Workout Routine

531 Leader (Bulk) - 5's Pro + BBB

by emilianom

Based on the ideas from the 531 Forever book, this is a Leader cycle to be performed twice (6 weeks). When done, perform 1 Deload week, then 1 Anchor cycle (3 weeks), then 1 more Deload or TM Test/PR week. For this cycle the TM is @ 85% of 1RM.

  • The main lift is done with 5's Pro scheme.
  • The supplemenetal lift is BBB.
  • The accessories are 1 pull, 1 push and 1 legs/core exercise per training day with emphasis on pulling to counter the amount of pushing done in the main and supplemental lifts. The pulls are compounds 4x/week, while the pushes are compound 2x/week and isolations 2x/week.

Feel free to Adjust BBB % to your ability (default is 50%, recommended varies between 40% to 70%) and choose accessory exercises that best fit your goals.

Starting TM is 85% of 1RM.

Workouts

W1 Press

military press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
65% TM
5
180 sec
2
75% TM
5
180 sec
3
85% TM
5
180 sec

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

military press

3 sets

military press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
50% TM
10
120 sec
2
50% TM
10
120 sec
3
50% TM
10
120 sec
4
50% TM
10
120 sec
5
50% TM
10
120 sec

military press

5 sets

lat pulldown

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
90 sec
2
–
–
12
90 sec
3
–
–
12
90 sec
4
–
–
12
90 sec
5
–
–
12 +
amrap
90 sec

lat pulldown

5 sets

glute ham raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

glute ham raise

3 sets

Cable curl

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

Cable curl

3 sets

W1 Deadlift

deadlift

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
65% TM
5
180 sec
2
75% TM
5
180 sec
3
85% TM
5
180 sec

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

deadlift

3 sets

deadlift

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
45% TM
10
120 sec
2
45% TM
10
120 sec
3
45% TM
10
120 sec
4
44% TM
10
120 sec
5
45% TM
10
120 sec

deadlift

5 sets

skull crushers

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

skull crushers

3 sets

single arm row

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12
60 sec
4
–
–
12
60 sec
5
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

single arm row

5 sets

Leg raises

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

Leg raises

3 sets

W1 Bench press

bench press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
65% TM
5
180 sec
2
75% TM
5
180 sec
3
85% TM
5
180 sec

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

bench press

3 sets

bench press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
50% TM
10
120 sec
2
50% TM
10
120 sec
3
50% TM
10
120 sec
4
50% TM
10
120 sec
5
50% TM
10
120 sec

bench press

5 sets

pullup

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
6
90 sec
2
–
–
6
90 sec
3
–
–
6
90 sec
4
–
–
6 +
amrap
90 sec

pullup

4 sets

lateral raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

lateral raise

3 sets

calf raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

calf raise

3 sets

W1 Squat

squat

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
65% TM
5
180 sec
2
75% TM
5
180 sec
3
85% TM
5
180 sec

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

squat

3 sets

squat

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
45% TM
10
120 sec
2
45% TM
10
120 sec
3
45% TM
10
120 sec
4
45% TM
10
120 sec
5
45% TM
10
120 sec

squat

5 sets

fly

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
90 sec
2
–
–
12
90 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
90 sec

fly

3 sets

face pull

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12
60 sec
4
–
–
12
60 sec
5
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

face pull

5 sets

Cable crunch

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

Cable crunch

3 sets

W2 Press

military press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
70% TM
5
180 sec
2
80% TM
5
180 sec
3
90% TM
5
180 sec

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

military press

3 sets

military press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
50% TM
10
120 sec
2
50% TM
10
120 sec
3
50% TM
10
120 sec
4
50% TM
10
120 sec
5
50% TM
10
120 sec

military press

5 sets

lat pulldown

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
90 sec
2
–
–
12
90 sec
3
–
–
12
90 sec
4
–
–
12
90 sec
5
–
–
12 +
amrap
90 sec

lat pulldown

5 sets

glute ham raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

glute ham raise

3 sets

Cable curl

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

Cable curl

3 sets

W2 Deadlift

deadlift

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
70% TM
5
180 sec
2
80% TM
5
180 sec
3
90% TM
5
180 sec

