Here's the progress that every SL Member should go through. This is worth 2-3 years of programming at least.
1. StrongLifts 5x5
Start with the empty bar and add 5lbs each workout.
After stalling 3 times in a row with the same weight for an exercise, deload by 10% for the exercise you stalled ONLY and add weight 5 pounds per workout until you stall once again.
You will first break your previous plateau, but then start missing reps once again. Repeat the process: try up to 3x with the same weight, then deload by 10% if you still don't achieve 5x5.
When you have deloaded 2x for a certain lift, you switch from 5x5 to 3x5 for that lift. The large majority of guys will be Squatting around 200lb by this time (check: this thread). However don't fixate on the 200lb mark too much, it all depends on your body-weight, training experience and attitude. Many guys have gone beyond that.
You go to the whole process again when doing 3x5, retrying the same weight for up to 3x with the same weight, deloading if you can't get the weight, and then adding weight again.
The 2nd you deload you switch to 1x5 here too. And there you use the same system of retrying 3x, deloading if you still miss the weight, and adding weight again.
After the 2nd deload on your Squat with 1x5, it's time to switch from workout to workout weight increases to weekly increases - Madcow.
2. Madcow
Switch to Madcow's intermediate program after this. Check:
http://stronglifts.com/madcow/5x5_Progr ... ar_5x5.htm
Read this madcow-5x5-vs-texas-method-t26494.html (esp the reviews).
How long should you do Madcow? You can do the program several times in a row, just plugging in your numbers and gaining strength on your lifts each time.
I recommend doing Madcow at least 3x in a row before switching to SL Advanced.
3. SL Advanced
Switch to SL Advanced after 3 cycles of Madcow.
How long should you do this program? As long as it works. Just plug in the numbers and keep gaining strength on each cycle.
Here too you should do SL Advanced at least 3x before moving to something else. But we're really talking about 2-3y of programming at least taking all of this together.