5x5 routine - 2 exercises instead of 3?

[lavi]

Unfortunately, my gym is very limited and I won't be able to go to a decent gym for a while. I know for 5x5 you would set up a routine such as:

5x5 flat bench
2x8-10 incline bench
2x8-10 dips

But would it also be ok to do
5x5 flat bench
4x8-10 incline bench?

In this example the only other decent chest excercise I could do is db flys and well they're risky to elbows and you go up with weight very slowly.

 

[SoSadBtTrue]

Personally, I would do something like:

5x5 incline bench
2x8 flat dumbell bench
2x8 dips, decline bench, pullovers (your choice)

I feel like you should emphasize the incline bench by making that the 5x5 movement. That's just my .02 though.

 

[athlete0185]

is there a decline bench? you could probably even use a machine for secondary movement. the main 5x5 movement is the one you want to focus on the most. doing a 5x5...then a 4x8-10 i couldnt see myself doing it. too fatigued to be able to put in a good amount of intensity into 4 sets of 8-10 AND still use good form and go up in weight each week.

 

[lavi]

Hmm maybe I could do pullovers? I don't have a decline, don't have a dip stand, and the dumbells are no longer heavy enough to do dumbbell bench...

 

[SoSadBtTrue]

I think lots of people forget about pullovers. Whenever I do them, I feel it in my chest, lats, and abs. It's a great overall upperbody workout.

 

[lavi]

Any other ideas? And 4x8-10 doesn't work then?

Thanks

 

[needsize]

go with the db flyes, done properly they shuold be fine on the elbows and dont worry about doing up much on weight for them, thats what the 5x5 part is

 

[lavi]

Thanks needsize I'll stick to db flyes, I hope I'm not doing them wrong. It just seems like the pressure on my arms is what keeps me from upping the weight rather than lack of chest strength (although I'm far from strong )

By the way your legs look fucking huge in your pic, I wonder what they're like now...

 

[needsize]

Just make sure you keep a bend in your elbows and it'll help take the stress off your elbows.
My legs are now a full inch bigger than they have ever been so they are getting there

 

[Yarg!]

what kind of gym doesnt have a dip stand? argh! yeah, flies are very good, i used to do them alot and my elbows fine.