Ladies! Show me you Strong Lifts results!

chrissyrenee1029

Yesterday was day 1 doing the Strong Lifts program for me and I'm so excited to be lifting again! Show me your progress to help keep me motivated!

My official "Day 1" photos at 221.4 lbs (I'm 5'6"; GW 140)

salemnye

I started around where your weight is (185 now) and we are the same height! I'm going to be starting lifting today so hopefully I can post some inspiring photos on this thread!

hrod215

I wish I had taken photos. I want to kick myself a thousand times! I started Feb 2016 at 164 (not my highest). I was up and down and was pretty much the cardio queen. This time I knew I wanted to do things differently and had been looking into SL. I followed the program (not always to the T, sometimes would skip a week and need to deload) added a 20-30 min run on off days and trained 1x a week for 30 mins with a trainer. I think I could have skipped the trainer. My results so far a way beyond anything I could have imagined. I'm at my lowest weight of 138 with some pretty hot muscle definition. Still not where I want to be be but I'm am so HAPPY I followed the program. I feel FIT which was always my goal. Just stick with it and you will see results very soon! Best of luck.

bbell1985

I used strong lifts at the very very end of my first cut. I got really tiny. In retrospect I should have done 5x5 earlier, when I first started lifting weights, and done a non-linear program during that time. Regardless...

hrod215

bbell1985 wrote: »

I used strong lifts at the very very end of my first cut. I got really tiny. In retrospect I should have done 5x5 earlier, when I first started lifting weights, and done a non-linear program during that time. Regardless...

Goals!!!! You look amazing! One day I shall see my abs. I'd settle for the outline at least!

chrissyrenee1029

bbell1985 wrote: »

I used strong lifts at the very very end of my first cut. I got really tiny. In retrospect I should have done 5x5 earlier, when I first started lifting weights, and done a non-linear program during that time. Regardless...

This is exactly the kind of motivation I was looking for! You look amazing!

bbell1985

Guys i don't look like that anymore lol. I took a risk and bulked after that. I gained like 14 lbs and when it was time to cut I failed. But yeah. I was slim for a day.

nowine4me

I'm 5-7" and was about your same staring weight, 220. 15 months later doing SL 5x5 the whole time and some cardo, I'm now at 148, with 10 to go. Be patient and keep at it.

pariskathryn

I have some progress pictures from basically my first month-- nothing too wild, but I was pretty happy considering I basically only do it 3 times a week and eat in a 1-1.5 lb/week deficit.





I'm 5'5.5"

Measurements on start- Jan 8th
Bicep: 12.5"
Neck: 14"
Bust: 38.5"
Waist: 32.5"
Hips: 46.5"
Thigh: 25.5"

Measurements - March 1st
Bicep: 12"
Neck: 13"
Bust: 37.5"
Waist: 27"
Hips: 41"
Thigh: 23"

nowine4me

bbell1985 wrote: »

I used strong lifts at the very very end of my first cut. I got really tiny. In retrospect I should have done 5x5 earlier, when I first started lifting weights, and done a non-linear program during that time. Regardless...

@bbell1985 would you mind sharing your height, weight, and BF% when these photos were taken? For me, and I'm sure others, this is the IDEAL look. I'm guessing you still look awesome with an additional 14 pounds, did you gain the muscle you hoped during your bulk? Are you planning to try another cut, or are you just happy and sustainable where you landed? Sorry to pepper you with so many questions, but it's exciting to find someone who looks how I WANT to look. I'm 5-7" and 148#. Thanks.

bbell1985

nowine4me wrote: »

bbell1985 wrote: »

I used strong lifts at the very very end of my first cut. I got really tiny. In retrospect I should have done 5x5 earlier, when I first started lifting weights, and done a non-linear program during that time. Regardless...

@bbell1985 would you mind sharing your height, weight, and BF% when these photos were taken? For me, and I'm sure others, this is the IDEAL look. I'm guessing you still look awesome with an additional 14 pounds, did you gain the muscle you hoped during your bulk? Are you planning to try another cut, or are you just happy and sustainable where you landed? Sorry to pepper you with so many questions, but it's exciting to find someone who looks how I WANT to look. I'm 5-7" and 148#. Thanks.

I am 5'4"
I was probably about 160 in the first photo and 127/128 in the after photos.

For the the "after" photo was not ideal. I was literally cutting down until I couldn't take it anymore so I could get lean enough to bulk.

My favorite look for myself was after my bulk. I gained up to 144 and was able to lean out a little bit. I was probably 137 here.

DancingMoosie

I haven't posted any before photos, but I was around 150/size 10 for a long time before joining MFP. I have "afters" in my profile.

nowine4me

bbell1985 wrote: »

nowine4me wrote: »

bbell1985 wrote: »

I used strong lifts at the very very end of my first cut. I got really tiny. In retrospect I should have done 5x5 earlier, when I first started lifting weights, and done a non-linear program during that time. Regardless...

@bbell1985 would you mind sharing your height, weight, and BF% when these photos were taken? For me, and I'm sure others, this is the IDEAL look. I'm guessing you still look awesome with an additional 14 pounds, did you gain the muscle you hoped during your bulk? Are you planning to try another cut, or are you just happy and sustainable where you landed? Sorry to pepper you with so many questions, but it's exciting to find someone who looks how I WANT to look. I'm 5-7" and 148#. Thanks.

