Looking for ideas/opinions on a strength program

A few of my mates have enjoyed 5/3/1

Strength after the initial beginner stage is a function of muscle size.

Make sure your SETUP and TECHNIQUE is completely nailed for the
Bench press, are your arching your back? Feet planted and buried in to the ground? Shoulders back? Is the bar touching your sternum? Elbows tucked in? Pressing in a reverse J shape?
Squat, weight on your heels? Chest up all of the time? Driving through heels? Driving hips forwards back under the bar as you come out of the squat? Are you focusing on going up as fast as you can once you reach depth? This doesn't mean to drop the last 2-3inches of the squat though!
DL, back tight? chest up? Driving hips in to meet the bar and getting your head up high as the bar passes your knee?
OHP, are you taking a big breath before you press? Your trunk has to be uber tight to transfer the power properly. If you are soft you will lose drive and your body will in effect absorb your pressing. Are you pressing the bar behind your head once it goes past the top of your head? Are you pressing the bar straight up and not around your face?

Make sure your take a deep breath before you do your first rep. Set your position and then do it. Your position never improves as you do the rep, it only degrades so you better make sure your form is as best as it can from the start.

You will see solid gains from this already.

Koing

i use this as a 5/3/1 calculator

http://www.strstd.com/

Hi,

I'm looking for opinions/ideas to research in choosing my next workout program.

So a little about me...
Female
23
Weighs about 120 lbs
16-17% BF
5' 4"

I plan to bulk now through the end of the year.
I'm more interested in strength vs. muscle size
I'd like a routine that has me at the gym 4-5x/week and has me in and out in 45 min
I'd probably do a Bench Day, Squat Day, DL Day, and OHP Press with accessory work after the main lifts.

I've looked into 5/3/1 so far and am going along that route but am interested in hearing about any other opinions

Thanks!

Are you still able to make progress in strength on a linear model?

If the answer is yes then I would stay with a linear approach before doing 5/3/1.

Here is a program

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-introduction.html

5/3/1 is a great program, though most beginners will see more/faster progress with a 5x5 program. But to your preference... lifting 4x week sets up very well for a 2-day split (upper/lower, push/pull, etc).

Regardless of what you do, try to keep your workouts centered on bigger compound lifts whenever possible. IMO, every routine and every session should be based on squats, deads, bench, OHP, rows, pull-ups and dips. Throw in a little accessory work as appropriate and you're good to go. 30-45 minutes per session is more than reasonable.

.

Some good options.

Stronglifts 5x5 - A lot of people start with this and then migrate to the Wendler 5/3/1 that others have mentioned. Medhi's free overview of this program is great. It is very similar to the Starting Strength program by Mark Rippetoe if you prefer to pick up a book.

Joe Defranco outlines a good program he calls Westside for Skinny B*stards. It would work fine for you as well. Probably his "washed up meathead" routine which doesn't have the sport specific workouts would be best suited to you.

I also like the stuff Mike Matthews writes. He has a book call Thinner, Leaner, Stronger that you can get on e-readers (from Amazon or B&N) for like 6 dollars.

Best of luck!