Stronglifts ... want to add exercise to end

[IHateMyJob2004]

Stronglifts is great.

I wanted to add a 4th exercise to the daily 3 though.

Any thoughts on adding barbell curls? I'd do them in 5x5 stronglift format adding 5 pounds each attempt. Want to get 1.25 pound plates so I can add 2.5 pounds at a time for this exercise and others.

Rational: None of the lifts in stronglifts use the bicep other than for stabalzation.

Thoughts?

EDIT:Random things I found.
1) Biceps will grow from Stronglifts
2) Mehdi (Stronglifts web site guy) allows you to throw in 3 sets of 8 of chinups or bicep curls on the deadlift day.

 

[Exodist]

Ab Crunches or Sit-Ups one day and Pull Ups or Dips for the other session sound good?

Noticed you listed chipups after I posted. But also on the DumbBell Curls, I like to switch up from say Hammer Curls, Standard Curls or to Zottman Curls to keep things fresh and target all parts of the muscles.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I intend to start pull ups when I get a cage.

Did curls today. Felt good. Definitely was not hitting hte biceps with the macros.

I do situps on occasion. I run a bit and that helps with the stomach and calves. So I don't stress those muscles out to much.

I'll have to look at those curl variations.

Got to run. Thanks!

 

[conorvansmack]

Chin/pull ups are great and will work more muscles than just curls. Search StrongLifts for reverse crunches, they're a good ab exercise. Dips are another good exercise to add, especially when you get to the point of adding weight.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

For now, I am doing curls with each workout.

When I get a cage, I'll be adding pull ups. And putting the pull ups on day A and curls on day B.

I want to do pullups to do more lat work.

I'm not opposed to doing dips eventually, but i really want to get through the stronglifts program till I get to the point where i am doing 1x5s for everything which means that I have pretty much hit a wall and hte end of that novice program. I just want to hit a few muscle groups that I feel as though I am missing out on right now.

Also want to add toe raises but I am in no rush to do that yet.

 

[davidgreenwood]

strong lift i quite well to build the muscles and you must know teh actual training. so you can buy many book in different languages and to convert in different languages we can help you.

 

[darkewaffle]

The original 5x5 included 3xF Pushups and 3x10 Reverse Crunches at the end of the "A" workouts and 3xF Pull-ups and 3x60s Planks at the end of the "B" workouts, as well as a full 5x5 deadlift set instead of 1x5. Personally I'd start including some of those if you wanted to extend your session.

 

[brad310]

you can supinate your grip on the rows to hit the biceps harder. you will have to play with the spacing of the grip to find what is comfortable.

in all honesty though, regular rows and chinups are enough.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

you can supinate your grip on the rows to hit the biceps harder. you will have to play with the spacing of the grip to find what is comfortable.

in all honesty though, regular rows and chinups are enough.

I've read that. I've never done it though because the image in my head screams shoulder pain of some sort. Maybe I should just give it a go and see what happens.

My biceps are bigger/strnger from the SL5x5 program. I just notice that some muscles seem to be ignored right now. Calves and bicep stick out in my head. Might add toe raises when I get a cage. Even considering a calf raise machine but it seems like a waste of money.

I'm going to do chinups/pullups I think ... once I get a cage. Want a cage with monkey bars but not sure if cost will work out. Once I get the cage, I might stop arm curls.

 

[brad310]

My biceps are bigger/strnger from the SL5x5 program. I just notice that some muscles seem to be ignored right now. Calves and bicep stick out in my head. Might add toe raises when I get a cage. Even considering a calf raise machine but it seems like a waste of money.

biceps and calves arent primary movers in any of the big exercises. biceps maybe in a row, but aside from that...those two muscles are the least useful in terms of compound barbell exercises. They dont play a major role, thus our need to isolate them.

The SL5x5 and others like is meant to make your overall body stronger and more useful - quickly. Chinups and rows use your body as a unit...thus a more useful exercise, and making the most of your time.

That said, i wouldnt be surprised if they grow anyway based on your body's hormonal response...even thought you dont isolate them.

 

[Wyndru]

I did curls at the end of each 5x5 workout for a few months but had some stalling issues with my other exercises after a while. I stopped doing the curls and seem to have gotten past my stalled weight for OHP, Bench and Rows.

I don't know if it had anything to do with it, but I just thought adding the curls was not leaving enough time in between for recovery. I also do light cardio on off days though, but those don't seem to bother me.

It was probably just a coincidence, but I've read a few threads both here and at bodybuilding forums that stress that you should do the program the way it was designed for optimal results.

SL 5x5 actually takes a while with the warmup sets that Medhi suggests on his page, so I don't think I really need much more lifts added. Before I did the warmup sets it felt like a quick cheap workout, with them it feels like I get a more thorough workout.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I do curls at the end of each workout now and like it. Doing a 3x5 system where I am increasing weights by 5 pounds till I hit a platau. At that point, I'll move to 2x5 then 1x5 if I stall.

I am now getting into heavier deadlift and hack squat weights so I am starting to understand why the 1x5 on the deadlift exists. I am whipped once I finish the deadlifts. So I might drop the curls off later.

Deadlifts are at 210 pounds right now. 220 will be no problem. I think I can get well over 250 pounds before hitting a wall.

But eventually, I think I will be putting curls and toe raises back into my routine once I am into an intermediate program.

Nice knowing what I want in a cage though. Good, solid cage with monkey bars. Conisdering a dip station. Want a cage that can store olympic plate but that is not a requirement. That and a good incline/decline bench.

 

[brad310]

That and a good incline/decline bench.

fwiw the bench press and OHP work everything that the incline does. Dips work your body better than declines and are safer on that shoulder joint.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I thought a mix of incline/flat would target different chest musles more or less. I know flat hits them all, I just thought that mixing it up would have a benefit.

I guess I'd hate to get a flat bench just to regret it later.