My Routine - Suggestions welcome/wanted!

[Ally3009]

As said I'm not an expert. The routine was done basically to hit what I thought were the major muscle groups, obviously wrong. I've printed of the Bill Starr intermediate 5x5 guide and the training primer so will see it that appeals to me

[xRichx]

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I've printed of the Bill Starr intermediate 5x5 guide and the training primer so will see it that appeals to me

Should do mate!
One of the best routines I've done so far! strength gains are damn good, and a bit of size aint bad either! Keep at it for a decent amount of time tho and reap the benefits!

[Dadonda]

Nice one Ally. It is difficult to be attracted to 5x5 programs, they are not very sexy routines, just hard work. I wish I had found this sort of training sooner in my lifting career, when I eventually gave up the notion that you have to do loads of different exercises for each body part I progressed quickly.

[Ally3009]

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I eventually gave up the notion that you have to do loads of different exercises for each body part I progressed quickly.

haha well seems that pretty much described my mindset until today.

Thanks for the info all, any other comments on the diet/supps?

[madmutant]

I'd add more fat to the diet and get maybe get some carbs in the shake before the workout and also after -- it's difficult to talk about how many carbs you should have and how mych to eat because you've only roughly stated what you have, there's no exact amounts laid down.. personally I feel better when I consume some carbs about an hour before training, so you could add some carbs to your pre workout shake and IMO you'll need some in there post workout too, but if you did this, you may need to cut back on carbs in other meals, but again, it all depends on how many carbs you're already having..

You mention flax, but I'd opt for the oil and not the powder and I agee with the other poster who metioned getting some protein in your breakfast.

[Luffers]

Probably best to wait till you finish your rehab tho mate as the 5x5 is focused around the squat.

[Ally3009]

Yeah i've been reading the 5x5 guide tonight and the squat is something of concern, i've officially finished the recovery stage, no more physio or consultancy visit but i'm still in that stage were i'm a bit wary. This combined with being 6'6 means the journey down to past parrallel is a long one, but as the guide states if you don't go past parrallel it places extra pressure on the knees.

I've been doing squats with a smith machine (not ideal from reading the guide) and have a training day tomorrow so will test some non-assisted squats.

Regarding the diet, this is something i'm trying to bring under a more strict routine so that I know exactly what I'm taking in. For breakfast thinking of adding some eggs perhaps or just going with a shake.

[cleaver]

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I would add more protein at breakfast - possibly a bagel with a bananna and peanut butter, and a protein shake.

Bagels are probably the worst souce of carbs in existence. Might as well have a couple of tablespoons of sugar instead.

[cleaver]

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For breakfast thinking of adding some eggs perhaps or just going with a shake.

Eggs are the best mate!

[Dadonda]

Ally, it is more difficult to squat if you are tall especially if you have long thighs. I am over 6 foot with relatively long thighs and I once gave up squating for a nearly a year because I was annoyed at the slow (or even negative) progress. I did get very strong on the leg press!! but it turns out this was a pyrrhic victory - I thought it was impressive to press a stack full of 20Kg plates but many trainers at my gym could do the same and more. Eventually I decided I had to give squating another, go so I went back to basics with a low weight and never looked back. I now squat 170Kg for reps - nothing impressive I know - the big problem for me is the bar slipping off my back.