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

deadlift

3 sets

deadlift

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
45% TM
10
120 sec
2
45% TM
10
120 sec
3
45% TM
10
120 sec
4
45% TM
10
120 sec
5
45% TM
10
120 sec

deadlift

5 sets

skull crushers

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

skull crushers

3 sets

single arm row

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12
60 sec
4
–
–
12
60 sec
5
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

single arm row

5 sets

Leg raises

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

Leg raises

3 sets

W2 Bench press

bench press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
70% TM
5
180 sec
2
80% TM
5
180 sec
3
90% TM
5
180 sec

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

bench press

3 sets

bench press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
50% TM
10
120 sec
2
50% TM
10
120 sec
3
50% TM
10
120 sec
4
50% TM
10
120 sec
5
50% TM
10
120 sec

bench press

5 sets

pullup

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
6
90 sec
2
–
–
6
90 sec
3
–
–
6 +
amrap
90 sec
4
–
–
12 +
amrap
90 sec

pullup

4 sets

lateral raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

lateral raise

3 sets

calf raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

calf raise

3 sets

W2 Squat

squat

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
70% TM
5
180 sec
2
80% TM
5
180 sec
3
90% TM
5
180 sec

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

squat

3 sets

squat

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
45% TM
10
120 sec
2
45% TM
10
120 sec
3
45% TM
10
120 sec
4
45% TM
10
120 sec
5
45% TM
10
120 sec

squat

5 sets

fly

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
90 sec
2
–
–
12
90 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
90 sec

fly

3 sets

face pull

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12
60 sec
4
–
–
12
60 sec
5
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

face pull

5 sets

Cable crunch

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

Cable crunch

3 sets

W3 Press

military press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
75% TM
5
180 sec
2
85% TM
5
180 sec
3
95% TM
5
180 sec

Overload: After 1 successful session, Training Max will be suggested to increase by 2.5 kg.

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

military press

3 sets

military press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
50% TM
10
120 sec
2
50% TM
10
120 sec
3
50% TM
10
120 sec
4
50% TM
10
120 sec
5
50% TM
10
120 sec

military press

5 sets

lat pulldown

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
90 sec
2
–
–
12
90 sec
3
–
–
12
90 sec
4
–
–
12
90 sec
5
–
–
12 +
amrap
90 sec

lat pulldown

5 sets

glute ham raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

glute ham raise

3 sets

Cable curl

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

Cable curl

3 sets

W3 Deadlift

deadlift

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
75% TM
5
180 sec
2
85% TM
5
180 sec
3
95% TM
5
180 sec

Overload: After 1 successful session, Training Max will be suggested to increase by 5 kg.

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

deadlift

3 sets

deadlift

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
45% TM
10
120 sec
2
45% TM
10
120 sec
3
45% TM
10
120 sec
4
45% TM
10
120 sec
5
45% TM
10
120 sec

deadlift

5 sets

skull crushers

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

skull crushers

3 sets

single arm row

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12
60 sec
4
–
–
12
60 sec
5
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

single arm row

5 sets

Leg raises

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

Leg raises

3 sets

W3 Bench press

bench press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
75% TM
5
180 sec
2
85% TM
5
180 sec
3
95% TM
5
180 sec

Overload: After 1 successful session, Training Max will be suggested to increase by 2.5 kg.

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

bench press

3 sets

bench press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
40% TM
10
120 sec
2
40% TM
10
120 sec
3
40% TM
10
120 sec
4
40% TM
10
120 sec
5
40% TM
10
120 sec

bench press

5 sets

pullup

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
6
90 sec
2
–
–
6
90 sec
3
–
–
6
90 sec
4
–
–
6 +
amrap
90 sec

pullup

4 sets

lateral raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

lateral raise

3 sets

calf raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

calf raise

3 sets

W3 Squat

squat

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
75% TM
5
180 sec
2
85% TM
5
180 sec
3
95% TM
5
180 sec

Overload: After 1 successful session, Training Max will be suggested to increase by 5 kg.

Deload: After 1 uncompleted session, Training Max will be suggested to decrease by 10 %

squat

3 sets

squat

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
40% TM
10
120 sec
2
40% TM
10
120 sec
3
40% TM
10
120 sec
4
40% TM
10
120 sec
5
40% TM
10
120 sec

squat

5 sets

fly

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
90 sec
2
–
–
12
90 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
90 sec

fly

3 sets

face pull

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12
60 sec
4
–
–
12
60 sec
5
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

face pull

5 sets

Cable crunch

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12
60 sec
2
–
–
12
60 sec
3
–
–
12 +
amrap
60 sec

Cable crunch

3 sets