StrongLifts Member Charlie wondered when I was finally going to publish the new content that I've been working on. My answer remains "soon". I've been writing 8h/day, 5x/week during the past months. When I'm done, you'll get it.

Why don't I publish some of it? The new articles are interlinked as they'll serve as foundation content for the site. They also involve design changes (something new, you'll see). So everything will be released at once.

I don't like talking about what I'm going to do, I prefer to show it. So that's all I have to say for now. Meanwhile I'll continue with the monthly overviews. And from now on, I'll add comments instead of just listing my favorite threads.

Best of Forum May 2010. The StrongLifts Forum counts +250k posts and +10k members. Many StrongLifts Members say that the forum is key to keeping them motivated. Here are my favorite discussions this month:

• Why You Shouldn't Chase a Body Fat Percentage. Aiming for fat loss is better than aiming for weight loss. But often fat loss isn't the answer - a low body fat is useless if you don't have muscles to show for. And caloric deficits don't help strength. Great post by Atypical1, read my reply here.
• Too Motivated? What Do You Do on Your Off Days? More isn't better, and it's better to miss the gym than not feel like going. Do mobility work on your off days or... just have a life. Read also Aes' reply here.
• How Much Could You Squat When You Went From SL5x5 to 3x5? Switching to 3x5 is the best way to milk everything out of StrongLifts 5x5. Most StrongLifts Member switch when they're Squatting 1.2x their body-weight. But some StrongLifts Members like Rugger have gone as far as 1.8x BW. Read also my reply here.
• Mistakes I Made And How to Avoid Them. Another awesome post by StrongLifts Member Atypical1. Here are some of mistakes I made when I got into lifting weights in 1999: doing bodybuilding split routines, too many exercises, too many pyramid sets, training to failure week after week, forced reps, training through injuries, lifting with bad technique, ...
• What Am I Doing Wrong? 39y old StrongLifts Member Drecar couldn't figure how to get to a 200lbs Squat with SL5x5 in Oct 2009. Until he understood he had to stop worrying about gaining fat and start eating more to help recovery & strength. 7 months later, he finally hits a 295lbs Squat. And as Drecar points out: fat loss is easier than muscle gains.
• Do You Train With a Partner? After I got into lifting in 1999, I met my mentor who introduced me to Squats and the whole deal. Since then, I've trained alone and with trainingpartners. My conclusion: I train harder with a partner. The only problem is finding one who is reliable, consistent, focussed, and who doesn't complain.
• Madcow 5x5 vs Texas Method. Do StrongLifts 5x5 as long as possible, then switch to 3x5 when stalling to milk everything out of the program as explained here. Then switch to Madcow (Bill Starr 5x5 Intermediate). Many StrongLifts Members have gotten great results with this approach. Read the reviews by StrongLifts Members Vlad and Atypical1.
• How to Have Lean Muscular But Not Bulky Body? Like Brad Pitt. Stop fearing getting too bulky, it's not that as easy and you don't know what "too muscular" is until you are. And quit trying to look like those celebs. Build your own physique. Read my reply here & here.
• Distractions You CANT Control. My home gym is at my parent's place. Sometimes one of them asks something while I'm lifting. I never answer. I reply when my set is done. They know I'm not talkative during my training, but somehow I have to "remind" them my rules every now & then. No disrespect, I just don't allow distractions. My phone is obviously off too when I'm training. Point: you can control EVERY distraction.

Just to stress that last point. I've become so militant about my time during the past year, that I've completely removed the use of cell phone, email, facebook, Internet, and forums when I'm working. Why? So I don't get distracted. Because in life the way you get things done is using focussed, single tasking.

This means I'm basically unavailable to friends, family, gf until I'm done working. Is it weird? Of course. Do I get more done? You bet. What if there's an urgency? There's never an urgency for you, believe me, it's always an urgency for them.

You have to set rules for yourself, and set boundaries for others. That's how you get control over yourself and your life. If not, they'll set the rules for you and you'll live their life not yours. Don't care about what they'll think or say. If anything you'll gain their respect by having rules - unlike most guys.

Start a Training Log. You can keep a training log for free in the forum. Record the weights you lifted and how you felt. Then get advice from other StrongLifts Members and compete with them. The training logs are awesome motivators. I recommend you to start one too.

For starters, browse the training logs by body-weight and age to see what's possible. Then look at the StrongLifts Strongest Man Competition, several StrongLifts Members are Squatting 400lbs and Deadlifting 500lbs.

Support StrongLifts.com. Guys often ask me how they can return the favor for all the free content on this site that has often changed their life for the better.

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