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Home ยป Jim Wendler Programs

Jim Wendler Strength & Powerlifting Programs

Here are strength and powerlifting programs created by Jim Wendler. Some have been reinterpreted from books or other materials published by Jim. These are not official publications from him.

To explore the rest of the Lift Vault program collection, check out the Lift Vault Program Library.

To learn more about Jim Wendler, visit JimWendler.com.

5/3/1 for Beginners Spreadsheet & Tips

Last updated June 10, 2020
Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Beginner

Weeks: 3

Periodization: Linear Periodization, Undulating Periodization

Powerlifting meet prep program: No

Program goal: Strength

Uses RPE:No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

5/3/1 is one of the most popular strength training programs ever, influencing other programs like GZCL and nSuns along the way. Its popularity has stemmed from its simplicity, flexibility, and ability to be run over and over for long periods of time. It favors slow, steady, repeatable progression over the long term instead of programs that pile on the weight for a few weeks or months before progress grinds to a halt. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 3 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2
Bench press frequency: 2
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 1

Boring But Big: 5/3/1 BBB Spreadsheets

Last updated October 4, 2020
Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate

Weeks: 4

Periodization: Undulating Periodization

Powerlifting meet prep program: No

Program goal: Hypertrophy, Strength

Uses RPE:No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Boring But Big (BBB) is a variation of Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 template that focuses on high volume accessory work to induce hypertrophy after the main “5/3/1” work is finished. The BBB accessory work follows a scheme of 5 sets of 10 reps (5×10). It is both brutally simple and effective, making it one of the most popular 5/3/1 variations. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 4 Week Programs, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 4 Day Workout Plan, 4 Week Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 1
Bench press frequency: 1
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 1

5/3/1 BBB for Bodybuilding Spreadsheet

Last updated April 18, 2020
Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate

Weeks: 7

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Powerlifting meet prep program: No

Program goal: Hypertrophy, Strength

Uses RPE:No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

5/3/1 BBB for bodybuilding is an interpretation of Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 BBB strength program that is focused on bodybuilding aesthetics and hypertrophy instead of raw strength.

It is run for 7 weeks per cycle with 4 training days per week. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 7 Week Programs, Bodybuilding Program, Programs
Tagged With: 4 Day Bodybuilding Program, 4 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 1
Bench press frequency: 1
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 1

Benching the Monolith Program Spreadsheet

Last updated April 18, 2020
Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 6

Periodization: Undulating Periodization

Powerlifting meet prep program: No

Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength

Uses RPE:No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Benching the Monolith is a version of Jim Wendler’s Building the Monolith program that focuses on, you guessed it, the bench press. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 6 Week Bench Press Programs, 6 Week Programs, Bench Press Workout Program, Lift Specific Program, Powerlifting Program, Programs
Tagged With: 3 Day Workout Plan, 6 Week Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2
Bench press frequency: 2
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 1

Building the Monolith Program Spreadsheet (kg + lb)

Last updated July 5, 2020
Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 6

Periodization: Undulating Periodization

Powerlifting meet prep program: No

Program goal: High Volume, Mass, Strength

Uses RPE:No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Building the Monolith was created by Jim Wendler, who wrote the 5/3/1 programs and inspired other programs like GZCL and NSuns, Building the Monolith is designed for advanced athletes looking to break through plateaus, not novice or intermediate lifters. For a bench-focused variation of this program, check out Benching the Monolith. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 6 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 3 Day Workout Plan, 6 Week Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2
Bench press frequency: 1
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 2

nSuns 5/3/1 Complete Program Collection (4 Day, 5 Day, Cap3, and More)

Last updated August 28, 2020
Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Beginner, Intermediate

Weeks: Indefinite

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Powerlifting meet prep program: No

Program goal: High Volume, Powerlifting, Strength

Uses RPE:No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

nSuns 5/3/1 is a linear progression powerlifting program that was inspired by Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 strength program. It progresses on a weekly basis, making it well suited for late stage novice and early intermediate lifters. It is known for its challenging amount of volume. Those who stick with it tend to find great results from the additional work capacity.

Redditor /u/nsuns assembled a 5/3/1/ LP spreadsheet complete with 4, 5, and 6 day variants in addition to deadlift and squat specific workloads to help everyone get stronger.

Use the table of contents to jump to your desired spreadsheet or read on below to learn about which nSuns program you should run. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Deadlift Workout Program, Lift Specific Program, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Squat Program, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 4 Day Split, 4 Day Workout Plan, 5 Day Workout Plan, 6 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2
Bench press frequency: 2, 3
Deadlift frequency: 2, 3
Overhead press frequency: 1

Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 Workout Program Spreadsheets

Last updated October 4, 2020
Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 3, 4

Periodization: Linear Periodization

Powerlifting meet prep program: No

Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength

Uses RPE:No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%):Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

More of a template than a strict program, many variations of 5/3/1 exist. You’ll find some of the best spreadsheets for these variations here. All of them will get you stronger by focusing on steady progression of the Big 3 lifts though. Jim Wendler’s popular 5/3/1 template was highly influential on the popular GZCL and nSuns programs.

The program is comprised of 3 and 4 week cycles, designed to run indefinitely.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 3 Week Programs, 4 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 4 Day Workout Plan, 4 Week Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 1
Bench press frequency: 1
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 1

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