Packing mass for heavyweights

Incorporate a weight training program like 5x5 training because it strengthens the main parts of your body like the back and legs. Start drinking plenty of milk and tons of protein like chicken, cottage cheese, nuts, etc. You'll gain weight in no time.

 

5x5 is bs unless the lifter is an absolute beginner who has never really touched weights before or very minimally. Even then, it doesn't work very long. A month or two at the max before plateauing occurs.

 

Lol. You being serious? I know people that have used that program for years and have progressed massively.

I used the program myself for 6 months a few years ago. I had great results.

Its an issue with how you train not the program.

 

Did you add 5 lbs every workout?

 

Nope.

 

Then you weren't following 5x5.

 

I've never seen it said anywhere that in order for you to be doing a 5x5 workout you must add 5lbs every time you train. Adding weight every session is the goal but is not 100% required. What if you're doing a reset, in that case you're taking weight off. Is this still 5x5?

Maybe I'm wrong. Post a link where this requirement is stated.

 

The guy is talking about StrongLifts 5x5.

 

I know.

Strong Lifts 5x5 is just a rip-off of Starting Strength which used 3x5 protocol, it's nothing new. Look up "reset" in Starting Strength, that'll get you through a plateau. You'll hit a wall eventually and have to try something new but you're not going to hit that in 2 months unless you're already very strong.

 

I know.

I hit several plateau's, deloaded 10% and trained back up. I still hit plateau's. Once you hit a certain amount of plateau's at around the same weight, then it is time to change the program.

Adding weight every workout isn't for everyone. It's supposed to piggyback off of the newbie gains. Like I said, if you aren't adding weight every workout then you aren't following the program.

 

I always thought of 5X5 as being more about adding strength than mass, which is more easily achieved through greater volume (i.e. 4X10)

 

You will build muscle regardless of rep range. Ever seen an olympic lifter? They lift singles and doubles most of the time and they have plenty of muscle mass.

The reason power lifters lift in the lower rep range is because it carries over more to the one rep max. The higher rep range is for getting the pump. Both build strength, one increases your 1 rep max more.

Then you say "If both build muscle then why shouldn't I lift in the lower rep range? I want to be strong!"

There are many reasons behind this. One it is easier to get injured in the lower rep range and two it is harder on your body to be constantly going that heavy.

 

Also, you won't build muscle unless you are increasing strength. The two are directly proportional.