Heahy Minister
New member
First off I'm just asking a q so please don't take this post as offensive.
I've read up on the 5x5 routine and am not really understanding it all. I understand the routine, but don't fully understand the concept you can say.
Basically you pick a weight (a weight challenging enough for your 5th set to eek out 5 reps), do 5 sets at 5 reps each at that SAME weight throughout, then each week you up the weight.
What I don't get is that the first 2-3 sets you are essentially not challenging your body because if at that 5th set you can muster out 5 reps, the sets before you can probably get much more reps out but are stopping at only 5 reps.
The first set you could probably get out a good 12 or so reps lets say, but stop at 5. So you're not really challenging your body at all for that first set. What exactly are you doing to your body for this first set if you stop prematurely at 5 when you can get out more reps? It would seem that you simply tire out your body, but you don't really "push it".
The second set you can probably muster out around 10 or so, but stop again at 5 so you are quitting the set before any real challenge to your body is imposed.
Wouldn't it be safe to say that really the only sets you are challenging your body is the 4th and 5th? It seems like the first 2-3 sets are sort of warm-ups, if at all since they are so few reps.
This is not what I'm understanding. No flame or offense intended. Does anyone understand what I'm trying to say?
I've read up on the 5x5 routine and am not really understanding it all. I understand the routine, but don't fully understand the concept you can say.
Basically you pick a weight (a weight challenging enough for your 5th set to eek out 5 reps), do 5 sets at 5 reps each at that SAME weight throughout, then each week you up the weight.
What I don't get is that the first 2-3 sets you are essentially not challenging your body because if at that 5th set you can muster out 5 reps, the sets before you can probably get much more reps out but are stopping at only 5 reps.
The first set you could probably get out a good 12 or so reps lets say, but stop at 5. So you're not really challenging your body at all for that first set. What exactly are you doing to your body for this first set if you stop prematurely at 5 when you can get out more reps? It would seem that you simply tire out your body, but you don't really "push it".
The second set you can probably muster out around 10 or so, but stop again at 5 so you are quitting the set before any real challenge to your body is imposed.
Wouldn't it be safe to say that really the only sets you are challenging your body is the 4th and 5th? It seems like the first 2-3 sets are sort of warm-ups, if at all since they are so few reps.
This is not what I'm understanding. No flame or offense intended. Does anyone understand what I'm trying to say?