Stronglifts 5x5 question

RyanWilson1993
RyanWilson1993 Posts: 409 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am starting this program monday and figured I'd do it how they want you to do, start with an empty barbell and increase weight by 5lbs each time. I'm kinda worried that if I do this I will lose all my current gains though. so would that happen or no?

Replies

  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Gains aren't that easy to lose, my friend. Get your form right and don't worry about losing gains. And if you're a healthy adult (or teen) male, starting with an empty bar is going to be pretty light, altho if you're going to make a mistake I'd rather you go much too light than slightly heavy.

    SL5x5 has very basic exercises. May I ask what you were gaining from before if you weren't doing these lifts already? You should already know your bench and OHP numbers, unless you were using machines.
  • RyanWilson1993
    RyanWilson1993 Posts: 409 Member
    Gains aren't that easy to lose, my friend. Get your form right and don't worry about losing gains. And if you're a healthy adult (or teen) male, starting with an empty bar is going to be pretty light, altho if you're going to make a mistake I'd rather you go much too light than slightly heavy.

    SL5x5 has very basic exercises. May I ask what you were gaining from before if you weren't doing these lifts already? You should already know your bench and OHP numbers, unless you were using machines.
    I have done all these lifts before the one that I'm worried about is barbell rows I havent done too many of those before
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    if you've done the lifts *regularly* then there's no reason to start with an empty bar. Use a weight you know you can do 8x and start the progression from there.

    Rows are easy, and rows are a great exercise. I've never understood why more people don't do them. If you've never done them before, then go ahead and use the bar. Ideally rowing strength should be close to benching strength, but if you're not used to the movement feel free to start as light as you need and work your way up.
  • tross0924
    tross0924 Posts: 909 Member
    There's a few spreadsheets out there that are fairly easy to find. They let you enter in your current maxes on all the lifts and gives you a place to start that is more than an empty bar.

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