StrongLifts 5x5 - Starting Weight?

coachpryor

hard to say. I didn't see huge body changes with strength because strength also starts in joints and tendons first. also if your on a cal def by a lot you will probably lose strength and muscle on something like strong lifts. great program if you want strength.
keep in mind most power lifters don't look like body builders for that reason.

This is completely wrong.

can you explain why? ive never gained strength starving my self. I did strong lifts for about 6 months and was on about 4000 cals aday to maintain what I was trying to micro load each workout

rahlpn

I'm 5'7". My highest weight was 240 and I started losing weight slowly and easily last January. Last July my husband got me a gym membership and I started Jamie Eason's livefit program, completed about 7 weeks but it just started taking up too much time in my day to complete so I quit and started just using my favorite weight lifting exercises from that program about 3-5 days a week (I weighed about 180 at that time) and got down to 169. Sadly right after Thanksgiving I lost all motivation and gained weight back I'm now at around 175 and starting SL 5x5. Yesterday was my first day, the program said to squat 45, row 45 and bench 45 (I think, the app won't let me go back and look, it sucks) but I squatted 75, rowed 50 and benched 50.
ETA: Sorry for the book, I just wanted to give you a good idea of my fitness level.

mantium999

hard to say. I didn't see huge body changes with strength because strength also starts in joints and tendons first. also if your on a cal def by a lot you will probably lose strength and muscle on something like strong lifts. great program if you want strength.
keep in mind most power lifters don't look like body builders for that reason.

This is completely wrong.

can you explain why? ive never gained strength starving my self. I did strong lifts for about 6 months and was on about 4000 cals aday to maintain what I was trying to micro load each workout

Oy. You need to do some learning if you desire to be an adequate "coach" on anything fitness/weight loss based. If you were eating 4000 calories for 6 months while doing stronglifts you were not mainatining, you were in full on bulk mode. Not knowing your stats, you would have to be a beast around 6'10" and 300 lbs, exercising 5 days a week (which is not stronglifts) to require 4000 calories to maintain. Also, you seem to lack the understanding of gaining strength in an untrained or novice lifter through neuro-muscular adaptations. In saying this, its not surprising that BeachBody (or any preferably free) cardio/HIIT based program with a calorie deficit worked wonders for you. You bulked up during stronglifts and prior activities, arguably ate way too much, gained extra fat with that muscle and then shed the subsequent flab via beachbody. There is nothing wrong with bulk/cut cycles, I am currently in bulk mode myself, but giving advice when you don't understand the basics is not helpful to those who are asking.

coachpryor

hard to say. I didn't see huge body changes with strength because strength also starts in joints and tendons first. also if your on a cal def by a lot you will probably lose strength and muscle on something like strong lifts. great program if you want strength.
keep in mind most power lifters don't look like body builders for that reason.

This is completely wrong.

can you explain why? ive never gained strength starving my self. I did strong lifts for about 6 months and was on about 4000 cals aday to maintain what I was trying to micro load each workout

Oy. You need to do some learning if you desire to be an adequate "coach" on anything fitness/weight loss based. If you were eating 4000 calories for 6 months while doing stronglifts you were not mainatining, you were in full on bulk mode. Not knowing your stats, you would have to be a beast around 6'10" and 300 lbs, exercising 5 days a week (which is not stronglifts) to require 4000 calories to maintain. Also, you seem to lack the understanding of gaining strength in an untrained or novice lifter through neuro-muscular adaptations. In saying this, its not surprising that BeachBody (or any preferably free) cardio/HIIT based program with a calorie deficit worked wonders for you. You bulked up during stronglifts and prior activities, arguably ate way too much, gained extra fat with that muscle and then shed the subsequent flab via beachbody. There is nothing wrong with bulk/cut cycles, I am currently in bulk mode myself, but giving advice when you don't understand the basics is not helpful to those who are asking.

