Started this program, but hesitant

AlsDonkBoxSquat

Just to start, I did read his letter, but I'm still concerned about functional strength over appearance. I love the lean musclely look, don't get me wrong (my mfp's know what I'm talking about), but my primary concern is functional strength. Through his letter he keeps showing results and talking about Mr. Universe this and body competition that . . . which I may want to do at some point but that point is not now. I just completed NROL4W and have gained considerable functional strength in my other activities from it; I can push longer, harder, faster at running, teaching step, and my obstacle course times are more than just respectible. I have the tough mudder September 7th, I credit my work with lat pull down, pull ups, and chin ups for my ability to throw myself over walls as I watched other people struggle . . . I have 2 people depending on me to be tough enough at our September mudder.

I've committed to 12 weeks with this program, but I'm concerned about my functional strength and prospective performance in wall climbes and monkey bars and the like. Weights and cardio will take care of most of the rest.

Rae6503

Dude, the pdf sucks.

I think it is a "strength" program and definitely not a body building program (a body building program would be higher reps and more exercises). His marketing just sucks. I definitely don't think I've lost any "functional" strength. My mountain biking has improved drastically on this program and I now can do monkey bars when I could before (this was seriously a goal of mine, I still suck at them but can make it across).

stormieweather

I disagree that SL 5x5 isn't a "bodybuilding" program. Any program whose intent is to improve your muscular physique is a "bodybuilding" program. It's top of the list on Bodybuilding.com - http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/5-best-bodybuilding-programs.htm

I'm actually doing SL 5x5 twice a week and my third session is focused on more individual muscles - ie: curls, calf raises, kickbacks, skull crushers, etc.

irridia

Part of the issue is that a lot of guys want to get the resutls they see in magazines. Almost all, if not all, those guys use roids to accomplish their physiques. People admire Arnold's accomplishments and assume he achieved this completely through endless reps like most bodybuilders do today. He's trying to make the point that a huge reason Arnold progressed as far as he did naturally was by having a foundation of functional muscle built via compound moves at heavy weights low reps.

What he basically says is that everybody should start this way, if you want to be a body builder, then after you build the basic functional strength you can add longer reps to pump up size. If you want to power lift then you continue on with various heavy methods such as madcow. People with other fitness goals can switch to maintainance and then train for their other sports. I've seen huge improvment in all areas of strength and just need other stuff to calm down so I can reach my strength potential and then start playing more!

have fun!