5/3/1 uses 90% of your true 1RM deliberately — leaving room to grow every cycle. Beginners start at 85% for safe progression. Wendler calls it
The AMRAP set is your key metric. The final set of each main lift has no rep limit — do as many as you can. 8+ reps means your TM may be too light. 1–2 reps means it may be too heavy.
Small gains compound. Adding 2.5kg to your squat every 4 weeks is 32.5kg per year. 5/3/1 is designed to be sustainable for decades — not months.
The first cycle will feel easy. That's by design. Resist the urge to increase faster. The program is building a base you'll appreciate in cycle 6, 10, 20.
Boring But Big (BBB). After your main sets, 5×10 at 50% TM builds size. Consistency over intensity.