12 weeks?

griffithm1

Hey ladies! This is only my second or third post, but I do read the threads and am plugging away. I am going into week 9 and things are getting heavy (in a good but exhausting way). I notice that many of you have stayed on the program for six months or even a year. Is this the original 5x5 still or have you all moved on to 3x5 or something else? Just wondering since I thought it was a 12 week program but I've read so much that might not be right. Thanks!

jstout365

It is designed as a 12 week program in a way. I *think* after the first 12 weeks you can deload by some percent and then keep going, or just keep going. Many people eventually get to the point where 5x5 takes too long or is too much so they drop to the 3x5 format. Others have moved onto the 5/3/1 program or one of the many other intermediate programs, but stick around here. You will see a lot of variation in workouts in the workout thread. I started SL over a year ago and did the 12 weeks plus some and then felt like mixing it up, but got burnt out, then had about 4 months of travel for work and got out of the lifting habit for the most part. I started back up in January and will just keep going as long as I'm making gains and can complete the routine in a good amount of time. At some point I'll make the jump to 5/3/1. When you transition to another program or down to 3x5 is up to you really.

rlw911

I've been doing 5x5 for about 12 weeks. This is the first time I've ever done this type of lifting, so I'm taking it slow and easy. I'm no spring chicken, so sometimes my recovery time takes a little longer than I'd like. For about half of this time, I've worked on form, mostly on stupid squats, but I feel like I've gotten a handle on them now and will start working back up on weight.

I figure I'll plug away at 5x5 for a while longer, probably drop down to 3x5 and after that, who knows? I still feel like a noobie, and I am! I don't think I'll be ready to move on for several more months.

SezxyStef

I have been lifting for 6months now...I don't find it takes too long yet...not sure what I will do "after" as I workout at home so it's all good for time...

griffithm1

Okay, I was just wondering... I may just stick with it. We'll see. The thought of going up 5 pounds a workout for months and months is a little daunting though. I'll just concentrate on getting through the 12 weeks healthy and take it from there.

hananah89

If you get to the point where 5lb increases are too much, a lot of us will increase reps first (i.e. 5 reps/set one workout, 6 reps/set next workout and so on) until they feel more comfortable. Then they will increase. Or like me, I stick with the same weight 3x for squats as its getting pretty tough for me. I was doing the same for OHP, bench, and rows but just recently got a set of 1/4,1/2,3/4,1lb fractionals off ebay and have been instead microloading each time up 1/4lb.

griffithm1

Thanks for that. Part of it is that I'm still a big girl and I find that I need to eat more to make the lifts as the weight goes up (still at a deficit but not like before). Also I'm hungrier sometimes. I have some 2.5 fractionals but I do think I need to look into smaller ones. So much of this is mental for me, I know...