my original strong lifts cycle was to bulk correct. I was a very skinny guy then. its been awhile not even sure how long. probably 4 years or something. its also where I did gain most of my weight coming out of a skinny hard gainer phase from 150-180 ish originally. during that entire time period for me. I went with strong lifts as I have literally tried everything for many years.

also I did keep strong lifts slightly modified adding barbell arm work cause I hate how Mehdi has lack of arm development from not training them directly. I added a day of barbell work in arms and added dips and pull ups. although this really doesn't change the "idea" of the compound lifts in the program. as they are heavy sets and barbell style. I also, am a hockey player. and im sure those doing the program may have other hobbies aswell that can change the dynamic. so you can imagine strong lifts, with three games a week and 2 practice ice times for cal requirements.

also, to say I lack knowledge would be incorrect as its all experience, I have been training since I was 15 and now and 30. How long have you? To give you an idea, I have been a tim ferris style trial and error on everything you can think of. I have the hard gainers tales for the skinny guy you can only imagine.

im still confused on how you would gain strength on strong lifts eating low. Theres a reason Mehdi always talks about gomad, and his strong lifts diet is well into the 3000 cals his program is made for my type of start. The little guy. BUt he contradicts himself in saying that its what you need for muscle.

all mehdi will talk about is strength. and how that translates to muscle. He accepts nothing in "bro science" and unless you talk about strength and how this is the best program on the planet he wont hear what you have to say. He is a bit narrow minded that way. however, he doesn't even do his own program any more. because he is to strong as he states, but its more because he wont see any more physical changes doing it as printed. it will plateau as does everything.
im a little confused at what you are stating other wise. again to each his own, and I am only posting what my personal experience with the program was, and what I was trying to accomplish with it in the early days. I think the original question was will see see amazing physical changes with strong lifts and I think the answer is any new person to the program will see some minor changes, gain a lot of strength over time, but you wont see any body builder or fitness competitor training like this for a model type body.

coachpryor

also something interesting you should look at the complete other end of the spectrum of strong lifts is something I also did was " the Hollywood physique" for men
google that up and let me know what you think. This program I did right after strong lifts because again, I saw very little of the body I wanted after strong lifts.

Fitness is diverse and everyone has an opinion. again what you think works may not work and same with me for anyone.

its all trial and error and working through it.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

According to Lyle McDonald, the best type of program to preserve muscle while dieting is the types that are used to build strength.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/weight-training-for-fat-loss-part-1.html

coachpryor

According to Lyle McDonald, the best type of program to preserve muscle while dieting is the types that are used to build strength.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/weight-training-for-fat-loss-part-1.html

again fitness is diverse, you will find the exact opposite opinion doing a google search.
especially from people who are well respected trainers and industry leaders. posting a source is kind of irrelevant because its that persons thoughts. and even further you can find studies that show two different results aswell. reasoning? people. we are all different

mantium999

hard to say. I didn't see huge body changes with strength because strength also starts in joints and tendons first. also if your on a cal def by a lot you will probably lose strength and muscle on something like strong lifts. great program if you want strength.
keep in mind most power lifters don't look like body builders for that reason.

This is completely wrong.

can you explain why? ive never gained strength starving my self. I did strong lifts for about 6 months and was on about 4000 cals aday to maintain what I was trying to micro load each workout

Oy. You need to do some learning if you desire to be an adequate "coach" on anything fitness/weight loss based. If you were eating 4000 calories for 6 months while doing stronglifts you were not mainatining, you were in full on bulk mode. Not knowing your stats, you would have to be a beast around 6'10" and 300 lbs, exercising 5 days a week (which is not stronglifts) to require 4000 calories to maintain. Also, you seem to lack the understanding of gaining strength in an untrained or novice lifter through neuro-muscular adaptations. In saying this, its not surprising that BeachBody (or any preferably free) cardio/HIIT based program with a calorie deficit worked wonders for you. You bulked up during stronglifts and prior activities, arguably ate way too much, gained extra fat with that muscle and then shed the subsequent flab via beachbody. There is nothing wrong with bulk/cut cycles, I am currently in bulk mode myself, but giving advice when you don't understand the basics is not helpful to those who are asking.

