5x5 for OK for cutting?

[WiggyWild]

Spring break's coming around soon so I'm going to start cardio and cutting calories. I really like the 5x5 routine, but I'm wondering if it will work fine druring reduced caloric intake. Obviously I won't expect any performance gains, but this routine seems like a bulking oriented program.

What rep range wold you recommend during this time? 8-12, 10-15?

Thanks.

 

[ironcheif1984]

Well ive heard if your wanting to cut up to use more reps and if you want to bulk use more weight with less reps.

 

[OUfan]

Spring break's coming around soon so I'm going to start cardio and cutting calories. I really like the 5x5 routine, but I'm wondering if it will work fine druring reduced caloric intake. Obviously I won't expect any performance gains, but this routine seems like a bulking oriented program.

What rep range wold you recommend during this time? 8-12, 10-15?

Thanks.

I highly recommend the 5x5 for cutting, it has worked great for me. Add 2-3 cardio workouts each week. I made considerable strength gains while in a calorie deficit when I ran 2 5x5's back to back...18 weeks total. From 260 lbs, ~30% BF to 225 lbs at 16% BF. Diet and cardio are the keys to cutting (especially diet), heavy compound lifts work to minimize lean muscle loss. In fact the only change a lot of guys make in their routine between a bulk and cut is their diet.

 

[Big A]

Ya, i am cutting for the summer and doing 5x5. Its all about diet and cardio like oufan said. I am actually only doing 15 min high intensity after i lift and the fat just melts off for me.

 

[Sim882]

One issue re 5x5 and cutting.

A positive about it is that it focuses on compound lifts, which burn more calories and have higher after burn effect.

The negative is that the sets are ramped, which means u'r only exerting yourself properly on the final set, and therefore, I think this could negate some of the positives (i.e., it would diminish calorific burn & EPOC).

Has anyone tried 5x5 exercises but not ramping sets - perhaps pyramiding? Would this work better? Just putting it out there as an idea.