My last question for now! Its important though...

[bgathercole]

I have always switched up my workouts every 1-3 months depending.

This is a pretty popular idea right now most notable is the P90x program which switches practically midworkout to keep your body guessing.

Ive been doing SL for coming up on 3 months and i can almost feel my mind and body getting ready to switch and telling me i am going to lose ground by maintaining the same exercises.

Someone please tell me this is garbage and i can keep doing the same program until i stall 3 times on squats like i think the Ebook says... Mental support is needed

Thanks,

[Mouse]

3 months straight?
No problem with taking a week off, or doing a 3x3 recovery week.

Pretty sure it's in the eBook but it's also in the FAQ:

I've been doing StrongLifts 5x5 for 4 months now and am Squatting almost 1.5x my body-weight for 5x5. The workouts are hard and I'd like to take 1 week off to get physical & mental rest. What's the best way to do this?
Take 1 week active rest: 2 light workouts without assistance exercises. Use the same weight as in your previous week. Your active rest week will look like this:

* Monday: Squat 3x3, Bench Press 3x3, Inverted Rows 3x8
* Thursday: Squat 3x3 (same weight Monday), Overhead press 3x3, Deadlift 1x3

The following week, go back to the gym and do the usual StrongLifts 5x5 program, using the same weight as in your rest week.

You can stay with SL as long as you want to.

[JonRyan]

Staying with strength training is what I want to do, but can you give me some examples on how this is possible? Most routines have to be switched up every 3-4 months so what can you do?

[B3n]

As far as i am aware and i think i read it in the ebook, constantly adding weight is what stimulates the body without a need for change in the program. Keeping the weight the same would cause your body to have adapted and so gains would stop coming. However adding more and more weight keeps forcing the body to adapt and so keeps the gains coming

[Glutenbob]

Staying with strength training is what I want to do, but can you give me some examples on how this is possible? Most routines have to be switched up every 3-4 months so what can you do?

most routines also dont have you adding weight EACH AND EVERy workout. You usually do the same weight for a certain number of reps before moving on, and these reps are usually high, so it can take weeks to go up a weight whereas in strength training, you go up every single workout until you stall. So your body is guessing every single workout. Also this body guessing thing is mostly for bodybuilders. People who train for strength only care about getting stronger, and as long as you increase the weight, it doesn't matter whether your body guesses or not.

Once you get high enough in the weights, then switch to stronglifts advanced (don't know if its out yet) or some other strength training program.

If you are trying to tone muscles and look like a bodybuilder, then don't do strength training.

[bkklift]

Someone please tell me this is garbage and i can keep doing the same program until i stall 3 times on squats like i think the Ebook says... Mental support is needed

It's garbage

Are you still making progress? If so, keep with the program. There is a constant progression built into stronglifts, as long as you keep adding weight to the bar, you will keep challenging your body.

[bgathercole]

Yea im going for strength not looks...

Thanks for tellin me its garbage! Just needed to hear it. And yes im still making progress! LOve SL

[atypical1]

Staying with strength training is what I want to do, but can you give me some examples on how this is possible? Most routines have to be switched up every 3-4 months so what can you do?

Who told you that most routines have to be switched up every 3 -4 months? That is simply not true and is only told to sell programs. The way that you mix it up is to continually add weight onto your workouts. Most programs don't deal with weights or how much to increase. They simply talk about rep ranges but that is meaningless. Adding resistance is what causes your muscles to grow. Well, that and food.

From experience I'll tell you that most programs fail and most people fail because they simply don't give a program long enough to work or the dedication that's required.

james