Stronglifts 5x5 - Anyone tried it/know about it?

really depends on what you training for.... its usually a traditional method I know what people use within powerlifting as I use it myself.

For example, lets say for deadlifts your stuck at 190kg.... I would then go down to 170kg and try for 5x5, if I can do 5x5 I would do 3x5. The week after I wont go for a PB and try 170kg again for 5x5. If I get 5x5 then I would go to 180kg and try 3x3...

I'm planning to train to gain strength and muscle, not massively bulk though. Also to lose some fat, but I've read that building muscle will burn the fat anyway.

Also, any tips for getting good technique without a spotter?

Thanks for all the advice

Did you guys add 5lbs (2.5kg) each workout? Adding 1.25kg to each side of the bar seems very small amounts

If you want pure strength then SS is better. If you want aesthetics/hypertrophy then ICF 5x5 is better. SL 5x5 is an unnecessary middle ground between the two.

Milked out SS and had great strength gains but found the hypertrophy gains to be lackluster. Obvious why now.

I can't find any good links for the full ICF routine, do you have any?

If you want pure strength then SS is better. If you want aesthetics/hypertrophy then ICF 5x5 is better. SL 5x5 is an unnecessary middle ground between the two.

Milked out SS and had great strength gains but found the hypertrophy gains to be lackluster. Obvious why now.

it might not be the best but the smith machine is your friend lol

I use it for bench press just because im not gona do as heavy I can lift without a spotter, atleast the smith acts as a safety net so to speak!

I completely disagree mate. You aren't aiming to go to failure so I don't see a problem with benching alone. You just have to be smart. If possible bench in the rack, depending on whether your gym is 'set up' so you can do that.

Again just tyring to justify why I use it,

Fair enough, I appreciate that not everybody has the same equipment or the chance to move the gym around. I'd say you could do the roll of shame rather than dropping it on yourself, though.

On a slightly different note, you don't 'bench' 80kg. You can put 80kg on the smith machine but that's not really benching. If you are going for aesthetics though it won't matter to you, it depends on what your goals are obviously. Out of curiosity do you touch your chest when benching? Maybe it was the where I had the bench but I found that more uncomfortable on the smith machine as well.

I'm not trying to call out your lifts for using the smith or anything mate. I personally dislike the thing so probably get rant-y when someone brings it up. Do what makes you happy pal.

well thats fair enough but Ive progressed quite alright safely too (dont want to be the noob who dies dropping a barbell on themselves lol) and tbh I dont want to be that guy who uses a squat rack for benching, there is only one big hammer strength (I think) squat rack in the place, and sometimes its hard enough to get on to do a set of squats (because there is only one)

seeing someone bench in it would jus piss everyone else off, especially when there is a smith machine and like 5 different level benches and 2 free/moveable ones

Alot of people do disagree with the smith machine bit but I dont feel I've been hindered in anyway, indeed my best development physically (main goal) is on my chest and all I do for chest atm is smith machine bench lol I just like it for the safety net of being able to do as much weight as I can without a spotter or the risk of dropping it on myself

Like my current bench is upto 80kg and whilst thats not really all that heavy, I wouldnt feel confident doing it alone with no spotter despite being able to complete the sets, because alone there isnt really the safety net of just being able to drop it on lock the bar, if that makes sense,

Again just tyring to justify why I use it,

Funny thing is the 'risk' you are trying to avoid is probably worse on the Smith machine in a different way i.e. your shoulders
The bar doesn't travel in a straight line when you free bench but on the Smith it does. So you have less room to manoeuvre and long term you're straining the **** out of your shoulders.

Tbh you just need to man up, put on as low weight as needed leaving the ego at the door, and start free benching. It's not that hard. Total newbs up and down the country do it everyday.

If you are adamant you don't want to barbell bench for fear of dropping it on yourself, you can always use dumbbells (although progress can be slower).

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tbh itl probably be fine lowering the weight because im upping my rep range soon anyway for a slightly different routine so Il have to drop a bit anyway is what im saying, tbh though I dont care how much people see me lifting because i'm in there for my own benefit not to measure dicks like alot of the guys lol.

theres this guy whos there everytime I go for example and he jus curls the whole time, infront of a mirror =/