Starting Strength Program - Is it enough?

[GarlR]

I'm still on the starting strength. I'm like 3 weeks in. However, it seems like it isn't enough. It seems like I could be doing more. I don't want to stop it, because I kind of just started it...but it seems I could be hitting it harder than I am now. Is that normal? I'm staying away from the power clean (from now, since I don't want to learn how to do it wrong...it says to stay away from it if you can't get someone to teach you how to do it correctly)

It says not to add anything to it, but damn. I 100% believe I could be doing more to gain more muscle faster.

Currently only the squat and deadlift are getting hard to perform. Press and Bench aren't to where it is very difficult yet. (Press is starting to get there. I failed at 105 lb Bench press before starting SS)

Started: -----> Now
Squat 70 lbs ------> 135
Press 50 lbs ------> 75
Deadlift 85 lbs ------> 160
Bench 65 lbs ------> 90

[bixbysnyder]

It's good to get a running start. Things are going to get heavy fast. Stick to it.

[Braveheart999]

Of course it's enough, just keep at it until it gets tough. Then come back and tell us how you wish you had more rest days. You can add in some chins and dips if you so please, see the FAQ http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...=998224&page=1.

[GarlR]

The thing is. I NEVER get sore. NEVER. By the way, I am only going up 5 lbs on each lift.

[Braveheart999]

The thing is. I NEVER get sore. NEVER. By the way, I am only going up 5 lbs on each lift.

What of it? Sore isn't an indicator of progression, weight on the bar and reps is.

[Jasonk282]

The thing is. I NEVER get sore. NEVER. By the way, I am only going up 5 lbs on each lift.

3 weeks in and your squat is up 65 pounds...so you are doing more than 5lb jumps on that?

I kept my squat going from 145lbs to 250lbs with just 5lb jumps and just now, 10 weeks in had to deload it back to 225. Deads are easy at 315lbs.

Being sore is not a sign of a good workout...progression is.

[Grove1996]

The past three months I've been doing an SS program. Lots of people recommended for me to stay on for a full six months before changing my routine around. Although about 3 months in my results started to plateu and it wasn't worth it anymore. Personally I would book a session with your trainer and raise your concerns and see what he says. I know my personal trainer told me to go on the SS program until my results plateu, so thats what I did. Im on a new program now, doing more weight then before (because of the SS) and its feeling great .

[GarlR]

3 weeks in and your squat is up 65 pounds...so you are doing more than 5lb jumps on that?

I kept my squat going from 145lbs to 250lbs with just 5lb jumps and just now, 10 weeks in had to deload it back to 225. Deads are easy at 315lbs.

Being sore is not a sign of a good workout...progression is.

I started 10 lb jumps, until it started to get difficult, then went to 5 lbs.

[Jasonk282]

The past three months I've been doing an SS program. Lots of people recommended for me to stay on for a full six months before changing my routine around. Although about 3 months in my results started to plateu and it wasn't worth it anymore. Personally I would book a session with your trainer and raise your concerns and see what he says. I know my personal trainer told me to go on the SS program until my results plateu, so thats what I did. Im on a new program now, doing more weight then before (because of the SS) and its feeling great .

When you plateau on SS you deload and work back up again...you don't really end the program until you run about 3 deloads, then even after that you can do texas method to keep the linear progress going.

[bixbysnyder]

Not to be an ass, but at 185lb you should pretty much increase your lifts by 50% across the board before you even think about complaining or saying it's not enough. What's wrong with adding 5lb to every lift every time out? Jeez, take it while you can man.

[GarlR]

Not to be an ass, but at 185lb you should pretty much increase your lifts by 50% across the board before you even think about complaining or saying it's not enough. What's wrong with adding 5lb to every lift every time out? Jeez, take it while you can man.

Your not being an ass. There is a reason I asked this question, and that is the reason you answered.

[HunterMC6]

Stick with it the way it's written you have a long way to go. There are people who have gone 6+ months on this program that I have read about on here and were just starting to have to think about going to a more intermediate program. I'll leave you with this from Lyle McDonald:

Fine, you get real sore, and you’re real tired coming out of the gym. But who cares if you aren’t making progress? Being sore and exhausted wasn’t the goal of this the last time I looked.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/mus...-mistakes.html

[Lackeos]

Stop stressing, don't change the program, and wait a few weeks for when the lifts start getting very heavy.

I mean, of course it's easy right now. Your starting deadlift weight was 85 pounds at a bodyweight of 185. When I started SS, I weighed 123 and my starting deadlift was 155. Your starting bench was 65, mine was 105. Also, my starting squat was 115 and my starting press was 60. So yeah, it's gonna be easy if you're lifting such light weight. But adding 5-10 pounds to every lift 3 times a week, the problem should correct itself within 2-3 weeks, and then every workout will be quite challenging.