Ran into a guy new to SL 5x5 at the gym today

[tristan]

I haven't posted on this board for several months. I got lazy around September, had a falling out of sorts with my workout partner, and quit going to the gym for a few months. I decided to get back at it after my last semester ended, around the beginning of December. I'm happy to say that I've been pretty good about going since then. I've missed a day here and there, but I try not too worry about it too much. I'm stronger than I've ever been right now. I hit 1x my body weight on squats a couple weeks ago and am pretty confident I can hit 1.5x body weight by summer.

Anyway, I was doing squats today and a guy in the rack next to me came over to ask how much the bar weighed and if they all weighed the same. I answered his questions and he told me I was lifting a lot of weight (first time anyone ever said that to me!). He asked how many reps and sets I was doing. I told him 5x5. He said he was doing the same and asked what program I was doing and I told him. He said he just started it and asked what I thought. I told him that I was exactly where he was at the beginning of last summer. I said that I don't feel like I look much different, but I am a hell of a lot stronger than I was back then. I told him that if he wants to get stronger, to keep at it and it will work for sure.

Anyway I thought some people might be interested in a random encounter with another 5x5'er. That goes to show how popular Mehdi's program has become.

[holvoetn]

Nice story

I had a talk with one of the trainers at the gym yesterday evening (a young guy, maybe mid twenties, big arms and chest).
I just finished a set of squats with 107.5kg and was really catching my breath (doing rehab after a quad injury, working my way back up is really really hard).
He was doing some smith-bench right next to me (I couldn't help noticing he was 'merely' pressing 50kg incl bar ).

He commented I was using quite a lot of weight and that he also noticed I am squatting quite frequently and with good form (I try to go at least twice a week).
I replied that I always use free weights and asked why he uses the smith-machine, I mean, he should be giving the good example. He said it was because of an event he had with really heavy squatting where he lost form and it cost him 6 months of rehab for his back. Since then he only uses the smith machine. He was aware using free weights was superior but he did not want to take the risk of getting injured again.

At least he was honest about it

[Jcraig]

Ya like the Smith machine is so much less likely to injure you when doing squats.

[tristan]

Yeah. I see a lot of big guys doing squats in the Smith, too. I don't see too many of the personal trainers advocating it though, thankfully. Some guys seem to think that the Smith machine is less likely to screw up your back. I don't know. I think proper technique is less likely to screw up your back.

I also see a lot of guys that load 300-500 lbs on the bar and then do quarter-squats. I'm always impressed when I see a guy doing real ass-to-grass squats.

[baatzt]

I am still looking forward to that day. Everytime I see someone squat or deadlift I count their reps, sets etc., but they always stray.

[simonaotearoa]

Good stuff

I like the fact that your shape hasn't changed but you are much stronger.

3 of us are working out together at the moment doing stronglifts. Me and another have just started.

Simonaotearoa