5x5 chest kill!

splinter

I thought id try out a 5x5 set/rep on a few exercises I do.

Bench/Deadlift and squat

Yet when doing chest after my 5 sets, I fail on my incline bench.

I mean I have to really decrease the weight of what I would normally do. And it seems that im engaging my triceps alot more (incline bench)

what have you guys noticed when doing this kinda of routine!

peace

Bodyworks

splinter, i'd say that's a good thing. if you've reached failure, job done, would you agree ?

Nath

If u find ur struggling with the incline press, why not hit that exercise first so u can work ur upper chest while fresh.
With regard to you seemingly engaging the triceps too much, have you tried using a slightly wider grip? Alternatively, do a few flies first so ur chest is already tired, then imediatley hit the press, I like to do 12 reps of flies then 8 reps of the press. This might help as ur chest should fatigue more in line with ur triceps =)

5 sets of 5 reps is pretty demanding so I can imagine why ur having to drop the weights a little, I wouldn't let that bother you, in my eyes, exhausting the muscle is more important than what weight ur lifting. That said, a guy at my gym who trains for strength does 5 sets of, pyramiding the weight up each set, his first 3 sets seem no where near to failure but he struggles with the last 2 sets, he'll then add more weight and do 3 sets of 3. I tried this method and it absolutely battered me, I didn't really like it, 8 sets per exercise seemed excessive for me and I felt pathetic by the time I was on my 2nd and third exercise.

splinter

Funnily enough I dont really warm up as such. 30 mins walk is mine lol

Ive always started off with flat bench. But perhaps I should try doing inclines first.

But I start off with my heaviest weight, and then I go down a weight. eg 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, yet on my last set it feels harder then my first lol!

But yeah I guess bodyworks is right as long as im exhausting the muscle.

But perhaps I should do incline dumbell presses instead as doing bar work on incline can be a tad more difficult after the 5*5 flat.

Bodyworks

you start with your heaviest weight. no warm ups.

if that's correct i see bad things ahead for you.........

Pikey

Need to warm up for sure

I used to use 5x5 a lot when powerlifting good for heavy basic moves.

Boarder

is it better to start on a lower weight then work up eg 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 or higher weight eg 90, 85, 80, 75, 70??

after the initial warm up i mean.

splinter

perhaps.... but decreasing seems to work