young_squatters Single Factor 5x5 Journal

[anotherbutters]

It's disappointing, but it's your body and it's up to you what you do with it. I'm sure Mark wouldn't have had you gaining 2-3lbs indefinitely.

Keep posting though. It'll be interesting to see what this new trainer has you doing.

 

[young_squatter]

It's disappointing, but it's your body and it's up to you what you do with it. I'm sure Mark wouldn't have had you gaining 2-3lbs indefinitely.

Keep posting though. It'll be interesting to see what this new trainer has you doing.

Will do, But like I said Mark is still going to help me sometime in the future.

I start the new routine tomorrow, I am not allowed to post my routine or diet because I signed a contract forbidding me to do so. The only thing I can post is some of the lifts, like bench press, deadlifts, squats are going and a little more. Ill post as much as I am allowed to post.

 

[enigma4dub]

You signed a contract that forbides you from discussing your diet and routine? that is absolutely ridculous! The only reason to not to discuss it is because its going to be totally ridiculous! You are throwing your money away!
not to mention ignoring the best advice you can get. Be your own coach and trainer and spend the money on food and literature. show some heart!

 

[anotherbutters]

I agree. The signing of a contract to restrict information is either because that information is so good because your trainer has discovered something better than everyone else , or he's not confident that his routine will stand up to scrutiny. At your stage, most things will work and you probably will get bigger (if you eat) and stronger following his routine, but whether that will be optimal progress is another matter. I'm not saying his routine is going to be bad. It could be really good, but we have no way of knowing because you're not allowed to tell us.

Keep learning about lifting so that you can evaluate his routine for yourself. Or anybody else's routine for that matter. Remember what you learnt from the SF 5x5 and Mark's routine - it's the big compound movements that drive growth: squat, bench, deadlifts, overhead press, pullups, bent over rows, cleans, etc. If your new routine isn't based around those and you're doing lots of isolation movements, that should raise a big question mark in your head.

And don't let him get you spending all your money on the latest supplements. All you need is whey and maybe creatine. Everything else will have a minimal benefit compared with what you'd get from eating lots of good old food.

 

[young_squatter]

I agree. The signing of a contract to restrict information is either because that information is so good because your trainer has discovered something better than everyone else , or he's not confident that his routine will stand up to scrutiny. At your stage, most things will work and you probably will get bigger (if you eat) and stronger following his routine, but whether that will be optimal progress is another matter. I'm not saying his routine is going to be bad. It could be really good, but we have no way of knowing because you're not allowed to tell us.

Keep learning about lifting so that you can evaluate his routine for yourself. Or anybody else's routine for that matter. Remember what you learnt from the SF 5x5 and Mark's routine - it's the big compound movements that drive growth: squat, bench, deadlifts, overhead press, pullups, bent over rows, cleans, etc. If your new routine isn't based around those and you're doing lots of isolation movements, that should raise a big question mark in your head.

And don't let him get you spending all your money on the latest supplements. All you need is whey and maybe creatine. Everything else will have a minimal benefit compared with what you'd get from eating lots of good old food.

Yeah I Understand where you are coming from, The routine he gave me is based around the squat, bench press, military press, deadlift. You tell him your goals and he makes a routine to my likeing. I am doing all the big movements, and also doing isolation work. But it is mostly all compound movements.

 

[Madcow2]

The main issue with training people is that most people will look at a program given to one person at a single point in time and conclude that they already have the program so no need to pay or hire the trainer. These are people that don't understand anything about programing, periodization, or tailoring something to a specific individual. The problem is that the people who really understand all of this, tend to have less need for coaching. I think DC who makes customized programs and diets had this issue, people would release their program, morons would read it, assume they didn't need to hire someone and could just do that one program and it would be "DC" and give them all the results, and make conclusions about a macrotraining plan based on a single point in time for a single person.

Everyone here has examples of programs that Glenn, Mark Ripptoe, and Bill Starr have used at different points in time. I'm sure no one would say that getting personal training over a period of time from any of these guys wouldn't be advantageous vs. just "doing the program". This is also why there are so many "5x5" varriants running around, I think I've seen no less than 4-5 from Starr with people saying that "this is Starr's 5x5". What they are essentially is a snapshot from a time or from a person or even from a group of homogenous people, i.e. base work for novices.

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

YS - If it means that much to you to pay someone to train you, that's fine. If it's what you wanted, great. I'd have to agree with Guinness though, in saying you took a step backwards with this decision.

You're a newbie. The big lifts, a bit of isolation, moderate amounts of volume in a 3-8 rep range with progression in load as often as possible, albeit in small increments, linked with plenty of rest and nourishment to add weight steadily over time (not necessary 1-3 lbs. a week - just a solid increase as time goes by) will get you where you want to be.

There really is no need for a personal trainer, unless they're going to coach you on how to perform lifts or teach you something the internet can not.

Again, it's your choice, and if it makes you happy, it doesn't matter what we say or think. Let us know how you progress in terms of weight and strength gain, although not being able to see the routine, I'm gonna call bullshit if I see something like 30 lbs. in 2 months.

By the by, Mark's nutrition advice and training advice should be viewed seperate. You can still make progress on his exact routine, even if you don't gain that much weight per week. It'll just be at a slower pace.

 

[young_squatter]

Ok, but like you guys said I am a newbie and I have to learn from my mistakes. We will see how well this program I am on works for me when the 8 weeks is up, ill post pictures after the 8 weeks to show you how it worked.

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

No, no. You're a newbie, and you should learn from our mistakes. Why make them on your own? It sounds to me as if you're looking for excuses now.

 

[young_squatter]

No, no. You're a newbie, and you should learn from our mistakes. Why make them on your own? It sounds to me as if you're looking for excuses now.

Whoa dude, I think your taking this way to far. Im not taking it to far at all, How can I learn from your mistakes when you guys have never hired a personal trainer to make you a program or diet? And if you have you have not told me about it. Personally the reason I took up dereks plan is because people that have been on his programs have made great gains.
So I have to learn from my own mistakes if this is one of them, I should not learn from your mistakes when I am not you. I know your trying to help but watch the stuff you say, Im not making any excuses for stopping marks routine. My excuse is I wanted to hire derek and thats the bottom line.

Thanks