I can't lift any more weight...

[nachumama]

Guys, i think i'm in trouble. I've been on the 5x5 for 4 weeks and i'm having trouble adding more weight to the bench press and overhead deadlifts... I'm lifting 120lbs on the bench press and i can't seem to do 5x5 without taking a break in the last 2 sets. So even though i finish the 5x5 bench press, i've been doing it by doing as many bench presses as i can until failure then take a breather and finish the rest of the bench presses for that set. i.e. i do 3 bench presses, take a break and then do 2 more bench presses. Is this ok to do? I honestly don't have a lot of strengh to do the 5x5 straight thru and on top of that i have to add more weight every work out. I think is too much for me. I'm also struggling with the other workouts but so far i can do them.

[Bluegreyhound]

i'm having trouble adding more weight to the bench press and overhead deadlifts...

What are overhead deadlifts??

[nachumama]

sorry i meant overhead press

[Mehdi]

You're doing it wrong. You couldn't get the 5 reps in set 4/5, then you had to stop. Do as many as you can, then stop and try again next set. Try with the same weight for up to 3 session, if you still don't have it, deload and try again.

Think positive, "i can't" brings you nowhere, everyone stalls sooner or later, you & me included. Read the logs of other people, find peopel with similar stats as you, if they can do it, you can do it.

[nachumama]

so what you are saying is if in set #4 i can't complete 5 bench presses, then i need to stop take a break and try to do 5 bench presses in set #5? And if i can't complete in 3 times that i go to the gym then deflate the weight and start again?

Believe me, i'm going to keep trying to do the 5x5 the right way until i can't do it any more.

[Mehdi]

so what you are saying is if in set #4 i can't complete 5 bench presses, then i need to stop take a break and try to do 5 bench presses in set #5? And if i can't complete in 3 times that i go to the gym then deflate the weight and start again?

Believe me, i'm going to keep trying to do the 5x5 the right way until i can't do it any more.

work weight: 60kg
set 1: 5x60kg
set 2: 5x60kg
set 3: 5x60kg
set 4: 4x60kg (couldn't get 5th rep up)
set 5: 3x60kg (couldn't get 4th rep up)

next time you do that exercise, retry, work weight 60kg
set 1: 5x60kg
set 2: 5x60kg
set 3: 5x60kg
set 4: 5x60kg (you took more rest between reps and got it)
set 5: 4x60kg (couldn't get 5th rep up, but you have more total reps than last time)

next time you do that exercise, retry, now for the 3rd time, work weight still 60kg
set 1: 5x60kg
set 2: 5x60kg
set 3: 5x60kg
set 4: 5x60kg
set 5: 5x60kg got it

If you didn't got it, you would have lowered the weight by 10%, and restart from there. So lower the weight to 52,5kg or 55kg (I'd say be conservative and go for 52,5kg), and do 5x5, adding 2.5kg each workout again frm there, takes 2 weeks to get back to same weight. Focus on technique & speed with lighter weights.