Thanks for the info on the Smith machine... Now I have to figure out if you can do dead lifts with it. It seems like you need more bar movement for the deadlifts but will give it a shot. I am afraid that holding 2 dumbells will be hard for my hands. I got very tiny hands and not sure how much each one can hold.

Does anyone feel they are going to be stuck at certain weights (not body weight, lifting weights) for certain exercises?? Right now I do not think I can possibly do more than 15 pounds for the shoulder presses and not too much more for the lat pulldowns. I am week 3, w/o 2.

Also finding it hard to eat 2000 calories on my lifting days... but I guess I come within 100-200 most times.

Does your gym have any oly bars at all? At benches? I grab any available bar at my gym for deadlifts, not just the one from the squat rack.

Have you tried chalk? I was struggling to grip the bar and hold the weight, so I picked up a block of chalk for $2. I don't know if it's "allowed" at my gym, so I keep it in my bag and rub my hands on it discreetly. I know guys use it, but I've never seen it out in the open. It has made a HUGE difference in my grip for deadlift. I even used it for my step ups last time (22.5# dumbbells) and it made holding the dumbbells much easier too. I'm still new to lifting and learning as I go, but I don't think the size of your hands should affect how much weight you can hold. Your grip strength should increase, allowing you to hold more weight. My grip was suffering, and the chalk has been great. I also "white knuckle" on all of my reps for every move I use the bar or dumbbells on, meaning I grip as hard as I can until my knuckles turn white. This is supposed to help. Also holding the bar in your hands at the top of your deadlift on the last few reps. Just don't do it early or your hands will tire out.

For eating calories, I have NO problems there! I really like to eat. Do you like oatmeal? You can easily get up to 500 calories with a serving of oatmeal if you use milk, add some fruit or raisins and nuts.

I was STUCK on lat pulldowns for a few sessions. I had to really learn how to engage my back and pull properly. After that, I've been able to increase, even if only by 2.5# per time. I'm at 20# on shoulder presses and struggled last time. I'm going up to 22.5# tomorrow, but I don't know that I"ll be able to complete all of the reps. Do your dumbbells go up by 5# only? That's tough!! Maybe increase weight, and expect fewer reps?

I'm doing NORLFW, but reading alot of the SL5x5 info since Mehdi seems to go into more details. I'm following his guidelines on upping weight and not deloading immediately if I can't finish a set.
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they have some bars, the curl bars with the wavy bar and the straight one but they only go up to 60 pounds and I am at that weight already for deadlifts. The only other bars are the ones attached to the Smith Machine
I am not that big a fan of oatmeal... I don't have a problem finding things to eat... I just don't want to eat if not hungry...
What is the SL5x5??

Hi there...just finished my second workout. I'm doing this program at home with DB up to 60# total, Swiss ball, bar and a few plates that go up to 35#. I'm not sure this is going to be enough but should be to get started right?

I was wondering how long it takes for you to get through the workout? Both workout 1 & 2 took me approx 22 min with rest with out WU or CD. Does this seem reasonable or to fast? Some exercises I need to up my weight but othersi don't and now I've done 1 of each, I now know for next time.

Also, I'm running a few days a week and will continue to because I'm training for a half soon. Anyone else doing cardio as well?

Thanks and happy lifting!!

Work out 4A for me tonight. I like the lifting and I'm always amazed at myself when I can up the weight. I tried stepping up onto the bench, but it seemed too wobbly (or maybe I was too unbalanced), so I had to go back to using the aerobics stepper. I've never seen anyone at my gym stepping up onto the bench before. Are the stepups pretty unique to this workout?

I just started last week. Have done 2 A workouts and 2 B workouts. Due to my own reading errors, I wasn't sure what squat they were wanting, so I've just been squatting with dumbells. I just realized I should have been using the bar on my shoulders for that. I'm a little nervous about doing it, but am ready to try.

My other issue was that the only bars available for the deadlift the first time I went were the curled bicep bar. Is it okay to deadlift with these?

Soreness from last week has totally gone today. I can just feel a little soreness in my arms from yesterday's workout. I am having some lower back pain though. Can't decide if it is soreness or something else.

ETA: Step ups were weight free for my first workout. Will have to have another look at the book, but am I meant to increase my weights at each workout?

I am just about to restart the program on Wednesday. I was nearly done with Stage1 first time around. It took me a while before I could add weights as my form just wasn't good with weights. I only added the weights when I could still doing the step up without using the leg to push me off the floor...hope that makes sense...