In recent years, the abundance and accessibility of training information on the internet has exploded, leaving developing lifters with more information at their fingertips than ever before. On one hand, this is great. With resources like elitefts.com™, novice lifters have access to thousands of pages of articles, programs, and training logs, not to mention direct access to some of the top strength athletes on the planet through Q&As, videos, and seminars.
But there are drawbacks to this abundance of information. A few days ago, I was talking about training with a pretty good female crossfitter, when the topic turned to programming. In that conversation, she said something which struck a nerve, because I’ve been hearing different versions of the same thing for quite some time now:
“I tried conjugate for about six months but I plateaued, so I’m doing 5/3/1 now.”
I replied, “Really? I’ve been using conjugate for almost 15 years and I’m still making progress.”
My issue was not with the fact that she rejected my beloved conjugate for something else, but the fact that she only gave it SIX MONTHS before scrapping it. This “programming ADD” seems to be a fairly regular pattern for today’s novice lifters. Try something out, and at the first sign you hit a stall (or don’t progress as quickly as you had hoped) chuck it and move on to something else. It all seems so simple…use something until the progress slows, switch it up, and continue to progress, right? The problem here is that you get really good at following programs, but not so good at training. Something you'll notice about the top lifters in the world is that they rarely jump ship from one program to another. Sure, it happens now and again, but most pros will stick to a particular methodology for years before jumping to something else.
One of the reasons for this is the fact that most advanced lifters train with crews, and sticking with a particular program is easier than getting everyone on-board with something else every six months. Another reason is that most pros have been at this for a while and come from an era when there weren't so many programs being promoted and sold. Most importantly, advanced lifters realize that there's much more to being successful than what's on the page. A program is just a guide, the rest is up to you. If you think you might be a program hopper, there's an important skill that you're missing out on that WILL be the difference between success and failure in the long term.
Problem Solving
Problem solving on a training program is a lot like problem solving in a class. Think back to your school days. If you got stumped by a problem, question, or assignment, was it more productive to try and figure it out or drop the class and take something else? Which choice do you think would teach you more about the topic? Which would get you to your goal (in this case graduation) faster? Which scenario would leave you better equipped to handle the real world?
Training is the same way. The best lifters and coaches are usually good problem solvers. This comes from years of working through sticking points by tweaking, adjusting, and re-working, usually within the context of the same program. If you scrap your program at the first sign of a stall, you rob yourself of the experience you gain by fixing it. You might also overlook other reasons for your plateau, which might have nothing to do with your programming in the first place. When you're constantly switching programs, your gains will come from constantly forcing your body to adapt to a totally new stimulus. This is great at first, but when you change everything how can you tell what worked and what didn't? At some point you will need to learn how to work within the context of a program, or better yet, start programming yourself based on your own unique needs.
When You SHOULD Jump Ship
Now, I don't want to give the impression that once you choose your program, you should stick with it no matter what. There are a few instances when it is absolutely necessary to switch programs. It's just not as often as most people think. Here are a few instances where jumping ship might be your best move:
Instance No. 1: The program is no longer geared to your goals
If you've been following a bodybuilding program but want to switch to powerlifting, then you must use a powerlifting-based program in order to see results. Just like you wouldn't take soccer lessons to get better at baseball.
Instance No. 2: The program doesn't fit your lifestyle
If you only have 2-3 hours to train per week, a volume-based program like Sheiko probably is not your best bet.
Instance No. 3: The program is inappropriate for your level
If you are a complete beginner, conjugate periodization is going to be difficult to implement because of the lack of practice on the contest lifts (unless you have access to a knowledgeable coach). If you've been in the iron game for a while and are looking to compete at a high level, it's probably time to ditch Starting Strength.
So, the next time you get the urge to jump ship and start over with a new program, ask yourself if you've really done all you can to progress on the current one. Then ask yourself if the issue is really a programming issue at all. You might be surprised at how much you learn.