A suggestion for those new to the 5x5

[GeaR_and_SauCe]

I started my 5x5 and the only difficulty I've come across is guessing the right amount of weight I can handle for 5 sets of 5. If on the first set I, I max out at 5 then I am realizing that I probably won't be able to complete all 5 reps on the 5th set. The weight you think you will be able to hand for 5x5 might not be as realistic as you think. What I reccomend is that when you begin this routine, the first time you do each excersize, work your way up to your max at 5 much like it were a friday workout. That way, you can tire out the muscle and find your true max of 5 on the 5th set. If you are a better guesser than I am, then forget about this thread. This is the only thing I have found tricky but I have been recording the amount of weight I've been using and the workouts are great and getting better everytime.

My legs and ass are taking a beating. I love it tho, there are actually veins popping out of my legs now and its only been a week. I never had veins in my legs but I'm assuming that after a couple more weeks of this, the changes will be incredible. Thanks to you guys for teaching me this.

[Freddy]

Do the 5x5 as it is written. Stop trying to change it.

This is what you do to figure out your 5x5 numbers:

Take your 5 rep max. Your 5x5 max is probably 20-30 pounds less than your 5 rep max, depending on the individual athlete and ability level.

Make the approximations from there.

[Bob Smith]

Freddy, when doing the 5x5, is it ok if I do 2x12 instead? Its almost the same number of reps so it should be ok, right?

[GeaR_and_SauCe]

Originally Posted by Bob Smith

Freddy, when doing the 5x5, is it ok if I do 2x12 instead? Its almost the same number of reps so it should be ok, right?

Ok stop being little bitches and understand how I was trying to help people with something I had difficulty with. It wasn't saying "move the wieght up everytime" it was ment to be recommended only for the first time. I'm not trying to change anything asshole. Re-read the thread, I didn't say change the 5x5 and I only recommended it to help find the right wieght for you. I knew when I was typing this that I would get responses like this that why I said "If you are a better guesser than me, skip this thread." I can't believe you guys are such assholes, stop being babies. This thread was only ment to help people and I see nothing wrong with what I reccomended. To everyone else, I hope it helped.


I didn't change shit and I didn't ask what was ok. I just said what worked for me. So suck my cock.

[Bob Smith]

Somebody's panties are in a knot today.

[GeaR_and_SauCe]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Do the 5x5 as it is written. Stop trying to change it.

I didn't change anything, jerkoff

Originally Posted by Freddy

This is what you do to figure out your 5x5 numbers:

Take your 5 rep max. Your 5x5 max is probably 20-30 pounds less than your 5 rep max, depending on the individual athlete and ability level.

Make the approximations from there.

Great, this is how you figured out the right weight for you. Good for you. All I did was reccomended how I found the right wieght for me, which was the only difficulty I had with the rotuine. Sorry if I was trying to help people who want to try it. You fucking guys make me so angry.......>(

[GeaR_and_SauCe]

Originally Posted by Bob Smith

Somebody's panties are in a knot today.

Mabye if you guys weren't so predictable in your responses I wouldn't be as dissappointed by them. There wasn't even a need to respond to this at all, unless mabye you had another suggestion.

[Bob Smith]

Yes, exactly what Freddy suggested, which IIRC, is exactly what the article suggested....start at about 80% of your 5RM and work up to a full 5x5 over the course of 2-4 weeks.

[monsoon]

Lol

[GeaR_and_SauCe]

Listen all I wanted to say is that I started the routine and I was used to more reps. It was difficult for me to judge my max at 5x5 hence it was difficult to even judge what 80% of it would be. I still don't understand your point. All I reccomended was that, instead of playing a guessing game like you guys are reccomending, was to use the first workout to find your right range. So once again, you guys are just trying to break balls but getting nothing but the cock.

[Bob Smith]

Whatever, do want you want, its been what youve been doing all along anyway.

[kibrood]

Originally Posted by GeaR_and_SauCe

Listen all I wanted to say is that I started the routine and I was used to more reps. It was difficult for me to judge my max at 5x5 hence it was difficult to even judge what 80% of it would be. I still don't understand your point. All I reccomended was that, instead of playing a guessing game like you guys are reccomending, was to use the first workout to find your right range. So once again, you guys are just trying to break balls but getting nothing but the cock.

Actually, the folks here are not reccomending guessing as you have stated. The program requires that you know your 5RM (both Freddy and Bob have stated this as well as given a suggested percentage of your 5rm from which to start). There is a procedure for determining this number. Your method will not give an accurate 5RM and you will be guessing your weights as you go along.

Do a search on determining your rep maxes, go through the procedure to determine the correct number, and then perform the routine as written.

[Grizzly]

Hey, bro, I'm not trying to jump on your ass. However, what's hard about finding a 5RM? It's just like finding a 1RM except you do four more reps.

1) Pick a weight
2) Lift it until you hit 5 repetitions
a) if you succeed in reaching 5 reps, then up the weight and go back to step 1
b) if you don't succeed in the 5 reps then lessen the weight and try again.

Summation: Whatever is the heaviest load you can lift for 5 reps is your 5 rep max.

edit- you do this on a day separate from an actual workout. Technically, it should be done before starting the program. After having figured out your 5RM by using the above method, you use 80% of that number for your 5X5 sets. No guessing involved.

[kenneth]

maybe freddy's comments were just trying to prevent you from causing confusion for the rest of us. I just mean that every since you started this 5x5 hype (i've seen your threads and posts), you've been making modifications and adjustments all the way thru when all you need to do is follow the program to a 'T'. Overthinking can be your worst enemy, then everyone who reads your posts are too going to start overthinking.

[knockdown]

Dude just listen to what these guys have to say. It was pretty easy for me to find my 5x5 max, 93% off my max 5 rep.