Madcow...

[BaKoBoY20]

Sorry about the vague question earlier. I really want to try the 5X5 program, but I don't know if it's enough. I mean, I'm used to training 6 times a week, hitting every bodypart twice a week, and really getting great work outs. However, I've always strived for 6-12 reps, and 5X5 will be a very drastic change. i guess what I'm most wondering is, will my arms, forearms, hamstrings, chest, traps, and shoulders get worked out enough?There's no focus at all on biceps, triceps, or certain muscle improvements. Is this program just for powerlifters, or can a person wanting to gain more size/ strength use it? To me, this program looks like a lot of power lifts, and I didn't think BB used this lifts all the time... I thought BB used exercises to shape and mold the muscle? Not criticizing... just want to be sure of these answers before I try. If you get a chance to reply please do so, I want to start this program tonight, hopefully.

 

[Madcow2]

I think Post #5 here answers your question: http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=440655

You can do arm work, it's just not consequential so do some curls and some extensions - pick 1 exercise for each and do 3 sets of 10. Try to get better week to week. A lot of people don't do arms at all and have their arms grow very nicely.

It's not necessary to isolate everything or work everything directly. The squat and dead work the overwhelming majority of the body's muscularture. Get good at the squat and you get a whole new body (if you eat enough to gain) which in turn will support the other compound lifts which also load large amount of muscle. The body has an overwhelming tendency to develop symmentrically so worry about wasting effort on "detail work" when you identify a real problem. Don't piss your effort away working on symmetry for the future and not growing.

So - this is very simple direct training. Works very well obviously for a lot of people in this forum for the purpose of getting big and strong. Most will tell you it works as well or better than anything else they've done. Most have been very pleased to find that all their little 'detail' muscles developed very nicely on their own from good technique. Thinking about that, it looks a lot different than a typical BBer workout - and that's largely because BBing is about the most ignorant collective group on training theory walking the earth and has relied on increasing drug dosages to compensate for that over the past 30 years.

All that saidl, if you aren't going to be happy without doing a lot of machine or BBer type exercises, and there are a lot of people that probably fit this (they need to get sore or a burn, or a pump even though all of that amounts to shit) what good is a bit of muscle?

 

[BaKoBoY20]

Great info. That helps a lot, and starting tonight I'm going to try this workout. I'll also be keeping a journal/ stats/ ect. up to date so that I cab be another one of your experiments. I know that I may be a bit annoying with all the questions, but I really appreciate your thoughts and opinions. Thanks.