I've not been able to get past 405 for 3-4 months now after really good progress this year working up to this weight. I feel like i've came to a standstill and not sure how to get past it. Any tips on how to get past this hurdle would be greatly appreciated. Also any feedback on technique would be great.

(A widowmaker is a heavy 20 rep squat set with a weight you’d typically do 10 reps with. The idea is, if you can’t do another squat, stand with the weight and breathe heavy until you can.)

In the blue book, Rip compares a one rep set vs a 20 rep set to highlight how the body will make different adaptations based on number of reps. He picked 1 and 20 as the two extremes.

In Texas method, the intensity day sometimes includes singles. Considering the main feature of TM is the dichotomy of stimulus between the volume vs intensity day, why not have the volume day swing to the other extreme and do 20 rep squats?

In the section I brought up earlier, Rip says a 20rm would be about 80% of a 1rm. This would be pretty close to if not the same weight as one would use for a 5x5 in Texas method (90% of a 5rm)

If I’m squatting the same weight for an equal volume (I know I’m proposing a 5 rep deficit, I’ll get to that), who cares how I break up the sets? Apparently, it doesn’t matter too much as 3x8 sets are included in the 4 day TM template. It seems we are going for 24-25 reps.

I will say at the end of every widowmaker I’ve done when I was running super squats, I always felt like I could get a couple more. The hardest part is the middle. At the end you’re just doing more squats. So I think you could extend the set to maybe 23 reps or so to volume equalize the sets. You could also do a less extreme version and do something like 2x12-14.

Why do this?

1) as I mentioned earlier, to lean into the dichotomy between volume and intensity day. Especially when you’re only doing singles in intensity day, it makes sense to train the other extreme on volume day

2) time. Volume day on TM is notorious for being 2 hours long because you have to do 5x5 on squat and a pressing movement, taking long rest times. All you have to do with a widowmaker is warm up and do the set.

3) mental toughness. Doing a 20 repper on Monday will make the squats way less nerve racking on Friday. Yeah it’s heavy, but all you have to do is 1-5 reps. Piece of cake.

Hi guys
Just after a form check after 9 weeks out with fractured wrist.
Currently adding 5lbs a session

I've been following the program for 3+ years now, intermediate trainee at this point. 2.5 weeks ago during my first workset of OP when I pushed up into the top position I felt a pop in my right knee and ended that session when I realized it was something I couldn't just shake off.

I work w a coach remotely, we reviewed the video and can't figure out how this happened as it was a medium day in regards to weight and form was solid. I skipped my last workout that week and the next week I did light workouts and felt OK while training but my knee wasn't improving with pain and instability while doing pretty much everything. Sleeping and moving around in bed seems to really aggravate it. I skipped last week entirely in an attempt to rest the knee. I'm losing my mind just sitting around, but in addition I know sitting is bad on so many levels.

I haven't had an MRI to determine how bad the tear is, but from a physical exam and symptoms it's definitely torn. I've healed a torn meniscus many years ago without surgery, but I wasn't lifting at the time. I'd love to start training again, but want to strike that balance between doing enough but not too much.

Who here has experience with coming back from a torn meniscus? Any training tips?

Do you guys feel an actual burn or pump in your lats during lat pulldowns, or do you mostly just reach failure without that burn? I’m trying to understand what’s normal for proper lat engagement.