Stronglifts 5x5 for Women

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Off To A Good Start, I Guess!

arabianhorselover
arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
in Social Groups
I completed my 4th workout today. I find I am having the most trouble with the Overhead Press. So far I have a long way to go on form, but at least I'm trying. There is no way I could increase the weight above the 25 pound bar I am using.

How did the rest of you do with this exercise when you started out?

Replies

  • 6550mom
    6550mom Posts: 206 Member
    I'm not an expert by any means, but from my experience, and from what I've read in others' posts, this is pretty much universally the hardest lift for women. Most of us started out low and stalled somewhere in the 50-65 pound range (correct me if I 'm wrong, someone). This lifts prompts many of us to consider or buy fractional weights so that we can increase in tiny increments (less than a pound to a couple pounds) at a time.

    Good job on getting going!!

    Oh, and the most helpful thing to me was to watch a good form video right then and there before I did the lift (look up Rippetoe overhead press on YouTube if you get wifi in your gym- if not, watch before you go.) Elbow and wrist and grip placement make a difference for sure.
  • roxylola
    roxylola Posts: 540 Member
    Yep, started with a 12.5kg bar and worked up each week til I got to 20kgs, spent about 3 weeks at that and only just managing to now get 22.5kg in the air 25 (or sometimes 24) times. No way will I be able to increase weight for a while. I could not even manage 1 more rep when I finish!
  • krazeedr
    krazeedr Posts: 35 Member
    I'm about at the 4th-ish week too. (Simply can't remember right now.) Right now I am at:

    Squat - 75
    Bench - 75
    Overhead - 50
    Dead - 75
    Row - 70

    I worked out with a trainer/power lifting buddy of mine for 2 weeks to make sure I was using good form and learned some nice tips to keep my squats and rows right. I find now that the insertion of my biceps just below my left elbow is KILLING me no matter if I'm lifting or not. I can't figure out which one is troubling it the most because it bugs me no matter which workout I'm on, A or B. Given what I'm hearing others say about the OHP though, I can't help but wonder if that might be it. I don't think it was bothering me when I was lifting at 40. Maybe I should try dropping that weight back down a bit and see if it stops annoying me. It isn't until right now, seeing the weights written down like that, that I'm really noticing how clearly much more difficult I'm finding the OHP: 70's for everything BUT that. Guess I'm glad to hear that I'm in the "normal" range though, LOL!

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