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SL 5x5: Three Month Progress Update (with pics)!

_lyndseybrooke_
Posts: 2,561 Member
Today I began my 12th week of SL 5x5, but Saturday I took my three month progress pictures and measurements. I thought I would post them here.
Okay, let's start with the numbers. For reference, I'm 5'5" and I eat about 1800 gross calories per day when averaged over the entire week.
WEIGHT
3/22/14 - 140 lbs
6/21/14 - 130.6 lbs
**That's an average loss of about .75 lb/week.
MEASUREMENTS
Waist - from 29 inches to 27 inches (2 inches lost)
Hips - from 37 inches to 35 inches (2 inchest lost)
Bust - from 35 inches to 34 inches (1 inch lost)
Thigh - from 22 inches to 20.5 inches (1.5 inches lost)
Calf - from 14.5 inches to 14.5 inches (0 inches lost)
Upper Arm - from 11.5 inches to 11 inches (.5 inch lost)
**That's a total loss of 7 inches.
Now, onto the pictures!

These were taken on 3/22/14, around the time I started 5x5.

These were taken on 6/21/14.

Here is a side-by-side of my progress at three months.

Here is the progress in my arms.

I don't have a before shot of my back, but here's a shot from 6/22/14. Not much to see, though.
Aside from the progress you can see, I've also made progress on my lifts...
Squats - from 45 lbs to 130 lbs (up 85 lbs)
Deadlifts - from 95 lbs to 145 lbs (up 50 lbs)
Bench Press/Rows - from 45 lbs to 80 lbs (up 35 lbs)
Overhead Press - from 45 lbs to 60 lbs (up a measly 15 lbs)
My confidence has skyrocketed since I began lifting. I feel so much better in my own skin, and that's better than any change on the scale. Three months ago, I would've never posted these pictures for the world to see. I've also learned a lot about nutrition and fitness and I've fallen in love with it. I feel like a whole new person, and this is only the beginning!
What's next?
I've a week of 5x5 left, and then I will begin an intermediate 5/3/1 type of program with accessory lifts. I am just shy of my original goal of 130 lbs, but I think I'm going to keep eating at a slight deficit until I reach about 125 lbs. It will probably take a few months, but that's perfectly fine. Once I hit 125, I will eat at maintenance and hopefully see my lifts improve even more. It's all uphill from here!
If you're interested in knowing details of how/what I eat and my exercise routine, please see my blog post (link below). I'm happy to answer any other questions via PM or in the comments here. I don't claim to be an expert on nutrition and fitness - I only know what has worked for me.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/LyndseyLovesToLift
So, what do you think?
Okay, let's start with the numbers. For reference, I'm 5'5" and I eat about 1800 gross calories per day when averaged over the entire week.
WEIGHT
3/22/14 - 140 lbs
6/21/14 - 130.6 lbs
**That's an average loss of about .75 lb/week.
MEASUREMENTS
Waist - from 29 inches to 27 inches (2 inches lost)
Hips - from 37 inches to 35 inches (2 inchest lost)
Bust - from 35 inches to 34 inches (1 inch lost)
Thigh - from 22 inches to 20.5 inches (1.5 inches lost)
Calf - from 14.5 inches to 14.5 inches (0 inches lost)
Upper Arm - from 11.5 inches to 11 inches (.5 inch lost)
**That's a total loss of 7 inches.
Now, onto the pictures!

These were taken on 3/22/14, around the time I started 5x5.

These were taken on 6/21/14.

Here is a side-by-side of my progress at three months.

Here is the progress in my arms.

