Women and stronglifts 5x5 progressive loading

danelutza19

I have been doing 5x5 for over a month now. The initial weights were quite easy in the begining( compared to what I did before) and now I am finally starting to feel the weight getting heavy. My question: should I continue the progressive loading with the recommended 5 or 10lb for each new workout or should I change the loading to only 2.5/5 lb. I remember Medhi saying that when his girlfriend was doing the program she increased her load more slowly.

Second question: the barbell rows, are quite a challenge since I can't really bring the bar all the way up to my chest ( " the girls" get in the way). Should I continue doing them regardless or do you have any suggestions on how to modify the exercise to get all the benefits of the full range of motion!

Thank you!

meshashesha2012

10 pounds until that's too much, then 5 pounds until you cant anymore then 2.5 (if your gym doesnt have have the 1.25 pound plates pick up your own on amazon).

barbell rows go to your sternum, so i aim for the same place i go for bench press which is right under my boobs. if you still have boobabe under your boobs, especially when you're bent over then you need a better sports bra :laugh:

cajuntank

This suggestion is not just restricted to women, but to anyone. So second on the micro loading plates. As mentioned, if your gym does not have, then they are very inexpensive on Amazon (also called fractional plates) and a set typically comes with a pair of .25, .5, .75, and 1lbs plates. You can even put that as your lowest plate selection in the spreadsheet Medhi offers, so you are increasing weight slower to eek out all of the lovely linear progression goodness one has in the beginning of lifting and following a program such as this.

Stage14

I continued with 5 lb increases (10lb for deads) until my first set of failed reps. Then I went back to the last weight I could successfully do, did that for one workout, and started upping by 2.5 for OHP/row and 5 lb for deads (I haven't hit that point for bench yet). When I fail next time, I plan to just follow the programs normal recommendations and keep the rate of increase at 2.5/5 from here on out.

danelutza19

Thank you all so much!
Wonderful suggestion with the micro plates, I will probably end up getting some soon.
The barbell row advice is much appreciated as I believe I was aiming for the wrong spot; I just practiced empty handed and with a bit more bend I can find a straight way from the floor to the sternum.
You guys all rock!!!!