Most people running the Starting Strength novice linear progression don't stall because the program doesn't work. They stall because they don't know when to make changes — or they make them too early, too late, or all at once. This series fixes that.
The NLP isn't one program. It's four independent progressions running at the same time. Your squat, your press, your bench, and your deadlift all have different recovery demands, different rates of progress, and they stall at different points.
Blowing up your whole program because one lift got heavy is one of the most common mistakes I see. So is grinding past the point of no return on a lift that should have been adjusted weeks ago.
In these four videos, I walk through each lift — step by step — from your first session to early intermediate programming. No fluff. Just the whiteboard.
The squat is the centerpiece of the program and the first lift to demand changes. Here's how to take it from your first 3×5 all the way through rep cycling and into true intermediate territory — without burning out or stalling prematurely.
The press stalls faster than any other lift. The fix isn't brute force — it's making smart changes early. This video covers the "Get 15" method, when to drop to 2.5 lb jumps, and how to eventually run a Texas-style intensity/volume split.
One hard set of five per week has taken a lot of men to 405. But most quit too early, tinker too much, or never get the frequency right. Here's the full roadmap — from pulling three times a week down to once a week, and what to do when that runs out too.
The bench is the most straightforward lift to program and the easiest to screw up. Miss reps too often and you start practicing failure. Here's how to run it clean from novice 3×5 through microloading, top sets, and a Texas-style press/bench split.
"Make changes when you need to. Never a day sooner. Never a day later."
— The rule that keeps the NLP running longer than you think it should
These videos will give you the framework. But if you want someone to actually watch your form, tell you when to make changes, and hold you accountable through the process — that's what coaching is for.
I work with dedicated recreational lifters who want to get strong and stay strong. Online coaching is $315/month. Consultations are free.