my original strong lifts cycle was to bulk correct. I was a very skinny guy then. its been awhile not even sure how long. probably 4 years or something. its also where I did gain most of my weight coming out of a skinny hard gainer phase from 150-180 ish originally. during that entire time period for me. I went with strong lifts as I have literally tried everything for many years.

also I did keep strong lifts slightly modified adding barbell arm work cause I hate how Mehdi has lack of arm development from not training them directly. I added a day of barbell work in arms and added dips and pull ups. although this really doesn't change the "idea" of the compound lifts in the program. as they are heavy sets and barbell style. I also, am a hockey player. and im sure those doing the program may have other hobbies aswell that can change the dynamic. so you can imagine strong lifts, with three games a week and 2 practice ice times for cal requirements.

also, to say I lack knowledge would be incorrect as its all experience, I have been training since I was 15 and now and 30. How long have you? To give you an idea, I have been a tim ferris style trial and error on everything you can think of. I have the hard gainers tales for the skinny guy you can only imagine.

im still confused on how you would gain strength on strong lifts eating low. Theres a reason Mehdi always talks about gomad, and his strong lifts diet is well into the 3000 cals his program is made for my type of start. The little guy. BUt he contradicts himself in saying that its what you need for muscle.

all mehdi will talk about is strength. and how that translates to muscle. He accepts nothing in "bro science" and unless you talk about strength and how this is the best program on the planet he wont hear what you have to say. He is a bit narrow minded that way. however, he doesn't even do his own program any more. because he is to strong as he states, but its more because he wont see any more physical changes doing it as printed. it will plateau as does everything.
im a little confused at what you are stating other wise. again to each his own, and I am only posting what my personal experience with the program was, and what I was trying to accomplish with it in the early days. I think the original question was will see see amazing physical changes with strong lifts and I think the answer is any new person to the program will see some minor changes, gain a lot of strength over time, but you wont see any body builder or fitness competitor training like this for a model type body.

I am not questioning your experience, nor your success with your fitness goals. You bulked, then cut. What I am questioning is your understanding of the basic principal of gaining strength, which, with the exception of already trained/strong individuals, can absolutely be done in a caloric deficit. You will not see gains in muscle mass, but the vast majority of people will get physically stronger doing weight training while losing body weight. Now Medhi talks about 3000 plus calories and GOMAD for the purpose of building muscle, not for the purpose of gaining strength (he is not contradicting himself here, he is right by saying it is for the building of muscle). You are again confusing the two. Medhi is a bro, and his program was written to appeal to bros and "the skinny guy" who is trying to put on mass. That does not however negate the fact that the average person, who is not an intermediate lifter or beyond, will achieve improvements in strength through neuro-muscular adaptations (your body learning to use what it already has more efficiently) on his, or any other heavy lifting program. And of course you won't see a body builder doing this. For one, it is a strength program and not designed for aesthetics. Secondly, a body builder is already fit and beyond the scope of being able to gain strength while cutting.

Regarding your comment about the linked Lyle McDonald article, I would be interested in reading the opinion of another respected professional that state there is a better way to PRESERVE MUSCLE while dieting than by strength training. I love information, so please share if you can, as I have never come by one. I took your suggestion and did a google search, every link in the first 2 pages (didn't go past that) advocates some form of weight training to preserve muscle while dieting/cutting.

Lastly, as a lover of information, I will check out the Hollywood Physique.

Huffdogg

According to Lyle McDonald, the best type of program to preserve muscle while dieting is the types that are used to build strength.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/weight-training-for-fat-loss-part-1.html

again fitness is diverse, you will find the exact opposite opinion doing a google search.
especially from people who are well respected trainers and industry leaders. posting a source is kind of irrelevant because its that persons thoughts. and even further you can find studies that show two different results aswell. reasoning? people. we are all different

Lyle McDonald is one of the most well-respected experts in the field. Show me someone regarded as highly who says to do more reps with less weight on a deficit.

