5x5 strong lift any tips?

I started this today myself...! Good luck!

Also there's an I-Pod/IPhone app and androd is supposedly coming but on android there's an app called Liftbig which works well to help you keep track.

The 5x5 program is excellent for gaining strength, but if your looking to put on both size an strength, I would recommend the German Volume Training Program, also known as the (10x10 program). This program is well documented for adding both strength and size in a short amount of time. I have personally used the 5x5 program, and gotten excellent strength gains, however I didn't gain very much size. You tube has some great video regarding German Volume Training, so check it out. Good luck to you.

10x10 sounds painful and extremely time-consuming. Yikes.

I would only suggest the following and that is full concentration on squat form and if you find it suffering with more weight later on it can be caused by, in part,lack of hip flexor mobility, so insure your form by using some type of hip mobility regiment. I found the warm ups not enough for me for only 3 days per week.

Although stronglifts 5x5 is a great program for a beginner; it will leave lagging body parts. Jason Blaha has a 5x5 routine that is this; but made way more well rounded with a fell progression scheme. You may wanna check it out. Make sure to hit mobility hard and avoid going on diets during the routine; otherwise you will waste potential. You can do light to moderate cardio on off days as active recovery if you are a heavy eater. It also ends up getting challenging further in; make sure you have the right motivation. Supplement with Omega 3's as well; make sure to get micronutrients although some junk food is okay, especially if you have a hard time eating enough (although it's not the best).

Thanks for the tips and other programs i will look at them.
@ rileyhunter16 I think that my eating is good. And my motivivation is always high.
@ sarauk2sf i have been lifting now for 8 months

What has your program looked like previously? Were you following a progressive loading routine? What was the rep/set range? Was it based around compound lifts?

The 5x5 program is excellent for gaining strength, but if your looking to put on both size an strength, I would recommend the German Volume Training Program, also known as the (10x10 program). This program is well documented for adding both strength and size in a short amount of time. I have personally used the 5x5 program, and gotten excellent strength gains, however I didn't gain very much size. You tube has some great video regarding German Volume Training, so check it out. Good luck to you.

I would disagree...although german volume training is a great program it is for advanced lifters. Many beginners make the mistake of jumping to advanced lifting programs right away which is silly and here is why: Beginner programs are actually harder than advanced programs in the sense that they make you increase your weights every week (sometimes even multiple times each week) this is because a beginner will pack on strength much faster then an advanced lifter. Advanced programs only increase the weight every 2-3 weeks. So do yourself a favour and stick to the beginner programs. I have been lifting for 3 years seriously and I only use intermediate programs.

Make sure you follow the excel sheet for your weights, if you do not have it, it is easily available from google. BTW you look jacked for only 8 months of lifting good work. What others are saying is true that higher reps is more for mass but I have always thought until you have strong lifts a power based routine is the best way to go.

This is a good website to use to determine what level of program you should be using: http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.html

I am totally knew to most of this so please do not take my question as coming off as cocky, but could someone explain to me how the statement that more strength does not equal more size? From everything I have learned thus far, more muscle, i.e. bigger muscle does in fact equal more strength. Not sure how the statement that size and strength does not go hand in hand. If you can lift more weight do your muscles not get bigger?

Not necessarily.

Strength comes from neurological adaptations, which is your body developing its ability to activate muscle fibers by increasing the frequency of neural impulses sent to the brain as well as improving intra- and inter-muscle coordination. Basically your brain talks in a better/more efficient way to your muscles. At some point however, you need more muscle for your brain to talk to in order to gain strength

It's basically myofibril hypertrophy v sarcoplasmic hypertrophy.

Not going to pretend for a second that I really understood what you just typed, so please if you have the time to explain it in more lamens terms feel free. Just to clarify, are you saying I could get stronger without increaseing the size of muscles? I understand that neurological adaptations come into play at one point, but I was always under the impression this is when you are starting to get super advanced and involved in major bodybuilding/ powerlifting. Did not think that a beginner really had to learn about the neural impulses just yet.

