Strong Lifts 5 x 5 program for the beginner :)

moondawg14 · June 2013

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Thanks!
Just started StrongLifts last week and I'm liking it so far. Just feels like I'm not doing enough right now. Weights are so light I have to constantly stop myself from putting more on.
Do you do cardio with this as well?

Concentrate on getting good form now while the load is light! With the progressive loading, it will soon get heavy! There are lots of good YouTube vids out there to help with form (e.g. by Mehdi or Mark Rippetoe).

Do cardio if you like. I do it on my non-lifting days.

Cool, thanks!

I'd stick with Rippletoe for form. Mehdi is starting to badly sacrifice form to put up numbers. His ego is getting the best of him.

yeah, don't watch his "daily workouts" He's got vids on his site that show proper form, with light weights, and also from his users.

Also, one nitpick about the original graphic in this thread.... It does NOT show proper barbell row form!! Your back should be paralell with the floor, not inclined like shown in the graphic.

Stronglifts page about barbell form: http://stronglifts.com/how-to-master-barbell-row-technique/

gogojodee · June 2013

Bump

tedsmama · June 2013

Bump

jennpaulson · June 2013

I've been curious about this, thanks for posting : )

SarahLP88 · June 2013

thanks!

azmiz · June 2013

Thanks

diwijo13 · June 2013

Great post. Question: If I wanted to start lifting and still lose weight would I eat at a surplus on strength training days (Mon, Wed, Fri) then at a deficit on the other days?

0OneTwo3 · June 2013

Good visual.

The important thing is to pick a program with (1) compound lifts, (2) that teaches proper form, and (3) that incorporates progressive overload.

Strong Lifts
Starting Strength
5/3/1
New Rules of Lifting

yes. very good programs,

but i would like to add that in my experience 5/3/1 is not always suited for beginners. getting as close to max effort as the 3rd week of a 5/3/1 macrocycle requires them to has sometimes resulted in some extreme breaks in form. this is due to weak stabilizing musculature or poor body-awareness. 2-3 months of one of the other programs usually takes care of that though.