stronglifts 5x5

LiftBigtoGetFit

anyone doing the Stronglifts 5x5 workout? I am thinking about starting this to build some strength. just curious to see how it has worked for others on here. thanks

paulwgun

ive just started doing 5x5 as ive hit a bit of a plateau with weight loss.
after the first lot of squats at 60.3kg i could hardly walk the following day :bigsmile: :sad: lol maybe i did go a bit heavy to start i then had 2 recovery days and am up to session 5 with 72.5kg

The second session was a lot less painful though with only 1 recovery day :bigsmile:

LiftBigtoGetFit

right on, I could probably go higher but I'm thinking the empty bar like he says is probably the best way for me to go. not sure when I am going to start, I was thinking of waiting until after I get back from my vacation in July. I wont have access to a gym or weights while I am on vacation so I wasn't sure how taking a 2 week break would effect the progress.

paulwgun

Why wait ? say you get up to 80kg before your holiday when you come back drop back to 60kg or what your comfortable with and work back up to 80
what ever you decide good luck, ive noticed my legs have firmed up a hell of a lot i still have a beer gut but that's work in progress :bigsmile:

mjbrenner

Do it! Stronglifts has made me much stronger and healthier, and I can see the changes in my body. There is a group here on MFP for those of us doing the protocol.

scottywor

START WITH THE BAR.... this is not an option, ya for the first few weeks it'll be pretty easy, but it will get hard.

So keep in mind that 5x5 is high volume as in sets, and is intense, and if your goal is to build muscle you will require a caloric surplus, or you will stall out fast when you get higher. 5x5 is very taxing on your CNS and muscles, etc. which requires caloric surplus. But if your goal is to build strength, then 5x5 is great. I plan to move to this style again, when I finish cutting to where I want to be!!

For this reason, I chose not to to 5x5, but a RPT style, heavy volume is low. As I still want to cut, RPT's low volume allows you to maintain strength, maybe increase, albeit minimally, and drop BF, cause its not as taxing.

Keep us updated on how it works out for ya!

LiftBigtoGetFit

thanks guys, i will start Monday and just drop back some if I need to after vacation. I will also check out the group here.

LiftBigtoGetFit

anyone know how much playing basketball a couple times a week will hinder my gains?