CJ
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@CJ yes I do think it was a productive workout and I was happy to be done in about an hour. I always feel like I have not done enough, but today I had to leave. Looking back though I think it was good.
Strong Lifts 5x5 Ultra. The regular Stronglifts is a full body workout 3 days per week. Ultra is a variation that is an upper / lower split 4 days per week. There are others variations as well I have not looked at.
For all of them, he says when the weight gets heavy and the workouts long, to switch to 1 top set then 4 backoff sets, with shorter rest periods. Pretty similar to what you advised.
Good to know about the soreness and weight / reps increasing.
Thanks again for sharing your expertise @CJ and everyone, I really appreciate it.
StrongLifts Ultra
I think you'll do better with a few more sets with relatively heavier weights. It might be less weight than 1 top set, but I think there's value for you in getting practice with heavier loads. With just 1 top set, many have a tendency to do whatever it takes to get the reps completed, often at the expense of form and/or ROM. With multiple sets, one is less likely to perform subpar reps.
In the future, doing a top set with a down set, then an assistance exercise will be beneficial. But right now, get some practice under increasingly heavy loads. Build that base of strength. Nowhere in life is it not better to be stronger.