Program modification in defecit

jenglish712

So I have been doing SL5X5 for a few months. I started doing them while eating about 1800 calories, and in November was struggling so I have been doing 2300ish calories (I say ish because I set the goal but during this have not been strictly measuring, nor freaking out if I go a bit over), sort of a mini bulk. I have however gotten a bit rounder, as I was still a little on the high fat% side when I started. So I am preparing starting February to wind back down to about 1800 and cut. My maintenance is calculated to be 2200ish

I have not had to deload yet from 3x failure on the same wight. I had a couple voluntary mini-deloads from injury or to correct form issues. But I am still making progress at 5x5. I won't have time to do much if any cardio at 5x5 for a cut. Some suggest that less volume is or less intensity while cutting. If I am still making strength gains at 5x5, is there a reason to pause adding weight or switch to 3x5 and 1x3 on DL?

Not that it should matter but current lifts (in pounds) and stats:

34 y.o. male, 5'7", 150 in November, up to 160

Squat 195
Bench 140
row 120
Dead 220
press 85

all weights are completed 5x5 except DL of course.

I do some supplemental work if I have time of 4 palms facing pullups/4 dips/4 pull/4 dips/4 pull.

I also do some light isolation work at home with dumbells but not enough to have a radical effect on recovery. I had been doing a 10 min mile 3x a week after 5x5, but as I needed longer rest periods have cut this out.

Thanks for any feedback.

SideSteel

If I were in your position I would stay on the program and see how you do. SOME people in some contexts can continue to make reasonable strength progress without needing to reduce training volume. If you start running into problems, I'd consider reducing volume.