Hey all, new to the forums here. I’ve been attempting SSNLP since about May of 2020 and had a few spans of time where I couldn’t train. After some consideration and asking a question on the moderated forum, I started the Beginner Template today. Some thoughts:
- Pulling 8 reps for deadlift is tough when you usually pull just 1 set of 5 reps.
- I overestimated all of my RPEs. Whoops. Part of that might be due to my almost 2 year old waking up at least once every night the past 5 days.
- I really love the fact I can still progress with RPE and not absolute weight on the bar. If I stayed on SSNLP, my plan today was 235# squat 3x5, 105# press 5x3, and 285# deadlift 1x5, and I don’t think I would have come close to completing it with the way I felt.
Happy to be here and look forward to lifting for the long haul!
Same! Just started today and man, 8 reps of DL…
I have been a beginner for what feels like a while, best sustained run I’ve had was two years ago when I kept a 5x5 going for a few months, having tried lifting for the first time in a long time. Even then the DL did not get far past my squat numbers.
I had tried a 5-3-1 for a few weeks, and it got my butt back under a barbell, but already happier with this program.
But yeah. I realized during my DL warmups that my RPE was going to have to be adjusted pretty significantly…
Similar experiences.
I did SSNLP in 2019, not having weight trained much for years. Was good to get into the gym again, made some gains, but found it really hard to grind through the end of it.
Am now just wrapping up week 4 of the Beginner Template. Love the RPE approach (and not having to arbitrarily add weight every workout), though I’m steadily making gains. Four weeks in, I’m almost to where I was by the end of the SSNLP run.
I seem to be built for deadlifts, but the 10-rep sets of squats are my nemesis.
Grind!