempo either. If you can't control the eccentric on set 9 and 10 you're just adding junk reps. I'd rather you do 8 clean than 10 ugly ones at this stage.

Re: Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

by Stronghold42 » Fri May 29, 2026 12:30 am

Appetite up is a good sign. When I run volume blocks I add a small carb bump pre and post training, nothing crazy, just rice or oats. Bar speed on the back half of the session is night and day with carbs in.

Re: Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

by BjornTitan » Fri May 29, 2026 12:10 am

Maintenance to slightly over, getting about 1.8g protein per kg and sleeping 7.5ish. Appetite is up which I assume is the extra work.

Re: Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

by Maverick » Thu May 28, 2026 11:54 pm

Curious how your sleep and food are. Going from 10 to 18 sets means you need to eat for it. I tried a volume jump in a slight deficit and just stalled and felt flat the whole time.

Re: Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

by MuscleMaster » Thu May 28, 2026 11:35 pm

One thing to add - your warmups matter way more at higher volume. I started doing two proper ramp sets and some leg swings before squats and the knee niggles I used to get on set 4 disappeared.

Re: Switched from 5x5 to higher volume after a hard plateau - 6 week update

by SteelTitan9 » Thu May 28, 2026 11:17 pm

Exactly. Run the volume block, then a week where you work up to a heavy double or triple and see where you are. You'll usually surprise yourself.

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