Advice on starting stronglifts 5x5

QueenBishOTUniverse

Ok, so I've been on here and losing fairly steadily since july. I've been managing my calorie intake and using P90X for my fitness. I like P90X, but it's a big time commitment and right now I just don't have an hour to an hour and a half to commit to my workouts every day, so here's the plan: 5x5 three days a week, a 30 min run with 10 min of wind sprints in the middle 2 days a week and a long run 1 day a week. Here's the catch, I'm lifting in the workout room in our apartment complex, which only has machines and dumbbells. I tried my first 5x5 workout today with the dumbbells and it seemed to go pretty well, here's what I did:

squats - 50lbs
bench press - 70lbs
seated rows(?) - 40lbs

My biggest concern is trying to safely increase my weight using the dumbbells. I could barely get the 25lb weights on to my shoulders to do my squats, although honestly, I probably couldn't have squatted more weight even if I could have gotten it to my shoulders. Just wondering about how often/when I should start thinking about upping my weight, because I doubt I'm going to be able to increase with every workout.

Also, as far as food goes, I've been averaging between 2000 and 2300 calories a day. I'm 5'8" and 182lbs and that's about the calorie range I would want to be at if I was 160lbs, which is my goal weight. I'm wondering though if that will still be ok while doing the stronglifts or do I need to eat more since I "should" be using my muscles a lot more with these workouts.

_benjammin

You can't do SL5x5 with dumbbells. You've got to either get to a gym with a rack or get a dumbbell routine.

Sharonks

I find it awkward to squat with dumbbells at anything that resembled the proper weight. Can you find a gym with free weights? You really need to have a squat rack. I'm currently on a break from SL because I can't join a gym at the moment. Hopefully next month that will be an option since I was up to squatting and deadlifting my body weight when I had to move.

If you can't join a gym maybe find a program designed for dumbbells.

iceqieen

If you cant find a gym with barbells, find exercise appropriate for dumbbells. You can find dumbbell squat, row, etc (google) and do those instead. You cant use the same weight increase as in stronglift, but as long as you are increasing the weight you will be making some gains at least.

QueenBishOTUniverse

I realize the dumbbells require some modification, but the basic body movement that I was doing in the gym with the dumbbells was exactly the same. They have dumbbells going up to 60lbs and given that the heaviest that I'm lifting right now is the 35lb dumbbells I figure I can make it work for a while before I have to start worrying about whether I need to advance to a barbell. The dead lift will probably be the one that will be trickiest to work around. Anyways, just trying to find out how to work with what I DO have, I don't have a barbell so that's not an option.

I kind of figured I'd need to advance the weight more slowly, especially since with the dumbbells I'd jump up a total of 10 pounds each time I move to a heavier weight, so I'm wondering how I judge when it's appropriate to start moving to a heavier weight?

Fithealthyforlife

That's a great bench press for someone starting out!

I don't know what to say regarding the dumbbells. It is what it is.

As far as food, it's simple...I'd start by eating (MFP maintenance) + (exercise calories) - (100-200 for weght loss)

You're already used to measuring and logging. It's just a variation on a theme.
Then adjust up or down from there, as required.

Good luck!