Strength adaptations are as much neurological as they are related to muscle mass. Strength adaptations are most effectively achieved by higher intensity (% relative to 1RM) lifting, which necessarily involve lower reps. Fewer reps make more sense in a deficit anyway, as energy stores are depleted.

The best way to improve strength is to do higher weight/lower rep. It also happens to be effective for preserving strength, and even LBM, while in a caloric deficit.

Also, Medhi has no fitness credentials of any kind. He's a marketing guy who ripped off SS, packaged it flashier, and made one or two tweaks to make a pile of money off of it.

mantium999

also something interesting you should look at the complete other end of the spectrum of strong lifts is something I also did was " the Hollywood physique" for men
google that up and let me know what you think. This program I did right after strong lifts because again, I saw very little of the body I wanted after strong lifts.

Fitness is diverse and everyone has an opinion. again what you think works may not work and same with me for anyone.

its all trial and error and working through it.

Ok, so i googled the Hollywood Physique. Before i waste my time reading 7 pages of advertisement help me get past the blatant violation of credibility he puts front and center. His own pictures claim that in 6 weeks (13 to 19) he lost 2.88% bodyfat while maintaining the exact same weight. When you do the math, this implies he gained 5 lbs of pure lean body mass in 6 weeks. Now if someone else wants to chime in, but based on my knowledge gaining 5 lbs of LBM in 6 weeks seems highly unlikely. This leads me to one of 3 conclusions. 1. His calculations are erroneous. 2. He is flat out lying to sell his product. 3. I am missing something about the basic physiology of how the human body builds and loses mass

coachpryor

hard to say. I didn't see huge body changes with strength because strength also starts in joints and tendons first. also if your on a cal def by a lot you will probably lose strength and muscle on something like strong lifts. great program if you want strength.
keep in mind most power lifters don't look like body builders for that reason.

This is completely wrong.

can you explain why? ive never gained strength starving my self. I did strong lifts for about 6 months and was on about 4000 cals aday to maintain what I was trying to micro load each workout

Oy. You need to do some learning if you desire to be an adequate "coach" on anything fitness/weight loss based. If you were eating 4000 calories for 6 months while doing stronglifts you were not mainatining, you were in full on bulk mode. Not knowing your stats, you would have to be a beast around 6'10" and 300 lbs, exercising 5 days a week (which is not stronglifts) to require 4000 calories to maintain. Also, you seem to lack the understanding of gaining strength in an untrained or novice lifter through neuro-muscular adaptations. In saying this, its not surprising that BeachBody (or any preferably free) cardio/HIIT based program with a calorie deficit worked wonders for you. You bulked up during stronglifts and prior activities, arguably ate way too much, gained extra fat with that muscle and then shed the subsequent flab via beachbody. There is nothing wrong with bulk/cut cycles, I am currently in bulk mode myself, but giving advice when you don't understand the basics is not helpful to those who are asking.

my original strong lifts cycle was to bulk correct. I was a very skinny guy then. its been awhile not even sure how long. probably 4 years or something. its also where I did gain most of my weight coming out of a skinny hard gainer phase from 150-180 ish originally. during that entire time period for me. I went with strong lifts as I have literally tried everything for many years.

also I did keep strong lifts slightly modified adding barbell arm work cause I hate how Mehdi has lack of arm development from not training them directly. I added a day of barbell work in arms and added dips and pull ups. although this really doesn't change the "idea" of the compound lifts in the program. as they are heavy sets and barbell style. I also, am a hockey player. and im sure those doing the program may have other hobbies aswell that can change the dynamic. so you can imagine strong lifts, with three games a week and 2 practice ice times for cal requirements.

also, to say I lack knowledge would be incorrect as its all experience, I have been training since I was 15 and now and 30. How long have you? To give you an idea, I have been a tim ferris style trial and error on everything you can think of. I have the hard gainers tales for the skinny guy you can only imagine.

