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5/3/1 Building the Monolith

2,456 athletes joined

Jim Wendler's size building template. BtM is for advanced athletes and is harder than 5/3/1 BBB

4.37
(62 ratings)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

5/3/1 Building the Monolith (BtM) was created by Jim Wendler, world renowned powerlifter and coach. BtM is designed for advanced athletes with many years of consistent training under their belt.

To learn more about Jim's famous 5/3/1 training philosophy, be sure to check out his 5/3/1 Forever book, which collects all of Jim's thinking on 5/3/1 training methods. Go to www.jimwendler.com to learn more.

5/3/1 BBB is free on Boostcamp App. Also check out 5/3/1 for Beginners or 5/3/1 Boring But Big, which are also free on Boostcamp.

Read the full 5/3/1 program guide below.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

  • Level
    Advanced
  • Goal
    Powerbuilding, Powerlifting
  • Equipment
    Full Gym
  • Program Length
    6 weeks
  • Days Per Week
    3 days
  • Time Per Workout
    90 minutes
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4.8 Stars with 10, 000+ Ratings
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 5
WEEK 6
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
70%
80%
90%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
5+ reps
70%
80%
90%
70%
3
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
1
100 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Dip (Bodyweight)
1
100-200 reps
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
65%
75%
85%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
5+ reps
65%
75%
85%
65%
3
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
1
100 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Dip (Bodyweight)
1
100-200 reps
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
75%
85%
95%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
5+ reps
75%
85%
95%
75%
3
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
1
100 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Dip (Bodyweight)
1
100-200 reps
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
70%
85%
90%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
5+ reps
70%
80%
90%
70%
3
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
1
100 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Dip (Bodyweight)
1
100-200 reps
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
65%
75%
85%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
5+ reps
65%
75%
85%
65%
3
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
1
100 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Dip (Bodyweight)
1
100-200 reps
Day 1
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
75%
85%
95%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
5+ reps
75%
85%
95%
75%
3
Chin-Up (Bodyweight)
1
100 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Dip (Bodyweight)
1
100-200 reps
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
1
3
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
70%
80%
90%
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
70%
80%
90%
3
Dumbbell Row
5
10-20 reps
4
Bicep Curl (Dumbbell)
1
100 reps
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
1
3
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
65%
75%
85%
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
65%
75%
85%
3
Dumbbell Row
5
10-20 reps
4
Bicep Curl (Dumbbell)
1
100 reps
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
1
3
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
75%
85%
95%
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
75%
85%
95%
3
Dumbbell Row
5
10-20 reps
4
Bicep Curl (Dumbbell)
1
100 reps
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
1
3
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
70%
80%
90%
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
70%
80%
90%
3
Dumbbell Row
5
10-20 reps
4
Bicep Curl (Dumbbell)
1
100 reps
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
1
3
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
65%
75%
85%
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
65%
75%
85%
3
Dumbbell Row
5
10-20 reps
4
Bicep Curl (Dumbbell)
1
100 reps
Day 2
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Deadlift (Barbell)
1
1
3
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
75%
85%
95%
2
Bench Press (Barbell)
1
1
5
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
75%
85%
95%
3
Dumbbell Row
5
10-20 reps
4
Bicep Curl (Dumbbell)
1
100 reps
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
20 reps
70%
80%
90%
45%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
10
5 reps
70%
3
Chin-Up (Weighted)
5
5 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Shrug
1
100 reps
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
20 reps
65%
75%
85%
55%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
10
5 reps
50%
3
Chin-Up (Weighted)
5
5 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Shrug
1
100 reps
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
20 reps
75%
85%
95%
55%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
10
5 reps
75%
3
Chin-Up (Weighted)
5
5 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Shrug
1
100 reps
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
20 reps
70%
80%
90%
50%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
12
5 reps
60%
3
Chin-Up (Weighted)
5
5 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Shrug
1
100 reps
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
20 reps
65%
75%
85%
65%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
15
5 reps
65%
3
Chin-Up (Weighted)
5
5 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Shrug
1
100 reps
Day 3
#
Exercise
Sets
Reps
Intensity
1
Squat (Barbell)
1
1
1
1
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
20 reps
75%
85%
95%
70%
2
Overhead Press (Barbell)
12
5 reps
75%
3
Chin-Up (Weighted)
5
5 reps
4
Face Pull
1
100 reps
5
Shrug
1
100 reps
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING(62 ratings)
Only ratings with written feedback are displayed here.
4.37 / 5
JamesMan
17 days ago
1 week complete
6 years of prior experience
As expected strength gains
More than expected muscle gains
Marginal modifications
This is a great program I added some accessories such as Lateral Raises and Abs
Jonathan B.Age 36, Man
24 days ago
6 weeks complete
8 years of prior experience
As expected strength gains
As expected muscle gains
Marginal modifications
I was coming back to the gym after a year of very sporadic presence. This simple yet challenging program helped me get back on track and helped gain back some of the gains I lost. I will most likely revisit once I’ve gone through one or two more programs. Only modification I made were to do my chin ups on the cable machine cause I am not a 100 chin up man! I may have skipped the dips too by lack of time. Still glad with the changes I’ve seen in the mirror. Can’t give all the credit to muscle memory, the program really helped my regularity.

