Finally doing this!

jetortola

SL5x5 has been on my mind since I first read about it while lurking on this forum forever ago. It sounds like my exact cup of tea. I recently re-committed to exercising regularly, as well as monitoring my diet. After a few weeks of doing total-body strength routines from Fitness Blender (and loving them) I decided I am ready to DO THIS!

Here is my current approach --- and I would definitely appreciate your feedback or recommendations based on this.

We have set up a home gym in our basement guest room (oh, the luxury of it all ) with a bench, barbell rack, barbell, dumbells, steel plates, etc. My one issue is no squat/power rack and no Olympic bar. So for the time being I plan to try either a front barbell squat, dumbbell squat, or hack squat (recommendations? I've been researching form videos for each.)... and will keep an eye out for second-hand equipment in my local area, so hopefully by the time I progress to really needing one, I will have one.

So last night I completed my first 'A' workout. I VERY much underestimated the weight I needed (35lbs, 35lbs and 45lbs), but I know that it will catch up to me quickly as I progress so I am not concerned. For my 5th set of the Bench Press and Row, I tried doing as many reps as I could (just to see), and I hit 30 reps for the press and 15 reps for the row!

My stats are: 35 yo, 5'4", CW: 156lbs. My overall goal is to decrease body fat, slim down to a size 7/8 (currently a 10/11). I will TRY not to concern myself with the number on the scale. I have been taking measurements of my bust, waist (at its plumpest part) and hips.

Using this site: http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/ and entering my average activity levels, my TDEE is ~ 1950, so less 20% is ~ 1566... So I have set my goal at 1550, and will plan to not eat back my exercise calories... But I have been having my moments (like this weekend) where I had some stumbles (which, at the very least, I have still logged!).

I have been reading the stickies, and the SL website, and am VERY excited about starting this journey!!

Oh --- and I am doing a "Mud Hero" obstacle course fun-run with my friends in July, so I am hoping to seriously surprise them all with my abilities! :happy:

beckty

Hi and welcome! I might be doing a similar obstacle course thing this May (A biggest loser event) and I think it'll be FUN! I am working up the courage to jump in and sign up.

As for recommendations on the SL program, I am afraid I am too new to be able to help much. I can only say I had pretty much the same set up, except we do have an Olympic bar too. But no squat rack. And I didn't start light on anything (did some weight training last summer and the starting weights were too light for me) so trying to figure out how to squat 100lbs w/out the rack was a joke.

So, in spite of all the great equipment, I joined a nearby Gym.

Good luck!

LishieFruit89

You can build your own squat rack - I believe Mirey made a blog post about the one she built and I think she uses it for benching as well.

It's some wood, buckets, cement, and metal corner things.

Also you can google "homemade squat rack"

jetortola

You can build your own squat rack - I believe Mirey made a blog post about the one she built and I think she uses it for benching as well.

It's some wood, buckets, cement, and metal corner things.

Also you can google "homemade squat rack"

Yes, I do recall seeing something about this in some other threads, and my husband is a handy guy!

And I guess any guest lucky enough to be staying in our "guest room" would equally enjoy having a metal or a wooden squat rack to put their overnight bag on.

LishieFruit89

You can build your own squat rack - I believe Mirey made a blog post about the one she built and I think she uses it for benching as well.

It's some wood, buckets, cement, and metal corner things.

Also you can google "homemade squat rack"

Yes, I do recall seeing something about this in some other threads, and my husband is a handy guy!

And I guess any guest lucky enough to be staying in our "guest room" would equally enjoy having a metal or a wooden squat rack to put their overnight bag on.

Perfect for drying towels too!

Since it's not in your basement (I seem to have missed that part), I'd get matting for the room so you don't murder your floors with you do deadlifts

jetortola

Since it's not in your basement (I seem to have missed that part), I'd get matting for the room so you don't murder your floors with you do deadlifts

Oh - it is in the basement - cheap wood laminate. We apparently don't want to encourage our guests to stay long, lol (it will be especially awkward when I'm working out in there during their stay!). We do have the rubber floor tiles under the bench currently, but we should probably extend them further into the room.

SezxyStef

You can build your own squat rack - I believe Mirey made a blog post about the one she built and I think she uses it for benching as well.

It's some wood, buckets, cement, and metal corner things.

Also you can google "homemade squat rack"

Yes, I do recall seeing something about this in some other threads, and my husband is a handy guy!

And I guess any guest lucky enough to be staying in our "guest room" would equally enjoy having a metal or a wooden squat rack to put their overnight bag on.

Perfect for drying towels too!

Since it's not in your basement (I seem to have missed that part), I'd get matting for the room so you don't murder your floors with you do deadlifts

My husband and son built mine...more of a almost powercage sort of deal.

Just 2x4's some metal backets...simple easy but does it's job as it has bars for safety in case I fail on squats.

They are going to modify it for me so I can bench using it as well when I don't have a spotter.

http://www.allthingsgym.com/diy-homemade-wooden-squat-rack/

Here is a good link for what mine looks like (sort of)

katro111

Welcome! If you're going for the home workouts, check Craigslist or a used sporting goods store for an oly bar and plates. I was not aware of the homemade squat/power rack possibility, but now that I see others have done it, I might go that way myself! If you Google it, you can get materials lists and plans. Good luck!

jetortola

Ok --- at the risk of sounding like an idiot --- but with the goal of total honesty --- I have decided to forgo SL5X5 (for now), and instead focus on a combination of cardiovascular and strength. The honest truth is my #1 goal is weight loss. No, I don't want to be "skinny-fat", but with adequate strength training combined with cardio, that isn't going to happen. Once I get to, or near, goal weight I will re-evaluate. I came to this decision after lurking through additional posts in this group (i.e., monthly workout threads, stickies, etc.). I just know I don't have the patience for this program, for the results I am looking for at this time, and my concern is I will get discouraged and give up all together... Plus there is the whole gym equipment issue, and lack thereof, and I don't want to set myself up for injury.

Anyhow -- thank you to everyone who responded to my thread. I will very likely be back to participate.