im still confused on how you would gain strength on strong lifts eating low. Theres a reason Mehdi always talks about gomad, and his strong lifts diet is well into the 3000 cals his program is made for my type of start. The little guy. BUt he contradicts himself in saying that its what you need for muscle.

all mehdi will talk about is strength. and how that translates to muscle. He accepts nothing in "bro science" and unless you talk about strength and how this is the best program on the planet he wont hear what you have to say. He is a bit narrow minded that way. however, he doesn't even do his own program any more. because he is to strong as he states, but its more because he wont see any more physical changes doing it as printed. it will plateau as does everything.
im a little confused at what you are stating other wise. again to each his own, and I am only posting what my personal experience with the program was, and what I was trying to accomplish with it in the early days. I think the original question was will see see amazing physical changes with strong lifts and I think the answer is any new person to the program will see some minor changes, gain a lot of strength over time, but you wont see any body builder or fitness competitor training like this for a model type body.

I am not questioning your experience, nor your success with your fitness goals. You bulked, then cut. What I am questioning is your understanding of the basic principal of gaining strength, which, with the exception of already trained/strong individuals, can absolutely be done in a caloric deficit. You will not see gains in muscle mass, but the vast majority of people will get physically stronger doing weight training while losing body weight. Now Medhi talks about 3000 plus calories and GOMAD for the purpose of building muscle, not for the purpose of gaining strength (he is not contradicting himself here, he is right by saying it is for the building of muscle). You are again confusing the two. Medhi is a bro, and his program was written to appeal to bros and "the skinny guy" who is trying to put on mass. That does not however negate the fact that the average person, who is not an intermediate lifter or beyond, will achieve improvements in strength through neuro-muscular adaptations (your body learning to use what it already has more efficiently) on his, or any other heavy lifting program. And of course you won't see a body builder doing this. For one, it is a strength program and not designed for aesthetics. Secondly, a body builder is already fit and beyond the scope of being able to gain strength while cutting.

Regarding your comment about the linked Lyle McDonald article, I would be interested in reading the opinion of another respected professional that state there is a better way to PRESERVE MUSCLE while dieting than by strength training. I love information, so please share if you can, as I have never come by one. I took your suggestion and did a google search, every link in the first 2 pages (didn't go past that) advocates some form of weight training to preserve muscle while dieting/cutting.

Lastly, as a lover of information, I will check out the Hollywood Physique.

just cause there is so much going on one quik point is you mis understood what I was saying. strength training is a general term. I strength train every day. I lift weights. what I said was you cannot expect to gain strength on a defict especially over the course of a program or cycle you are doing. never said strength training didn't preserve muscle. of course it does. that is pretty common. big difference from maintaining muscle with "strength training" aka weight lifting and gaing strength aka benching 300 when you start at 200 and you are at a 500 cal def each day.

the Hollywood physique is based off the anabolic diet and very targeted muscle isolation to build muscle and go to mass hypertrophy. im not saying its true. I just tried it a few years ago after strong lifts. its the lightest weight possible. in very very very slow reps to the point of extreme muscle fatigue and his idea is t his produces massive muscles. also its only like iso movements. so curls, flies, ect. complete opposite of strong lifts. however, you cant deny that he has before and afters that are good. which a lot of programs can also throw out.
just thought it was interesting. because its about building muscle not using heavy weights, and not based on strength.

not really arguing, I understand what your saying, I just wont agree that you can like I said bench 300 while on a def and you could only do 200 when you started, but yes strength training, for sure Is the way to maintain while cutting in that style.

