I have been doing it for 3 months now consistently. You just have to do the research and know when to progress to the next step. People dont follow the routine and wonder why they stall. Its great for strength gains, but remember its not a body building routine, the focus is strength, not aesthetics.
Phase 1
Squat 3x5
Bench Press/Overhead Press 3x5
Deadlift 1x5
After some time deadlifting 3x a week is no longer doable. You then begin to alternate the deadlift and power clean
Phase 2
Squat 3x5
Bench Press/Overhead Press 3x5
Deadlift 1x5/Power Clean 5x3
This is where I would say the majority of the novice gains happen, and you can stay in phase 2 for atleast 2 months. When the weight gets heavy, you start taking a light Squat day , preferably on your 2 second session of the week. I dont know what its officially called, but i will call it phase 2B.
Phase 2B
Squat 3x5, (2x5@80% of mondays weight on Wednesday)
Bench Press/Overhead Press 3x5
Deadlift 1x5/Power Clean 5x3
I do my deadlifting on my light squat day because it can be taxing to squat, deadlift, and overhead/bench heavy in the same session. Or you can deadlift on fridays because you have the extra recovery day. When you have trouble cleaning heavy twice a week, move to phase 3.
Phase 3
Squat 3x5, (2x5@80% of mondays weight on Wednesday)
Bench Press/Overhead Press 3x5
Deadlift 1x5/Power Clean 5x3/Chin Ups
Basically just Phase 2b with chins alternated in with deadlifts and power cleans. This is the final phase of the program and you grind this out for as long as you can.
If you fail to hit the programmed amount of reps, try again next session, if you do it then keep going with the 5 pounds per workout, if you fail again, deload 20% and work your way back up. Once you have deloaded atleast 3 times, then you are probably ready to move to intermediate programming.
I am going to do the texas method when I finish grinding out the rest of the LP. Its also by Rippetoe and its pretty similar to the later phases of starting strength, but with more volume, and weekly progression as opposed to daily progression.
The biggest complaint about the program is that there is not enough volume in the upper body lifts. There are some good arguments for and against this. Aesthetically people are correct. You probably are not going to get some crazy jacked transformation when compared to your lower body, however, its not a body building routine, so its not the point. The lower volume is to get people use to doing the lifts. It takes a long time to do reps with perfect form. When people move to intermediate programming, they will get all the volume they need plus some.
If you are stalling, check your form, if you still stall, check your diet, if you still stall, check your diet again. If you stall again, start looking for muscle imbalances. I now do resistance band workouts a few times a week to keep my shoulders and hips in check.