SL5X5 with my kids!

3foldchord

Hi. I just joined here (thanks, Amber)
II did 12 weeks of Bodyweight (Mark Lauren)) and am ready to move up to lifting. (BTW- I do like and recommend Bodyweight stuff and will use it from time to time)

I decided upon the Stronglifts 5X5. My husband said he might do it, too. (but might not- we'll see)

I decided I will have my 16 and 18 yr olds do it for school. as homeschooler I can just assign it to them. We all did the You Are Your Own Gym together- them as part of their school)

I hope it might actually help the 16 year old with his scoliosis- the have strong supporting back muscles.

right now we will use the weights at my dad's house. he had 6 different weight bars and probably more weight plates than the gym I sometimes go to! (plus is super close)

But he has the OLD iron weights (take up a lot less room, which is how he can have so many.) we will get an Olympic bar set up if any of us go HEAVY (I don't intend to unless it happens easily as a natural outcome. my goal is to be a little stronger, a little leaner, and lessen the risk of Osteoporosis)

My dad even has tiny weight plates .. only 1.25 pounds.. to add to the bars! I didn't know they made then that small.

I will start the next Monday. I will start my boys mid May as my youngest is getting ready to go out of town for a couple weeks.

-Kimberly

kirabob

Sounds like a great homeschooling component. You might have them check out Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe from the library - he goes in to the physics and biology behind lifting, and it might be a great tie in to other things you have them doing. And welcome!

3foldchord

Sounds like a great homeschooling component. You might have them check out Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe from the library - he goes in to the physics and biology behind lifting, and it might be a great tie in to other things you have them doing. And welcome!

THANKS!! That will be great! I will look for it. We just moved here and I just got my library card last week!

3foldchord

a page from the notebooks I mad for the boys. I just wrote out 2 weeks, then we'll see how they are doing-- if they need to deload or stay put or anything

kirabob

The real key is to help them nail down excellent form from the very beginning - another reason Starting Strength will help. There are also lots of videos on youtube of all the lifts and how to do them - just search for the name of the lift and Rippetoe.

3foldchord

we worked a lot on form when doing bodyweight stuff, so hopefully that will transfer to an easier time for lifting form (hopefully). the scoliosis kid might take a bit longer/slower.

They are starting in mid May, so I have some time to gather videos and the like. Sometimes I have them video each other to check form. that seemed to work well.

xidia

I have scoliosis too - be super, super careful with form on squats. In my case, the bar is at an angle, because my shoulders are not even, and I sometimes use a collar on the lower end of the bar to prevent the weights slipping. My particular scoliosis curve-and-twist also throws my hips out, which means if I'm not concentrating I don't go straight up and down, and thus I work one side of my body more than the other.

Also watch the OHP, Bench and Row - the stronger side (usually the outside of the curve) will do most of the work unless he really focuses on using both sides equally. Progression will be limited to what is weaker side can do, not his stronger one.

There is a guy (whose name I've forgotten) who competed at elite powerlifting with scoliosis, so it's not a barrier, it just brings its own special problems. I'd guess that good form and even muscle development at your kid's age will reduce the problems in later life - one of the issues can be that uneven muscle development perpetuates the curve so working out symmetrically now will stabilise his back and core and give him a great foundation of muscle for the rest of his life.

morningmud

That's great that you get to workout with your kids. I had such fun going to the gym with my oldest when he was getting ready for Army entry.

3foldchord

THANKS! I will be watching him and helping make adjustments.

I have scoliosis too - be super, super careful with form on squats. In my case, the bar is at an angle, because my shoulders are not even, and I sometimes use a collar on the lower end of the bar to prevent the weights slipping. My particular scoliosis curve-and-twist also throws my hips out, which means if I'm not concentrating I don't go straight up and down, and thus I work one side of my body more than the other.

Also watch the OHP, Bench and Row - the stronger side (usually the outside of the curve) will do most of the work unless he really focuses on using both sides equally. Progression will be limited to what is weaker side can do, not his stronger one.

There is a guy (whose name I've forgotten) who competed at elite powerlifting with scoliosis, so it's not a barrier, it just brings its own special problems. I'd guess that good form and even muscle development at your kid's age will reduce the problems in later life - one of the issues can be that uneven muscle development perpetuates the curve so working out symmetrically now will stabilise his back and core and give him a great foundation of muscle for the rest of his life.

xidia

THANKS! I will be watching him and helping make adjustments.

You're welcome.