The 5x5x5 Mind Over Muscle Program
Select five basic exercises for your whole body.
Perform all of them five days a week, Monday through Friday.
Do only one work set of five per exercise, leaving a couple of reps in the bank.
Focus on staying tight, power breathing and the perfect groove.
After five weeks, test your maxes and switch to a different type of routine.
Select five basic exercises for your whole body, for instance, the three powerlifts, pull-ups, and dumbell side bends. Or try clean-and-presses, deadlifts, dips, barbell curls and Janda situps. You get the idea.
Perform all of them five days a week, Monday through Friday. Do only one work set of five per exercise. It will feel very odd to wrap up a workout when you still feel so good, but that is the way neural training is. Steve Justa, a supremely strong and muscular man, once said, "You should feel stronger at the end of every workout."
The weight is ideal if you have managed it with a couple of reps to spare. To establish that perfect poundage start every workout with a couple of lighter singles.
For instance, yesterday you squatted 300x5 and felt that you could have done 300x7. Today squat 225x1, 255x1 and 275x1. The feel of 275 should tell you whether you should stay with 300, go up, or go down. And don't sweat it too hard if you do not hit it right, occasional easier and harder sets will do you good by introducing more variety.
The usual 5x5x5 pattern is a very strong start on Monday, a PR on Tuesday, Wednesday could go either way. Thursday and Friday are downhill as fatigue builds up. By Monday you will be rested and ready to smash new records.
After five weeks, test your maxes and switch to a different type of routine. You will be strong, confident, and raring to pump and burn. You may never admit it in public, but you know that the number one reason you are bodybuilding is to improve your self-esteem. Face the music: no amount of meat will give you true confidence.