mantium999

I think we are close to having an accord. I am not trying to argue either, our conversation is validation of the mass confusion out there that has prompted at least 5 threads like this one in the past 2 days. While we seem to agree on the benefits of strength training for preserving muscle whilein a deficit, it seems you still miss the point about gaining strength. You put forth another example that does not hold true for the average person. If you are already sufficiently strong (like your example of benching 200 lbs) then yes, you will likely not see big gains, if any, in strength while training in a deficit (like increasing to 300 lbs). However, most people, especially those just entering the fitness realm, are not relatively strong, and these types have been shown time and time again to make terrific advances in overall strength by weight training even in a deficit. Confusion between strength gains and muscle gains among the majority is what causes this question to be asked so frequently, and responses like yours that imply that you cannot get stronger while in a deficit further this problem. For someone like yourself, who has an athletic background and experience in various forms of weight training, sure, strength gains in a deficit are not as likely. But it is important to keep your audience in mind, or you come off as looking like another guy who is making a claim to sell a product. The web has enough of those

Vorcha

Gents, you're deterring completely from my original question.

(Luckily it has already been answered.)

I'll start with the bar and practice form with things much lighter, I know it's more important to get the technique right than try to lift as much as possible. I've been along the route of getting very cocky with strength training before and hurt myself quite badly last time I gave a solid shot at fitness. Then again, don't read me wrong. I used to literally just hit the machines after hard cardio for about ten minutes each session.

What I'm ideally wanting to do is tone, lose weight and build my strength as much as possible. I'd really like an end result similar to: http://www.mybodygallery.com/photos-30774-body-shape.htm?StartAt=26#.Us0BsfRdV1Z after a good few months of work. I've got all intention of doing StrongLifts in conjunction with some cardio also, which I hope is acceptable with the plan. I've got all intentions to try Insanity, I'd just rather have a higher base fitness before I touch it.

jimmmer

Gents, you're deterring completely from my original question.

(Luckily it has already been answered.)

I'll start with the bar and practice form with things much lighter, I know it's more important to get the technique right than try to lift as much as possible. I've been along the route of getting very cocky with strength training before and hurt myself quite badly last time I gave a solid shot at fitness. Then again, don't read me wrong. I used to literally just hit the machines after hard cardio for about ten minutes each session.

What I'm ideally wanting to do is tone, lose weight and build my strength as much as possible. I'd really like an end result similar to: http://www.mybodygallery.com/photos-30774-body-shape.htm?StartAt=26#.Us0BsfRdV1Z after a good few months of work. I've got all intention of doing StrongLifts in conjunction with some cardio also, which I hope is acceptable with the plan. I've got all intentions to try Insanity, I'd just rather have a higher base fitness before I touch it.

The correct answer is: any non-retarded beginners routine will have starting weight and form pointer information included.

If not, then I'd avoid it.

It's amazing how quickly these things veer off topic though! Guess there's always an opportunity to sell beachbody products, eh?

Huffdogg

what I said was you cannot expect to gain strength on a defict especially over the course of a program or cycle you are doing. never said strength training didn't preserve muscle. of course it does. that is pretty common. big difference from maintaining muscle with "strength training" aka weight lifting and gaing strength aka benching 300 when you start at 200 and you are at a 500 cal def each day.

I was in a deficit the entire time I did SL, and went 12 weeks before I stalled out. Building strength is a CNS adaptation that does NOT require a caloric surplus, unlike building mass.

Huffdogg

I've got all intention of doing StrongLifts in conjunction with some cardio also, which I hope is acceptable with the plan. I've got all intentions to try Insanity, I'd just rather have a higher base fitness before I touch it.

Well you're on the right track with SL. It's a better program than Insanity overall anyway.

rahlpn

Gents, you're deterring completely from my original question.

(Luckily it has already been answered.)

I'll start with the bar and practice form with things much lighter, I know it's more important to get the technique right than try to lift as much as possible. I've been along the route of getting very cocky with strength training before and hurt myself quite badly last time I gave a solid shot at fitness. Then again, don't read me wrong. I used to literally just hit the machines after hard cardio for about ten minutes each session.