I don't have a before shot of my back, but here's a shot from 6/22/14. Not much to see, though.
Aside from the progress you can see, I've also made progress on my lifts...
Squats - from 45 lbs to 130 lbs (up 85 lbs)
Deadlifts - from 95 lbs to 145 lbs (up 50 lbs)
Bench Press/Rows - from 45 lbs to 80 lbs (up 35 lbs)
Overhead Press - from 45 lbs to 60 lbs (up a measly 15 lbs)
My confidence has skyrocketed since I began lifting. I feel so much better in my own skin, and that's better than any change on the scale. Three months ago, I would've never posted these pictures for the world to see. I've also learned a lot about nutrition and fitness and I've fallen in love with it. I feel like a whole new person, and this is only the beginning!
What's next?
I've a week of 5x5 left, and then I will begin an intermediate 5/3/1 type of program with accessory lifts. I am just shy of my original goal of 130 lbs, but I think I'm going to keep eating at a slight deficit until I reach about 125 lbs. It will probably take a few months, but that's perfectly fine. Once I hit 125, I will eat at maintenance and hopefully see my lifts improve even more. It's all uphill from here!
If you're interested in knowing details of how/what I eat and my exercise routine, please see my blog post (link below). I'm happy to answer any other questions via PM or in the comments here. I don't claim to be an expert on nutrition and fitness - I only know what has worked for me.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/LyndseyLovesToLift
So, what do you think?
0
Replies
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Good job
Keep it up0 -
Wow! Great results!0
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Nice work. I just started 5x5, I'm only 1 week in.0
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Yea buddy! No legs pics? Lets see those quads0
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Yea buddy! No legs pics? Lets see those quads
I don't have any before pics on legs. I never even thought to take them - I've never had any issues with my legs. I wish I had thought of it, because they've definitely gotten better.0 -
Fantastic! Congratulations! :bigsmile:0
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You look amazing! This post makes me wish I had taken better/more "before" pics and measurements when I started SL on May 3!0
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Great work girl!!! I enjoy watching your progress updates on my page too. You're so motivating. Keep up the hard work!0
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Fantastic job!! Keep up the great work!!
lifting!!! :drinker:
0 -
You are my hero! I started stronglifts about 5 weeks ago. I hope I make progress like yours by the time 3 months have passed! Right now I seem to be going in reverse but I had a lot of sodium and a little too much alcohol this past weekend.0
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Amaazing progress! You rock!
I'm in week 5 and this is some serious extra motivation!!!0 -
THANK YOU!!!!! This is amazing!!!!!!!! WAY TO GO!!0
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Awesome!!!0
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Thanks for more reasons to get my *kitten* back in the gym! Your guns are awesome!!0
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I have been lurking around threads on MFP SL 5x5 - even signed up for the emails from Medhi - which are great. I plan to try it out when I finish the weight loss phase and into maintenance. Great results - I am really motivated by the increase in weight lifted. I got the programme spreadsheet from Medhi and was slightly sceptical that someone could increase their lifts in that period of time. 10/10 to you. Now off to read your blog!0
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You look great! Excellent work!!!0
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AWESOME!!
I really freaking love SL. So hard.0 -
Well done!0
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bump!
ETA: You look fantastic!0 -
That progress is insane!
You look frickin' amazing!0 -
Great job, Lyndsey! Looking good!0
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I have been lurking around threads on MFP SL 5x5 - even signed up for the emails from Medhi - which are great. I plan to try it out when I finish the weight loss phase and into maintenance. Great results - I am really motivated by the increase in weight lifted. I got the programme spreadsheet from Medhi and was slightly sceptical that someone could increase their lifts in that period of time. 10/10 to you. Now off to read your blog!0
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Dat arm!! Nice0
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You look great!0
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great progress in strength and body comp!0
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good job
I wouldnt move to isolated workouts unless you have plateaued.
Keep getting those beginner/novice gains till they stop.0 -
Great job! I purchased the book about a month ago to start the program and . . . . . lets just say I'm STILL on page 15. Guess I need to pick that book back up and be committed.
Love seeing these kind of posts/results from lifting :flowerforyou: .0 -
Amazing progress! I am just finishing stage one of NROL4W and am so happy to see I have many more programs to work when I finish this one! You reminded me that I really need to be taking more progress pics!0
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Fantastic Job!!!0
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Congrats on your SL 5x5 progress! Great job! Have been doing it myself, but I would also recommend continuing until plateau. Mehdi mentions 12 weeks because that;s a good time frame, but your gains on the initial program can continue far beyond that!0
This discussion has been closed.
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