It's not confusing if you just take everything at face value and just do it. I agree. Copy the charts in the books and plug in your numbers, nothing hard about that. In the greater context of programming, I find it severely lacking. CWS/Juggernaut does it similar but better, the nuckols AtS program does it similar but better, even gzcl as I've mentioned at least outlines programming in general.
I know I'm in the minority, but I've spun my wheels for a long time on 531 because there's literally no guidance other than "lower your TM and just get the work done and eat wood and cut off your vagina!"
It wasn't until I programmed out several months in a spreadsheet that I fully understood what Wendler is trying to achieve with this convoluted leader/anchor system. Rather than 3 week blocks and increase TM, I plotted it all out as percentage increases in the sheet and my mind was blown. Rather than 50%, 55%, 60% BBB 3 week cycle, increase TM, then 50%, 55%, 60% 3 week cycle, increase TM for a full leader phase, I planned out 50%, 55%, 60%, 52.5%, 57.5%, 62.5%. Hmm...look familiar? Let's extend it, 65% with 6-8 reps in stead of 5 x 10, 70%, 75%, 67.5%, 72.5%, 77.5%...omg this is starting to look like real programming. Intensity goes up, volume, comes down. 80% 5 x 5 maybe, 85%, 90%, down to 5 x 3 @ 90%....wait, where have I seen this before?
Yep, the BBB "variations" in Beyond 531 where he actually writes out a clear progression, specifically the 13 week "challenge". Where did this clear programming go in Forever? Why was it replaced with leaders and anchors?
