Texas Method on iPhone and Apple Watch

Volume Monday, light Wednesday, a new five-rep max on Friday. The weekly program from Rippetoe and Baker's Practical Programming, for the lifter who can no longer add weight every session. Two Plates works out every percentage and tells you why it changed.

Free to download. Running the Texas Method is part of a one-time unlock, US$24.99. Never a subscription.

The week

Bench and press swap each week, so the rotation runs over two weeks. This is bench week. Press week swaps them.

VolumeSquat · 5×5 at 90% of your 5RMBench Press · 5×5 at 90%Deadlift · 1×5, a new 5RMBarbell Row · 3×8–12

LightSquat · 2×5 at 80% of volume dayOverhead Press · 3×5, lightChin-Up · 3×5–10

IntensitySquat · 1×5, a new 5RMBench Press · 1×5, a new 5RM

Deadlift's weekly five sits on volume day, where Rippetoe puts it. Setup takes a recent hard set for each lift and works out your five-rep max from it.

The rules, run for you

The whole week hangs off one number per lift, your current five-rep max.

Friday decides

Make the new five-rep max and next week's target goes up, 2.5 kg on squat, 1.25 kg on bench and press. Monday's volume follows at 90% of it. Monday's deadlift five climbs 2.5 kg a week the same way.

A miss changes the reps, not the weight

Miss Friday's five and the finish screen asks: two triples at the same weight next Friday, or another go at the five. Never a deload. Stall on the triples and it offers three doubles, then five singles, then fives again at a fresh target. Every switch is your tap. A missed deadlift holds the weight.

What the app tells you

When you finish a session, the summary shows what changes and why. Tap a change to decline it. These are the sentences it writes:

SquatIntensity

5RM made → +2.5 kg next intensity day; volume day follows at 90% (Texas Method).

Bench PressIntensity

Missed the five at 80 kg. The book's next step is two triples at the same weight, then keep adding weight (Texas Method).

Logging it

Every set arrives filled in from the program, every percentage already worked out. If that is what you lifted, one tap logs it.
RPE or RIR on any set, one tap on the keypad, if you track effort.
Plate math per side for the bars and plates you own, and the rest timer starts itself on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island.
The Apple Watch app runs the whole session from your wrist: confirm, adjust, rest. It's free with the app.

The proven programs list in Two Plates — The Texas Method sits in the proven programs list. Reading its rules is free.

Two Plates on Apple Watch, one tap to confirm a set — One tap on the wrist logs the set.

Before you switch

What does it cost?

The logger is free with no caps, including building your own program. Running the Texas Method and the other proven programs is part of one payment, US$24.99 (shown in your currency on the App Store). It covers every 1.x update. No subscription.

Do I need an Apple Watch?

No. The iPhone app does everything. The watch app is there if you want to leave the phone in your bag.

Can I bring my history?

Yes. Strong, Hevy and Alpha Progression exports open directly, and your dates and PRs come with them. Export everything back out as CSV any time. How to bring it over.

Kilograms or pounds?

Either. Prescriptions follow the unit you train in and round to the plates you own.

Is this the official Texas Method app?

No. Two Plates is not affiliated with Mark Rippetoe or Andy Baker. For the program itself, Practical Programming for Strength Training is the place.