5x5....the 3 lifts as a circuit?

[pitbullrocco]

is this a good idea? bench, squat, rows in a circuit? bench, OH squat, deads in a circuit? bench, squat, high pulls..........and so on

or should you do each exercise separately?

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

5x5 as written, is done with each exercise completed before you move on to the next.

 

[pitbullrocco]

ok, thx satan's little helper

 

[petpre61]

is this a good idea? bench, squat, rows in a circuit? bench, OH squat, deads in a circuit? bench, squat, high pulls..........and so on

or should you do each exercise separately?

I would leave the heavy pulling or squating out of the circuit and do it with
everything else

 

[coolcolj]

I circuit all my lifts works good

this way you put the same effort in all the lifts. If you do them normally the last lift will suffer etc

 

[pitbullrocco]

thats what i was thinking cool.....i thought what if i circuit through all sets with a shorter rest between sets (60 sec as opposed to 3 min).....i would first of all be working harder.....second, i would still be hitting each exercise every 3 or so minutes....

however, on the flip side, would i be stimulating my CNS so much that i just wouldn't have the burst to hit the last 15 or so reps in proper form? and also, finishing each exercise before moving to the next obviously hits that group harder since the focus is on those particular muscles in that time frame.....

bump for different opinions......(madcow would be disappointed!! "DON'T SCREW WITH THE 5x5!! LOL....sorry MC)

 

[Protobuilder]

I think s8n may be wrong on this one. LoL I'm pretty sure I've read that Starr would have his guys cylce through the lifts due to time limits (working w/ a lot of athletes and not enough benches for everyone).

Also, I don't know which book it's in, but there is a method to the madness. it's also got a fancy name. LoL But hitting all sets of one exercise is supposedly "less better" than hitting one set on squat, then hitting one set on bench and so on. Something to do w/ fatigue being local and w/ the CNS actually improving on a task if you briefly switch to another task and then return to the first task.

That said, I dont like the 'circuit' part of your question. Cycling the lifts, yes. But doing them rapidly in a 'circuit', no. I think the goal is to get the reps w/ your target weight. Artificially rushing against the clock means you're lifting in a fatigued state, which is NOT the optimal way to boost strength. It's not that it can't be done, obviously, it's just that you're chasing diff't adaptations by doing it in a hurry-up fashion.

 

[enigma4dub]

i agree with proto 100%, what would be the point of doing them in a circuit? cardiovascular work? plus this would truly be impossible if running the program properly i.e. high volume and high percentages of your maxes. the whole point is to succesfully complete all the volume and progress weekly not burn yourself out running around like a chicken with your head cut off.

 

[coolcolj]

you need to take at least 3mins rest between each exercise otherwise the CNS in a global sense won't recover enough to work maximally

 

[pitbullrocco]

i agree with proto 100%, what would be the point of doing them in a circuit?

not really sure. maybe time restraints.....burn more calories....depends i guess....

but there is no denying the fact that doing it that way, you would definitely not 'fully' recover for the next lift, cascading all the way down to the very last reps.....i agree....not cool

3 minutes rest it is, cycling lifts this time........

loading phase, here i come

 

[cmdubs]

I did the bench/squat in a circuit style with a minute between each excercise. worked fine for me.

 

[pitbullrocco]

do you think you could've went with more weight if you did them separately?

or did you still hit your reps and weight increases every week according to your 5rm?

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

I think s8n may be wrong on this one. LoL I'm pretty sure I've read that Starr would have his guys cylce through the lifts due to time limits (working w/ a lot of athletes and not enough benches for everyone). QUOTE]

I had thought he was asking about the 5x5 program. But, I can agree, if you have time constraints. My only problem is, if I start fucking around with any other lifts, I generally kill my energy to squat/deadlift heavy. I'd rather do that first and lift as much as I can, then worry about other stuff. Just my personal opinion though, maybe others find they have more energy changing it up every set.

 

[cmdubs]

do you think you could've went with more weight if you did them separately?

or did you still hit your reps and weight increases every week according to your 5rm?

thats hard to say since I never did them seperate. even if I could have it doesn't really matter since it's all relative as long as I'm using the same routine from the start of the cycle to the end IMO.