Is 5x5 good for a cutting cycle or just bulking?
Im thinking of using a 5x5 type routine 3 days a week while doing HIIT on my off days.
Also would you advise doing squats and deadlifts on the same day or seperate days? I want to train chest and back on the same day and feel I won’t be able to do all of the excercises I want to without being too drained when it comes to doing the deadlifts, so I’d rather do the deadlifts with squats on arms day?
Jay that is how I doit just started 5x5 last week and I do deads on leg days after Box squats. But I do not do arms with legs they are on a sep. day
Deadlifts and Squats on Arms day!!?
I would have a Deadlift day and a Squat day, forget about an arms day when using 5x5.
The great Reg Park was a big believer in the 5x5 set rep system. Of course, keep in mind that Park could have probably grown on just about anything.
If you are trying to gain some size and strength and you are not quite as blessed as park I would use a descending pyramid: 10-8-6. Or, 10-8-8-6-6. Depending on how many sets would be best for you.
Don’t forget to use a slow deliberate eccentric movement. I feel more strength can be gained this way.
As to your Deadlift, Squat question. Again everyone is different. However, I would never squat and deadlift on the same day, if done properly it might be to much for the central nervous system, not to mention the lower back and legs!
I am interested to see what others advise. There are so many ways to train, I think that’s one of the things that keeps me interested.
Good luck on your program!
If you can I would split up squats and deadlifts.
If you’re going to use 5x5 for a cutting cycle, I’d recommend splitting up squats and deads. Make a day for hip dominant legs & a day for quad dominant legs. I would also separate chest and back to separate days.
I seem to recall this guy named Joel Marion wrote a whole article on this very topic. You might even find it if you used the search engine or the previous issues button located here:
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i normally am skeptical of “cute” numbers in set and rep schemes…(5x5, 10x10, ect) but i tried a 5x5 routine Magnus outlined for me a few months ago and it worked preety good for a SHORT while. two weeks of great workouts then i stagnated. i think that i have been training for so long at a relativley high level that my nerouse system simply adapts to ANY routine after 1-3 exposures.
Heavythrower-
What I’ve found works best for me is to do something like 5x5 with forced increases each workout. I’ll estimate my 5RM, back off about 30 pounds from it, then increase my training weight 5 pounds with each successive workout. When I fail, it’s time for a new rep scheme. YMMV, but it’s worked well for me.
I used 5X5 this year while cutting and managed to gain strength the entire time I was losing fat.
Here’s Joel’s article. Strength Training, Bodybuilding & Online Supplement Store - T NATION>/a>
I’ve got to lose about 15lbs for wrestling starting in a few weeks, and I’m doing RR&D 2.0 (not the original). Find it HERE: Strength Training, Bodybuilding & Online Supplement Store - T NATION