5/3/1 Building the Monolith Program Guide

5/3/1 Building the Monolith is a popular advanced training program known for building solid muscle size.

BtM runs in 6 week cycles, with a basic weekly periodization on the main compound movements–Squat, Bench, Deadlift, Overhead Press–of Medium/Light/Heavy intensity for 3 weeks, then repeats with an extra ~5 lbs for upper body lifts and an extra ~10 lbs for lower body lifts in the last 3 weeks of the program.

There is A LOT of volume in the program for accessory lifts with 100 chins/facepulls/dips every Monday, 100 rows/curls every Wednesday, and 5x5 weighted chin ups, 100 facepulls/shrugs and widowmaker sets every Friday.


531 BTM PROGRAM INSTRUCTIONS

Setting your Training Max for 5/3/1 BtM
According to Jim Wendler, if you are smart, you should first run the program for 6 weeks with a lower than you think TM (85% of your 1RM). Assess how you feel, and increase or decrease your 1RM for the next training cycle.

This means that when you are starting the program, enter ~85% of your actual 1RM in the Boostcamp program onboarding.

Adjusting your Training Max after Week 3

Once you're done Week 3, you need to manually adjust your 1RM in Program Settings, which will calculate your increased weights for the last 3 weeks of the program.

Add 2.5-5 lbs (or 1-2.5 kg) for Bench Press and Overhead Press, and add 5-10 lbs (or 2.5-5 kg) for Squat and Deadlift. The increases are general guidelines and assume that you were able to complete all the sets and weights required in the first 3 weeks.

Starting another cycle after week 6

Once you complete 6 weeks of 531 BtM, you've completed one cycle of the program. To begin a new cycle, you can automatically do so in the app. Note that 5/3/1 BtM is an incredibly intensive program, and is generally not recommended to be done for back-to-back cycles without breaks.


531 BTM FAQ

Difference between 5/3/1 BBB & Building the Monolith?

Overall, 531 BtM is harder and even more physically demanding than 531 BBB. Trainees who've had experiences with both would recommend starting with 531 BBB, which can be run for many cycles back-to-back with great results. 531 BBB is aimed for advanced, highly dedicated lifters.

How to eat on 531 Building the Monolith?

531 BtM requires a lot of dedication in the gym and outside of the gym. This means that in terms of diet, you need to be eating right. Per Jim Wendler, he had athletes eating 1.5 pound of ground beef a day and a dozen eggs a day, along with other meals, for 6 weeks. Read his original article for details.

5/3/1 Building the Monolith reviews and results

You can find 5/3/1 building the monolith reviews below or on Reddit r/weightroom. It is a popular advanced programs that people have seen incredible size and strength gains from.

5/3/1 Building the Monolith app

5/3/1 Building the Monolith app is free on Boostcamp, the last lifting app you'll ever need. Boostcamp is not affiliated with Jim Wendler. For more info on Jim Wendler's training philosophy, be sure to visit www.jimwendler.com for his writing, books, and store.