just started 5x5 after a break a few q's

**kaos_nw** · 07-04-2009 06:34 PM

Hi well ive just started stronglifts 5x5 yesterday after a long period of not being able to go to the gym, i have lost most of my strength! and am lighter than i was before i started training before!

but i just want to know this, i no your ment to start with a empty bar to perfect form etc, but if 5 reps dont make me sweat can i just carry on and do 10-25 in one set so its still 25 reps just no rest inbetween sets? as i dont feel like i need it at the minite

and my other question is i think in order to put on mass/strength you have to overwork your muscles, so are these beggining weeks pointless in terms of gaining size/strength as my muscles are not having to work hard at all, should i compensate this by eating less calories at the beggining of this routine as surly excess kcals will go towards fat not muscle as the muscles arent being pushed hard enough?

**dope540** · 07-04-2009 06:37 PM

the beginning bit is to help develop your technique and feel of the movement.

you really don't want to think about your form when the weight gets heavy. its gotta be all natural

**kaos_nw** · 07-04-2009 06:38 PM

thanks mate, but does not having a rest between sets cause any problems?

**Was_once_fat_dave** · 07-04-2009 06:45 PM

you'll find once you get past about 12 reps regardless of how little the weight your form will start to go. Try just stopping and starting again between the sets. Squats for example, 5 reps, rack the bar, step away, step back under the bar, unrack the bar then 5 more reps. so all in all you stopping for a bout 5 seconds.

**kaos_nw** · 07-04-2009 06:47 PM

nice one mate, thats good its just that i read to take minimum 1 min between sets, i thought that would be pointless at the moment as i wouldnt need that long. cheers

**lloydy** · 08-04-2009 04:17 PM

As the weights are light in the 1st few weeks you may want to throw in a couple of assistance exercises to finish on. Choose 2 different ones every session, keeps things fresh and your body working, you can soon drop this as the sessions get harder.

**Scouse** · 08-04-2009 04:50 PM

It's only the first day you use bar only...

after 6 sessions (2 weeks) you should be on 25kg plus bar, at 5 kgs increases,
or 50kgs plus bar, using 10kgs increases..

For the sake of ensuring form is perfect and to help stay injury free I'd stick to taking the rest and make steady progress for the first week as it does get harder from there!! Your also getting the muscles and joints warmed up in preperation for the following weeks when the heavier goods start..