5x5 progression

Mistraal1981

I have been doing stronglifts 5x5 three times a week consistently for about 6 months now. At first, like everyone else I think, I was able to increase the weights quite steadily. At about 45kg on squats I started to have form issues so took things a bit slower and only moved up when I felt ready.

Just before Xmas I was squatting 55kgs but unfortunately due to work timing and gym late opening and early closing meant I missed two weeks. (So 6 sessions). When I went back after new year I was only able to squat 50kgs. It has taken me since January till now to get up to squatting 57.5kgs and I was wondering if that is a long time to take to move up in weight.

How long did it take you to move up in weight when you got beyond the initial beginning bit?

Am I babying myself too much by only moving up when I feel ready rather than pushing to get to the next weight?

(Babying=doing 5x5 until its easy then moving up to do 5x5 of "OK, that's a bit harder" but all with good form.
Pushing=doing 5x5, then moving up but only being able to do say 5x2 with good form the first time then 5x3 the next time with good form?)

DopeItUp

I always followed the program. I followed the SL protocol of adding 5lbs per workout (15lbs per week), and following the deload procedure if I failed. After enough deloads I went down to 3x5 (again, per SL protocol). Eventually switched out programs once I had had enough of squatting heavy 3x a week.

If your program is too fast for you, switch to a more intermediate style program with slower progression, IMO. I've always found that going by feel leads to mailing in your workout. Fear tends to paralyze strength gains.

Mistraal1981

Hey, thanks for the response. Do you have a suggestion for a lifting program that has slower progression?

DopeItUp

Madcow is what is suggested by the author of SL and is what I used for a while. Then I moved onto 5/3/1 and have stuck with that ever since.

Mistraal1981

Great, I will take a look. Thank you very much.