Loading vs deloading

[kasper2133]

In the 5x5 program you have 4-5 weeks of loading, and 4-5 weeks of deloading. Should the relationship between loading and deloading always be one to one.

When i look over AnimalMass's DFHT program its 3 weeks loading and 1 week deloading. It has 4 days week training vs 3 on the 5x5 with much higher volume. You also hit it harder in intensity in the DFHT.

Could someone please explain why the deload period in 5x5 is so long? Could you get by with less?

[J DUB]

Of course, it really depends on your ability to recover from periods of high intensity exercise. For me, 2-3 weeks would be sufficient to recover from a program like the 5x5, but this really varies from person to person. You just want to make sure that before you start up a program again that you are ready both mentally and physically. I would start out with a 4-5 week deloading phase, and if you feel this is too long decrease it next time.

[getswoll]

Originally Posted by kasper2133

In the 5x5 program you have 4-5 weeks of loading, and 4-5 weeks of deloading. Should the relationship between loading and deloading always be one to one.

When i look over AnimalMass's DFHT program its 3 weeks loading and 1 week deloading. It has 4 days week training vs 3 on the 5x5 with much higher volume. You also hit it harder in intensity in the DFHT.

Could someone please explain why the deload period in 5x5 is so long? Could you get by with less?

From what I've gathered, as you advance in your lifting and become more advanced, stronger, etc... you physically come to the point where doing the big three three times a week begins to take a much greater toll on your body. If you read Animal Mass' Training Routine sticky, he explains this somewhat when talking about squating poundage.
This is the reason I have been lead to believe is responsible for the extended unloading period. Let's see what some others have to say about this, though, before we decide this is/could be the reason.

Pax,
GS

[calis]

It's just slightly different ways of viewing the term deloading.

With Matt's DFHT to deload volume is dropped sharply and intensity is also slightly decreased.

5x5 does it differently with an accumulation phase following by an intensification phase. it only really has 1 week of true deloading which is equivalent to DFHT. You deload in the week you switch to 3x3 but keep the weights constant. After that you ramp up the weights used for the next few weeks, this is really intensification not deloading. Although volume has dropped intensity is sharply increased.

You are still recovering from the 5x5 in this phase, but this is achieved by the change in training parameters with just 1 weeks deloading.