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micksnowdog
New member
i think stronglifts, i have found a few on the net so far and only used stronglifts so far but i dont really like bill starrs or madcow. what do you guys think. i changed weighted bar dips instead of pushups.
What is the best 5x5???
- Thread starter micksnowdog
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djeclipse
New member
There is only one true 5 x 5, Bill Starr 5x5 - Madcow Intermediate or Linear Version
The rest are just imitators, or copied the name as it became so popular as everyone that trued the real 5 x 5 got such good results they wanted to cash in on the name.
Why don't you like the bill star/ madcow 5 x 5? did you actually take the time to read about it, learn the program and follow the program properly, or did you make thee typical ego filled mistakes a lot of people make?
hiasdamoon
Active member
A lot of people have tried to make changes to the program. I believe the core compound exercises and not over training might be the key elements to it.
I enjoy the 5x5, but yes the first like 5 weeks are kind of ego depressing, but week 6 it starts to feel like good progress.
Good luck on your adventure!
I enjoy the 5x5, but yes the first like 5 weeks are kind of ego depressing, but week 6 it starts to feel like good progress.
Good luck on your adventure!
micksnowdog
New member
just doesn't look like a full workout i reckon. stronglifts 5x5 feels good but when i started it i felt like i wasnt doing enough too.
djeclipse
New member
Drop the ego and do the program, you don't need any more. If you follow it properly later on in the program you will be saying it's too much. When you get to the point where you're adding weight to the bar on all your lifts each week, when frinday it is almost impossible to get those 3 reps and you are certain you aren't going to get 5 on Monday... then monday comes and you get the 5, but add more weight again on friday. When you get to that point you will understand that adding weight to the bar every week on major lifts literally kicks your ass.
If you are going to invest time in a proven program like the madcow 5 x 5, at least do it properly and follow what he says to a T. Loose the ego, don't change it, if you do you won't get shit out of the program and you'll be wasting your time and end up being one of those morons that tells everyone how the program doesn't work, when in reality, you were too ignorant to follow it properly.
LucSulla
New member
^this
When I did the linear 5 x 5 the first time, I thought it was two little as well, but I wanted to see it through. Week 6 promptly took the "not enough" sentiment and shoved it up my ass. By the twelfth week, I found I was having to find gears I didn't know I had to keep up with the squats. Results. June 2008, my I rep max on squat was 275. By January, I was doing 405. It works.
When I did the linear 5 x 5 the first time, I thought it was two little as well, but I wanted to see it through. Week 6 promptly took the "not enough" sentiment and shoved it up my ass. By the twelfth week, I found I was having to find gears I didn't know I had to keep up with the squats. Results. June 2008, my I rep max on squat was 275. By January, I was doing 405. It works.
djeclipse
New member
Nice progress!
As stated, it is supposed to be easy at the beginning, unfortunately too many people can't follow a simple program and mess with it. If left as is it works great as described above.
i like the fact that its something to stick to. i was sick of training one day feeling like doing more then the other day atleast this its all there you know what your doing get it done and get out of there. only thing is i have to convert it all to kilos.
Also i have changed weighted dips to close grip bench as i dont have a belt and chain???
Also i have changed weighted dips to close grip bench as i dont have a belt and chain???
daville
New member
Couple questions.......On wed shoulder press I noticed you only do 4 sets with some of the same weights as monday. Well on monday I benched and didnt do shoulders. What do I do here?????? I dont want to change the workout but I would like to change weds assist exercise from abs to 3 sets of pullups. Will this really fuck things up?????
Follow this, it makes the 5x5 more understandable and even gives u the weights to use! 5x5 Calculator
daville
New member
When I plugged in my numbers i read the chart and I actually did week 4's weights to day. I knew my 5 rep max on squat and i did 5 sets with 10% of my 5 rep max. So should I lighten the weight and build back up to that???? emy other exercises were dead on too. If i cant complete next weeks increase do I just stay at week 4 for another week?
micksnowdog
New member
i did stronglifts 5x5 for quite a while, had some great success with the added weight every session, i did smash that real hard towards the end i was just a pool of sweat.
djeclipse
New member
I finally found the stronglifts 5 x 5.
The stronglifts 5 x 5 seems to be the beginner 5 x 5 that is recommended to people that have never lifted before. It has a lot of volume and the progression is fast as you are adding weight to the bar (making PR's) every time you lift, instead of every week like in madcow's intermediate, or every month or so, like in Madcow's advanced.
As a true beginner, someone that has never weight trained before, most are able to add weight to the bar every work out, as time goes on you are no longer able to add weight to the bar every work out, which is great, you make gains constantly. Most people that have already been training for some time, even with a crappy BB type program fall into the intermediate category where they can't make PR's every work out. When that happens you use the intermediate 5 x 5 where Pr's are once a week instead of every work out.
Stick with the beginner 5 x 5 as you are making PR's every work out, until you are no longer to make Pr's, then switch to madcow's intermediate 5 x 5, where PR's are every week.
djeclipse
New member
Once you get into the program you will welcome the rest. The rest is just as important as the lifting. Resting allows your body to recover so you can make your lifts the following workout. Later on in the program your body will be toast and you'll be looking forward to the rest days.
Cardio can be done pretty much any time, but preferably on the off days. Just make sure you are eating enough to grow (if that is your goal), and that the cardio doesn't get in the way of making the lifts.
