5x5 Year-Round?

[Blue09]

Can the 5x5 be used all year or will it just be too much? I usually listen to my body, and when I feel the symptoms screaming at my body that im overtraining (getting sick, achy, fatigued, loss of appetite, lack of motivation, etc.), I will take a week to a week and a half off and come back refreshed. Can I use this same way of cycling my training with the 5x5 or would it be best to switch to a different program and only use the 5x5 for part of the year?

Thanks fellas...

 

[Bob Smith]

If you follow the 5x5 program the way JohnSmith has laid out, yes, you can run it year round. Since volume and intensity are cycled with the 5x5 and the 3x3, you can run the program indefinitely.

 

[Grizzly]

For sure, you can run it all year. You really shouldn't run into a problem with overtraining. The deloading period is built in for a reason.

 

[Girth]

It will slightly depend on your strength level....but I would say yes in most cases. I have done it for 6 months, pretty much as written, and still utilize it even though on a 4 day split. It's not so much the program as written, that must be followed. It's more the concepts behind it's design. All programs should utilize periods of loading and unloading, frequent (2-3 times per week) stimulation, and the "hard" exercises.

With that said, the rep schemes can be changed based on the goals of the individual.

 

[PreMier]

It is never good to stick to only one rep range year round. Best to mix it up from time to time .

 

[Grizzly]

It is never good to stick to only one rep range year round. Best to mix it up from time to time .

Good thing you've familiarized yourself with the program. As we all know, the 5X5 is only 5 sets of 5 reps all year long. LMMFAO!

 

[Bob Smith]

It is never good to stick to only one rep range year round. Best to mix it up from time to time .

Why? What if your goal is to be a PLer and your year-round rep range is 1-5. Or if youre an OLer and your rep range is 1-3.

 

[Girth]

Because the unfortunate assumption is that we are all bodybuilders, and that society has conditioned us to care more about what we look like than what we can do. Damn Hollywood!