Stronglifts 5x5 not for beginner females?

I'll finally be in a position where I can join a gym next month and am hoping to start weights but I'm still a little confused about some things... I was looking into the Stronglifts 5x5 program and was planning to start that but was told by a friend who's been lifting for a couple of years that SL is the wrong program for a female beginner like myself** and should just focus more on smaller weight ("5lb dumbbells in each hand") exercises, which leaves me a bit disheartened... He didn't offer an alternative program so, asking here, are there any programs out there better suited to a beginner or was he just talking a load of crock?

I'm also confused of how I should warm up before weights as I do not want to injure myself, which I can imagine is far easier with weights than just bodyweight exercises.

Any help from anyone would be much appreciated!

**For a bit of background, my current exercise has been a mix of beginners/moderate level pilates and light cardio which has given some strength in my legs and core, but upper body strength is still fairly non-existent, I think.

It depends on what is meant by "suitable".

If you are starting a new lifting program and haven't done it before, then it is always a good idea to begin with a "starter" level program. This allows your body to adapt to the new routine, allows tendons and ligaments to adapt (and they adapt more slowly than muscles), and allows you to master your form.

In other words, you don't walk in on day one and start doing 5 sets at 5 RM loads. Depending on age, fitness level, and ability, it might take several weeks to work up to that level.

I am not familiar with the details of the Stronglifts program--it is not particularly relevant to what I do. There might be a "beginner level" built in. If so, then you can just start with that.

If not, you can probably still do the basic lifts, just not at the full 5 x 5 volume and intensity level.

In the big picture, yes, lifting heavy is perfectly suitable for anyone.

hmmm...anyway

SL is a beginner program it doesn't need a begginer level built in.

As a new lifting chances are RM is an unknown acronym atm.

I wish if people were commenting on the SL program or any other program for that matter they would familiiarize themselves with it first.

The point was the importance of a beginner working up to a heavy lifting program, and I wasn't making a negative comment about the SL program, but, you are correct, I was not familiar with all of the details. Thanks to your thoughtful and considerate feedback, I did go back and refresh my memory about starting the SL program. And now I will never have to think about SL again. :drinker:

posting just so i can come back to this thread..

Rachifloon wrote: »

I'll finally be in a position where I can join a gym next month and am hoping to start weights but I'm still a little confused about some things... I was looking into the Stronglifts 5x5 program and was planning to start that but was told by a friend who's been lifting for a couple of years that SL is the wrong program for a female beginner like myself** and should just focus more on smaller weight ("5lb dumbbells in each hand") exercises, which leaves me a bit disheartened... He didn't offer an alternative program so, asking here, are there any programs out there better suited to a beginner or was he just talking a load of crock?

I'm also confused of how I should warm up before weights as I do not want to injure myself, which I can imagine is far easier with weights than just bodyweight exercises.

Any help from anyone would be much appreciated!

**For a bit of background, my current exercise has been a mix of beginners/moderate level pilates and light cardio which has given some strength in my legs and core, but upper body strength is still fairly non-existent, I think.

I am not a huge fitness buff or anything. Actually the opposite is more true, but learning the hard way ( from injury) it is important to start at your level and not go gung ho if you are not really ready. I agree with your friend that doing Stronglifts as a beginner female could lead to injury and that it is better to build a foundation of strength before moving onto a program like that. It is also important to know your form is down. You don't want an injury that bothers you the rest of your life. There are a lot of good beginner programs out there. Joyce Vedral has some great programs for beginners. It doesn't have to take you long and you can start doing Stronglifts. I made great gains with her Bottom's Up program. Women's fitness has a big book about weight training and setting up your own program. I like the Body Sculpting Bible for Women because there are so many different programs and they use regular exercises and you could be set for a year or more just doing their programs and know you took a nice safe pace so you won't get hurt. Just starting with an exercise per body part for 1-2 sets with light/moderate weights would be good.

Oh, and I tried doing Stronglifts and could have gotten injured because you just can't go into lifting heavy if you haven't been lifting at all.

Rachifloon wrote: »

l was looking into the Stronglifts 5x5 program and was planning to start that but was told by a friend who's been lifting for a couple of years that SL is the wrong program for a female beginner like myself** and should just focus more on smaller weight ("5lb dumbbells in each hand")

Wow... 5lb dumbbellls....that's insulting... SL I'd absolutely a beginner program. Also 5lb dumbbells will do hardly anything for you unless you're doing shoulder rotations. To add some context my gf lifts with me and does the same program as me. She's never really lifted before and I have her squating, deadlifting, benching along with isolated exercises.