Just started 5x5...

[lavi]

Heh, another 5x5 thread!

Anyway, I just started 5x5 today, going good.


My only (mental) problems with it now:

It's hard doing once a week frequency when my partner does 3x per week frequency and that's what I've been doing since I started pumpin' iron 6 months ago. I don't go to a commercial gym so I don't really see anyone else doing once a week frequency.

The other thing is that since you start of with weight lower than what you could potentially do and work your way up, I feel like for the next few weeks I'm not making gains.



The point of this post is not to criticize at all. I hear 5x5 is great from so many people on this board. I guess I'm just looking for some reinforcement here since it's totally different that what I and everyone I know has been doing. I wouldn't try it if i didn't believe that it's a great routine.

I hope it works for me! I'll find out in a few months.

Thanks needsize

Insert input below guys

 

[needsize]

heres something that might ease your mind, even when I am doing weights that are less than what I can handle, but I add more every week, my body grows to keep up with the constant increases. After my show I dropped the weights way down, and just added a few pounds every week, this is 9 weeks later and I have hit a personal best in everything this past week

 

[forgotten1]

How far down should you start to begin with?

For example: I can just barely get 5x5 with 160...How far down should I drop the weight to start the 5x5 routine?

 

[needsize]

How far down should you start to begin with?

For example: I can just barely get 5x5 with 160...How far down should I drop the weight to start the 5x5 routine?

assuming you will go up by 5lb increments, i would say drop it to around 140lbs, maybe even 135 or so. This way the first few workouts will be fairly easy, so you will add weight every week no problem, and by the time you get back to 160lbs it should feel much lighter

 

[forgotten1]

Thanks needsize!

I completely understand the program, how it works, why it works, etc. I just didn't know how far down to drop it to start with

Thanks again for the help.

 

[lavi]

heres something that might ease your mind, even when I am doing weights that are less than what I can handle, but I add more every week, my body grows to keep up with the constant increases. After my show I dropped the weights way down, and just added a few pounds every week, this is 9 weeks later and I have hit a personal best in everything this past week

Thanks for responding needsize!

Congrats on your PR's bro

 

[Buddy_Christ]

forgotten1 - i'm not starting 5x5 for a few more weeks, and i'm dropping down to 135 or 140 when i do. shouldn't be bad though, and i've already test ran 135 5x5 and it feels fine, the last 2 reps on the last set i had to dig in a little bit harder, but didn't have a problem, and kept good form throughout all the sets.
hey, it's much better than what i was doing months ago, where i could barely do 5 reps of the same weight i'm going start 5x5 with. i'm never embarassed by the weight that i push. yeah, there's a lot of guys in the gym that can do a lot more, there's a lot of guys on this board that can do a lot more. they all started where we did. plus in my gym, i'm one of the few that does their damn best to keep good form. if everyone in there took just one day and did perfect form, they'd have to drop weight to finish their sets. too many people just jerking weights around. i've seen guys doing BB curls and throwing their upper body backwards to propel the wieght up. what's the point? hell, if they want a back injury, they can have mine! i'd be more than happy to give it up.

5x5 looks and sounds good. if you read one of the other threads on this, i was told to be humble with my starting weights for 5x5, and i'll just pass that advice along to you too.

 

[Lord_Suston]

Solid Form=Solid Results

Too many time I see people lifting with improper form, from bouncing the bar and doing half reps, to swinging the weight. When lifting the weight it should be under control at every point of the lift. You might have to decrease the weight and slowly go back up but in the long run you will be stronger and more importantly safe with less joint problems.

Yes it is tough, but if it wasn't tough wouldn't everyone do it!!!

P.S. this work with all types of methods, even speed lifts are under control with great form