I am 5'4"
I was probably about 160 in the first photo and 127/128 in the after photos.

For the the "after" photo was not ideal. I was literally cutting down until I couldn't take it anymore so I could get lean enough to bulk.

My favorite look for myself was after my bulk. I gained up to 144 and was able to lean out a little bit. I was probably 137 here.

I have a similar build with a few inches (and years) on you. Fingers crossed I look anywhere close to your "after bulk" photo one day. You look absolutely amazing. Nice job on all your hard work! Thanks for getting back to me.

jen_092

nowine4me wrote: »

I'm 5-7" and was about your same staring weight, 220. 15 months later doing SL 5x5 the whole time and some cardo, I'm now at 148, with 10 to go. Be patient and keep at it.

Inspiring! Can I add you as a friend? I'm also 5'7, and I'm trying to do exactly what you've accomplished! I've been doing SL 5x5 for about 6 weeks, should reach goal weight of 145 around June (CW 158). Once I reach GW I plan to recomp by sticking with my lifting.

mrsjoyw

I'm interested in trying SL 5x5 but I want to know for those of you who are doing it, can it be done alone or will you eventually need a partner/spotter?

fostersu

I've worried about this - my gym now has those safety bars that attach to the rack - I feel much better about going it alone now

jennybearlv

mrsjoyw wrote: »

I'm interested in trying SL 5x5 but I want to know for those of you who are doing it, can it be done alone or will you eventually need a partner/spotter?

If there are safety bars it can be done alone. You can just drop the bar off your back if you need to in a squat, but as I lift at home the safeties have saved my floors a few times. The only lift where the safeties or a spotter is absolutely necessary is bench press because you could suffocate if trapped under the bar. That would also depend on how much you lift though. I forgot to raise my safety bars after squatting one day and couldn't get 75 pounds off my chest. Because it wasn't that heavy I could just roll it off me, but it was extremely unpleasant rolling 75 pounds over me from chest to knees.

quiksylver296

I need to do new "after" photos, but here are some older ones. I Stronglifts. They got me started. I have moved on to a more advanced program, but this is the progress I made on SLs.

quiksylver296

mrsjoyw wrote: »

I'm interested in trying SL 5x5 but I want to know for those of you who are doing it, can it be done alone or will you eventually need a partner/spotter?

I've never had a spotter. I have had to use the safety bars on a couple of failed squats and bench, though.

jen_092

mrsjoyw wrote: »

I'm interested in trying SL 5x5 but I want to know for those of you who are doing it, can it be done alone or will you eventually need a partner/spotter?

Like others said, the safety pins work. I always check their height just as I check the height I prefer the bar. I failed squats for the first time on Friday and it went seamlessly.

chrissyrenee1029

Eleven days in and I'm down 2.6 pounds. I am loving this program!

getoffin1year

bbell1985 wrote: »

I used strong lifts at the very very end of my first cut. I got really tiny. In retrospect I should have done 5x5 earlier, when I first started lifting weights, and done a non-linear program during that time. Regardless...

Your hard work shows. U'r arms and hips are amazing

cessi0909

I am newer to lifting but noticed yesterday that my back is starting to show some real changes. I used to have a lovely roll back there when standing this way!

madube84

this is from strong lifts with minimal cardio. 222lbs vs 204 lbs.

chrissyrenee1029

madube84 wrote: »

this is from strong lifts with minimal cardio. 222lbs vs 204 lbs.

I can definitely see a difference!

chrissyrenee1029

I've gone from 221 to 216 since I started. I can definitely see a difference already...especially in my profile.

Taliko

I want to start 5 x 5 but... I'll admit I'm nervous. I don't really know what I'm doing or how to use anything and I'm worried about injuring myself. I'm even worried about looking dumb. I feel like I should just walk in and start! But I just can't...

mrspett323

Ok I need help with this strong lifts stuff... I downloaded the app. Is that all I do and follow the workouts as they give them to me?

bbell1985

mrspett323 wrote: »

Ok I need help with this strong lifts stuff... I downloaded the app. Is that all I do and follow the workouts as they give them to me?

Do you know how to do all the lifts properly? You should check the website and watch the videos as well as read about the program.

bbell1985

Taliko wrote: »

I want to start 5 x 5 but... I'll admit I'm nervous. I don't really know what I'm doing or how to use anything and I'm worried about injuring myself. I'm even worried about looking dumb. I feel like I should just walk in and start! But I just can't...

So watch the videos...over and over and over again. Then watch Mark Rippetoe explain form for the squat, bench, deadlift, and over head press. Then ask questions on here. Start next week with the bar and take video for form checks.

nowine4me

Taliko wrote: »

I want to start 5 x 5 but... I'll admit I'm nervous. I don't really know what I'm doing or how to use anything and I'm worried about injuring myself. I'm even worried about looking dumb. I feel like I should just walk in and start! But I just can't...

If you are new to lifting -- in addition to watching all the videos over and over -- you may really want to invest in some personal training sessions with the specific goal of getting prepared to do SL5x5. Make that very clear to the trainers at the start.