What I'm ideally wanting to do is tone, lose weight and build my strength as much as possible. I'd really like an end result similar to: http://www.mybodygallery.com/photos-30774-body-shape.htm?StartAt=26#.Us0BsfRdV1Z after a good few months of work. I've got all intention of doing StrongLifts in conjunction with some cardio also, which I hope is acceptable with the plan. I've got all intentions to try Insanity, I'd just rather have a higher base fitness before I touch it.

Just putting it out there I started Insanity at 207 lbs and was able to complete it, I think it gave me a great base to start strength training. Not saying you should do it first, if you want to start SL now by all means go for it! I kinda wish I hadn't put myself through Insanity because it's physically and mentally a tough program and my results weren't that spectacular but I'm proud I can say I completed it when I was still so out of shape. I am doing cardio with SL also. I did a 5 minute HIIT workout (Fitness Blender) after my first session on Monday. I also plan to do Jillian Michaels Body Revolution cardio DVDs two days in between just for some extra burn and the movement helps me with DOMS (my muscles tend to hurt worse if I completely rest on in between days). I did it yesterday and I feel fine today to move onto day 2 of 3.
Here are my Insanity results and story if you're interested: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1038467-i-completed-insanity

TR0berts

hard to say. I didn't see huge body changes with strength because strength also starts in joints and tendons first. also if your on a cal def by a lot you will probably lose strength and muscle on something like strong lifts. great program if you want strength.
keep in mind most power lifters don't look like body builders for that reason.

This is completely wrong.

can you explain why? ive never gained strength starving my self. I did strong lifts for about 6 months and was on about 4000 cals aday to maintain what I was trying to micro load each workout

StrongLifts is a beginner's program. It doesn't work (very well, if at all) for experienced/intermediate/advanced lifters. For beginners, strength gains - even at a deficit - can be HUUUUUUUUGE.

JoRocka

Gents, you're deterring completely from my original question.

(Luckily it has already been answered.)

I'll start with the bar and practice form with things much lighter, I know it's more important to get the technique right than try to lift as much as possible. I've been along the route of getting very cocky with strength training before and hurt myself quite badly last time I gave a solid shot at fitness. Then again, don't read me wrong. I used to literally just hit the machines after hard cardio for about ten minutes each session.

What I'm ideally wanting to do is tone, lose weight and build my strength as much as possible. I'd really like an end result similar to: http://www.mybodygallery.com/photos-30774-body-shape.htm?StartAt=26#.Us0BsfRdV1Z after a good few months of work. I've got all intention of doing StrongLifts in conjunction with some cardio also, which I hope is acceptable with the plan. I've got all intentions to try Insanity, I'd just rather have a higher base fitness before I touch it.

Heh. You must be new here.

Just because it is not 100% pertinent to YOUR original question- does not mean the information isn't not valuable- and can be very valuable to you as you are embarking on a new journey

Plus- this is the internet and a message board- these things happens.

You have a good starting point- SS/Strong Lifts is > Insanity as a completely program.

Do Insanity if you want the challenge- and to say you did it- but don't do it just because it seems like "the cool thing to do" I actually have never done it and I'm not sorry in the least.

Good luck with the lifting!!!

Vorcha

I'm not new here, no. I've been on MFP for a while in the past.

I didn't say all information was irrelevent, I enjoyed reading most of it as it was informative, (though I don't think I'll be buying BB products). Don't jump to conclusions yourself.

@Rah: I loved your journey! But I'll definitely be doing Insanity secondary to SL. I just want to get into lifting properly really, and as a newbie to it I hope I get some awesome strength results.

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to answer to me, toss me a friend request if you like.

