opinion on this article

[Paycheck]

Hey I wanted to see what you guys thought about this article.
http://www.mensjournal.com/healthFit...out_power.html
And this diet
http://www.mensjournal.com/healthFit...erlifting.html.

I'll be honest, I always thought powerlifters were fat, but this changed my mind, and is getting me intrigued. I'm not looking to get huge but a 400 pound bench press is attractive. Do you feel this would be good for someone new to powerlifting. Like do you feel 5x5 maybe too much.

[DaRkAnGel]

5 x 5 is as basic a powerlifting cycle as it gets, although the training methods i saw up top are westside, which i wouldn't encourage for your first powerlifting cycle. If you thought powerlifter guys were all fat you're wrong, they're also ****ing strong.

[Firehawk]

5 x 5 is too much for a beginner if you ask me. You'll see progress at first, just like any routine for the most part, but then you'll taper off quickly. Most people can't handle volume. Some can, but most can't. How about starting off with less rather than more? Say a 2x5 routine and go from there?

[DaRkAnGel]

If he's a beginner then sure, but from what i understood since he was criticizing powerlifters he had already dabbled in bodybuilding.

[Firehawk]

Originally Posted by DaRkAnGel

If he's a beginner then sure, but from what i understood since he was criticizing powerlifters he had already dabbled in bodybuilding.

Yah, but even most bodybuilders get stuck and quit because they wonder why they aren't building muscle, and when they try to fix the problem, they add rather than subtract, you know what i mean?

[Firehawk]

Originally Posted by DaRkAnGel

If he's a beginner then sure, but from what i understood since he was criticizing powerlifters he had already dabbled in bodybuilding.

Hey dude I'm about to change up my bench routine to using bands for a cycle. You ever use bands consistently before? This should be interesting. I ordered 3 widths of bands from Mcmaster.com, which is far far cheaper than getting actual weightlifting bands. I paid 30 bucks for 3 different packs of bands from there, and actual weightlifting bands would have been over 120 dollars for comparable ones.

[abarlament]

I would assume you get what you pay for, hawk.

[Firehawk]

Originally Posted by abarlament

I would assume you get what you pay for, hawk.

Then you assume wrong. They are almost identical lol.

It's just like buyin ga regular sweatshirt, or buying a sweatshirt with the disney logo on it. You gonna pay 40 bucks more for the disney one, but they are the same same.

[gcs118]

So the other bands come with a Disney logo?

[Paycheck]

Thanks for the reply guys. Ive been lifting, but following a bodybuilding routine, for no real reason. I didnt mean to offend anyone by saying I thought powerlfiters were fat, I know there hell of strong, thats why there powerlifters. I've just never seen a powerlifter that was lean or weighed under 200. But I am getting interested in using a power lifting routine. But don't know what to really do. Would this be good?
monday squat 3x5 with 2 warmups, stiff leg deadlift 2x8, calf raises 2x8
wednesday bench, closegrip bench, military press (same rep scheme as above)
friday deadlift, bent over row, barbell curl(same rep scheme as above)
saturday bodyweight circuit

Or could I just do squat, bench, deadlift monday and friday 3x5? My only fear here is that I may end up with an unbalanced body. I know that may sound stupid, but Ive been brainwashed by bodybuilding articles.But I guess the bodyweight routine may help compensate for that. And what did you guys think about that article?

[Firehawk]

Here's how you need to think when you convert to powerlifting.

You're goal now is focused around 3 lifts, squat, deadlift, and bench. You train those as hard as you can, and everything else around those 3 lifts is geared toward training your weakness on those 3 lifts.

So, let's say you're deadlifting, and you can get the weight half way but can't lock it out. You're gonna want to train that weakness, and the assistance lifts around your deadlift should be geared toward that weakness...

It's an art, not a science.

[gcs118]

The workouts you have listed look pretty good, except on Wednesday...I'd probably change CGBP with weighted dips or decline press, and replace the MP with side laterals or upright rows. Those front delts get hit hard enough with everything else, you shouldn't need the MP to finish them off.

[Paycheck]

Thanks for the info. I chose cgbp because I work out at home with a bench that inclines, doesnt decline, and dont have acces to a dipping station. I don't plan to compete, just want to get stronger, but without putting on too much bulk. But that guy in that pic seems to be what basically the build I'm after. It aint much but he aint no toothpick either. Even though I added those other lifts such as cgbp, rows, curls etc are they necessary? I mean they would help in getting the other lifts up and making me stronger right?

[Firehawk]

I think you should add more back work..

[Paycheck]

what do you guys think about the diet that is outlined in the article?