5x5 and percentage

[warchild]

when doing the 5x5 should i start with 85% of my max or what, also do i go heavy on all 5 sets

[HitManSE]

85% can be done, but its pretty though. Drop it down to about 81-82% and it should fit just right.

[jehst]

85% 5x5 would be hard to pull off..I won't say its impossible. Depends on rest between sets I suppose.

[HitManSE]

Originally posted by jehst
85% 5x5 would be hard to pull off..I won't say its impossible. Depends on rest between sets I suppose.

If you cant get atleast 15 reps total out of the 5 sets, then the weight is too damn heavy. When I said 85% can be done, what I meant is you could hit or barley pass the 15 rep minimum, but a full 25reps...no way.
Personally with 81% I find it rather difficult to complete all 5 sets of 5 reps. I actually hit failure on the very last rep of the last set, the last 1/4 towards lockout just wouldnt budge.

[short_dude]

Originally posted by HitManSE
If you cant get atleast 15 reps total out of the 5 sets, then the weight is too damn heavy. When I said 85% can be done, what I meant is you could hit or barley pass the 15 rep minimum, but a full 25reps...no way.
Personally with 81% I find it rather difficult to complete all 5 sets of 5 reps. I actually hit failure on the very last rep of the last set, the last 1/4 towards lockout just wouldnt budge.

I'd have to disagree here. In December my max was 315-320 and I completed 5X275 which is like 86% of max without missing any reps. I didn't max out at 325 until the end of the month and then I could do 280 for 5, 5, 4 or 5, 4, 4.

But then that's just me. I actually like the 5X3 workout better than 5X5 for adding to 1RM training.

[HitManSE]

Originally posted by short_dude
I'd have to disagree here. In December my max was 315-320 and I completed 5X275 which is like 86% of max without missing any reps. I didn't max out at 325 until the end of the month and then I could do 280 for 5, 5, 4 or 5, 4, 4.

But then that's just me. I actually like the 5X3 workout better than 5X5 for adding to 1RM training.

Huh sorry dude, but you kinda lost me here.

Sounds like your talking about 3sets of 5reps @86% which would work just fine, but im refering to the 5set of 5.

Adjusting it to your level of a 325-1rm.
Thats like you having to do 5sets of 5 reps at 280lbs (which is about what you 5rep max is) I think you'd find it rather difficult to complete 5 sets of 5reps using 280lbs. Im not doubting that you can do it for 5-4-4 but for 5-5-5-5-5...no, if you can your puttin up more then 325

[twista]

try out 82.5% of your 1RM. it's tough, but i have never gotten less than the 5X5 with it.

[SloopJB]

I'm not sure exactly what my 1RM is for most exercises but if working 5x5 I do go pretty close to it, probably around the 85% mark, for all 5 good reps. I seem to be able to work comfortably closer to my 1RM for sets than most people are.

I would therefore say it's possible and depends on your personal development and training. It's difficult but possible.

[HitManSE]

Good point, every1 is diff & I wouldnt be surprised is some people have better neural setups going, all depends on how long you've been training. It would still ba pretty damn hard to pull of your 5 rep max 5 times, even with 3min rest periods. Personally, I cant. 81-82% however in fine with

[SloopJB]

I kindof think of it in a reverse psychology type of way - I can work well up to a certain level and bang out reps but then can't add on much weight past that level. I think it's a case that my 1RM's could be improved and are slightly dissapointing compared to my working weight rather than that I can superhumanly work at my 1RM level. Whatever the reasoning the net result is that I can work closer to my 1rm than most people can.

[NobleLifter]

I use a 5 x 5 method that was provided to me by my football coach. Pick a weight you can struggle to do 5 reps with. Do 4 x 5 at that weight. On your 5th set, you max out. If you can do 5 or more reps, you go up 10%, if you can't or your reps go something like this:5,5,4,3,3 then you stay at that weight. This system has seriously increased my lifts.

[BoxSquat]

I start with a weight i can get 5x5 with reasonably comfortably

Then i up the weight by about 5lbs every week.

When i get to the point where i can't get 5 sets of 5 i drop down to 3 sets of 5, and carry on upping the weights.

When i can't get 3 sets of 5 i drop to 5 sets of 3, and carry on....

When i can't get 5 sets of 3 i do a max week and then start again, doing 5x5 with the last weight i managed to do 5x5 with in the previous cycle.