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Stronglifts 5x5 Anonymous
I was on here last night and every thread had a
post mentioning how Stronglifts and Rippetoe are amazing for getting fit.

Normally my routine is just some cardio for half an hour.

Do I need a spotter for the exercises in stronglifts 5x5?

I'm not looking to get really buff. Just increase my overall health/strength. Does stronglifts 5x5 increase muscle mass too?
>> Anonymous
not until you start using heavy ass weights
>> Anonymous
>>281162
so I would need a spotter once I start using heavy weights?
>> Anonymous
you don't need a spotter assuming your gym has a power cage and a decent setup for benching
>> Anonymous
>>281173
right, but if you guys have a smith press (looks like a squat rack only has hooks and bars that you adjust so you don't drop the weight) you can lift by yourself.
>> Anonymous
>>281184
The smith is possibly the most redundant thing in the gym, it's basically barbell exercises with training wheels, completely inferior in every aspect to free weight barbell training
>> Anonymous
>>281191
Not even remotely correct. Especially essential when you want to bench without a spotter.
>> Anonymous
>>281202

Benching without a spot basically requires you knowing your limits, sure if you are new to the game a spot would be a wise thing to have, but still. Benching in a power rack is much better than the smith
>> SQUATS
Never use a smith machine when doing squats
>> Anonymous
>>281202
you retard. just move a bench into the power cage if you need. some gyms have bench stations with safeties built in.

using the smith for anything is fucking shit compared to a bar. you're better off using those big gay yellow hammer strength machines than the smith machine.
>> Anonymous
that is completly fucking retarded
>> Anonymous
>>281271

No. No. No.

1.5/10
>> Anonymous
a spotter is nice to have on the bench
nothing beats a good handoff
>> Anonymous
Smith Machine = guillotine
>> YoungBuck
>>281271

whoever you heard that from is retarted. your body has something called muscle memory so lets say if i do 100 normal pushups then my body's used to it and can pull it off easily but if i try 100 diamond pushups my muslces react differently.

so if you workout and become big like goku then stop working out and become small like gohan it would only take half the time it did the first time to make it back to big like goku
>> Anonymous
>>281162
>>281173
the distinction between heavy and heavy ass weights is one of them can kills you.

>>281271
with increased muscle mass, requires an increased food consumption. but it's really easy to get fat, if you stop burning up all that food ( stop exercising ) , but still keep eating a fuckton food, like Arnold Schwarzenegger is doing now, then yes you'll get fat.

>>281278
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m6vcyQqx_Q
>> Anonymous
>>281338

I lol'd. Never use a Smith Machine.

If you're concerned with getting crushed by a heavy weight on the bench press, try it with dumbbells. Mark Rippetoe approves:

http://www.strengthmill.net/forum/archive/index.php?t-439.html
>> Anonymous
why do people have such a beef with smith press? any good reasons or just because they heard from someone who knows?
>> Anonymous
Researchers from Drake University have found that people can actually bench an average of 16% more using free weights than the Smith.
>> Anonymous
>>281443
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m6vcyQqx_Q
>> Anonymous
>>281571
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVaFwHNoxdE&feature=related
>> Anonymous
>>281594
that guy was going for a record. Like 500kg or something. No one would actually try that.

OP here. Thanks for the replies.
>> Anonymous
>>281594
The point he is trying to make is that you can get just as fucked up on a free bench as on a smith. Its preference, jesus.
>> Anonymous
>>281613
but smith loads weight in a straight line which is impractical and unrealistic