I am totally knew to most of this so please do not take my question as coming off as cocky, but could someone explain to me how the statement that more strength does not equal more size? From everything I have learned thus far, more muscle, i.e. bigger muscle does in fact equal more strength. Not sure how the statement that size and strength does not go hand in hand. If you can lift more weight do your muscles not get bigger?

Not necessarily.

Strength comes from neurological adaptations, which is your body developing its ability to activate muscle fibers by increasing the frequency of neural impulses sent to the brain as well as improving intra- and inter-muscle coordination. Basically your brain talks in a better/more efficient way to your muscles. At some point however, you need more muscle for your brain to talk to in order to gain strength

It's basically myofibril hypertrophy v sarcoplasmic hypertrophy.

Not going to pretend for a second that I really understood what you just typed, so please if you have the time to explain it in more lamens terms feel free. Just to clarify, are you saying I could get stronger without increaseing the size of muscles? I understand that neurological adaptations come into play at one point, but I was always under the impression this is when you are starting to get super advanced and involved in major bodybuilding/ powerlifting. Did not think that a beginner really had to learn about the neural impulses just yet.

Yes, I am saying that you can get stronger without increasing the size of your muscles. Your brain talks more effectively to you muscles so they can do more. Neurological adaptations come into play from the very beginning. It's one of the reasons that a new lifter sees such an improvement in their lifts that slows down after a while (that, and form improvements).

A beginner does not have to learn about it, but the question was asked and so I answered it.

ETA: think of it like a road system. You need roads to get from A to B. You will get from A to B quicker if there are more roads and the roads are in better repair. However, at some point, you need more places to go otherwise more roads do not really add much value. (ok, cr@ppy'ish analogy...but it's early and I need more coffee to be creative)

So basically your muscles become more efficient ?? I understand that but seriously how long can that last ? At some point with eating at a surplus and increasing how much you lift your muscles are going to build...right ? Admittedly this is over my head

Yes. You get diminishing returns where at some point the gains are so small that you really need more muscle to make appreciable strength gains.

ETA: With some of the lifts it is hard to tell whether you really are making strength gains as there are also other factors that come into play, for example, form, leanness, how much food you are eating etc,

bump!

This was a great discussion thread (one of the better ones i've seen since joining...so many of them tend to evolve into snarkiness)...I actually learned a lot, and will see about making some adjustments to 5x5 for myself.

Thank you!

yes agreed wholeheartedly...... very helpful

I am totally knew to most of this so please do not take my question as coming off as cocky, but could someone explain to me how the statement that more strength does not equal more size? From everything I have learned thus far, more muscle, i.e. bigger muscle does in fact equal more strength. Not sure how the statement that size and strength does not go hand in hand. If you can lift more weight do your muscles not get bigger?

Not necessarily.

Strength comes from neurological adaptations, which is your body developing its ability to activate muscle fibers by increasing the frequency of neural impulses sent to the brain as well as improving intra- and inter-muscle coordination. Basically your brain talks in a better/more efficient way to your muscles. At some point however, you need more muscle for your brain to talk to in order to gain strength

It's basically myofibril hypertrophy v sarcoplasmic hypertrophy.

Not going to pretend for a second that I really understood what you just typed, so please if you have the time to explain it in more lamens terms feel free. Just to clarify, are you saying I could get stronger without increaseing the size of muscles? I understand that neurological adaptations come into play at one point, but I was always under the impression this is when you are starting to get super advanced and involved in major bodybuilding/ powerlifting. Did not think that a beginner really had to learn about the neural impulses just yet.

Yes, I am saying that you can get stronger without increasing the size of your muscles. Your brain talks more effectively to you muscles so they can do more. Neurological adaptations come into play from the very beginning. It's one of the reasons that a new lifter sees such an improvement in their lifts that slows down after a while (that, and form improvements).

A beginner does not have to learn about it, but the question was asked and so I answered it.

ETA: think of it like a road system. You need roads to get from A to B. You will get from A to B quicker if there are more roads and the roads are in better repair. However, at some point, you need more places to go otherwise more roads do not really add much value. (ok, cr@ppy'ish analogy...but it's early and I need more coffee to be creative)

Actually that makes total sense to me, thank you for taking the time. I always was curious about this.

that aint right

Care to be more specific?