I'm a young fitness Padawan, teach me the ways!

coachpryor

I think we are close to having an accord. I am not trying to argue either, our conversation is validation of the mass confusion out there that has prompted at least 5 threads like this one in the past 2 days. While we seem to agree on the benefits of strength training for preserving muscle whilein a deficit, it seems you still miss the point about gaining strength. You put forth another example that does not hold true for the average person. If you are already sufficiently strong (like your example of benching 200 lbs) then yes, you will likely not see big gains, if any, in strength while training in a deficit (like increasing to 300 lbs). However, most people, especially those just entering the fitness realm, are not relatively strong, and these types have been shown time and time again to make terrific advances in overall strength by weight training even in a deficit. Confusion between strength gains and muscle gains among the majority is what causes this question to be asked so frequently, and responses like yours that imply that you cannot get stronger while in a deficit further this problem. For someone like yourself, who has an athletic background and experience in various forms of weight training, sure, strength gains in a deficit are not as likely. But it is important to keep your audience in mind, or you come off as looking like another guy who is making a claim to sell a product. The web has enough of those

yep fair enough.
I would like to know how much strength you gained on strong lifts while on a def. just out of curiousity. I stalled out aswell some where in 8 weeks. but I was at a high cal surplus. although with hockey really don't know how high.

migueldabu

What if my wife can barely do a 35 lb bar? What should she use to get stronger? Can she use dumbbells first till she can manage the bar? We have some unused adjustable dumbbells that goes up to 45 lbs.

She is barely 5 feet tall and weighs 95 lbs. She is really weak right now and she really wants to get stronger. She also has very low blood count due to low iron so she gets exhausted fast but we are working hard on it like her eating habits etc.

jmoneycgt

What if my wife can barely do a 35 lb bar? What should she use to get stronger? Can she use dumbbells first till she can manage the bar? We have some unused adjustable dumbbells that goes up to 45 lbs.

She is barely 5 feet tall and weighs 95 lbs. She is really weak right now and she really wants to get stronger. She also has very low blood count due to low iron so she gets exhausted fast but we are working hard on it like her eating habits etc.

She can definitely use dumbbells. Dumbbells are sometimes more challenging because there is less stability. So if she can (for example) Overhead press 15 lb dumbbells in each hand for 5x5 she can most likely move to using the bar.

migueldabu

What if my wife can barely do a 35 lb bar? What should she use to get stronger? Can she use dumbbells first till she can manage the bar? We have some unused adjustable dumbbells that goes up to 45 lbs.

She is barely 5 feet tall and weighs 95 lbs. She is really weak right now and she really wants to get stronger. She also has very low blood count due to low iron so she gets exhausted fast but we are working hard on it like her eating habits etc.

She can definitely use dumbbells. Dumbbells are sometimes more challenging because there is less stability. So if she can (for example) Overhead press 15 lb dumbbells in each hand for 5x5 she can most likely move to using the bar.

Thanks that is what I am thinking. Dumbbells then move to bar when she is ready.

pyrowill

What if my wife can barely do a 35 lb bar? What should she use to get stronger? Can she use dumbbells first till she can manage the bar? We have some unused adjustable dumbbells that goes up to 45 lbs.

She is barely 5 feet tall and weighs 95 lbs. She is really weak right now and she really wants to get stronger. She also has very low blood count due to low iron so she gets exhausted fast but we are working hard on it like her eating habits etc.

Taking my missus to gym tonight, probably going to be in the same boat as you, fingers crossed she can do the bar, but unlike,y if not we will be on the dumbbells or barbell.

auddii

What if my wife can barely do a 35 lb bar? What should she use to get stronger? Can she use dumbbells first till she can manage the bar? We have some unused adjustable dumbbells that goes up to 45 lbs.

She is barely 5 feet tall and weighs 95 lbs. She is really weak right now and she really wants to get stronger. She also has very low blood count due to low iron so she gets exhausted fast but we are working hard on it like her eating habits etc.

She can definitely use dumbbells. Dumbbells are sometimes more challenging because there is less stability. So if she can (for example) Overhead press 15 lb dumbbells in each hand for 5x5 she can most likely move to using the bar.

Thanks that is what I am thinking. Dumbbells then move to bar when she is ready.

Also utilize the broomstick/pvc for practicing form. Form is vastly different for dumbbells and the barbell. She can build up the strength with the dumbbells and at the same time learn the form for when she can transition to the empty bar.