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Well, this isn't my first post but another member pointed out that I should introduce myself here.

I am a 5' 8" tall 45 year old male and live near Chicago. I currently weigh about 190lb with about 16% bodyfat. I work out in my home gym.

I have been lifting for over 25 years but never in a consistent, progressive manner and likely with poor form most of that time. About a year ago, I was just doing some searching about lifting routines. Not really looking to improve because I didn't have a clue that what I was doing wasn't working other than it may have helped keep additional weight off.

I found a website and read a lot of its blog material. I ended up doing its program called StrongLifts 5x5 which I later found to be a variation of Rippetoe's beginner program. I started with an empty bar and did squats (3 times per week), deadlifts, seated press (ceiling too low in my home gym for overhead press), bench press and dips/chin-ups/pull-ups as accessory exercises. Bought Rippetoe's Starting Strength 2nd Edition and worked on form.

About mid-year, I was able to squat 1.5 times bodyweight and bench a little over bodyweight. Deadlift suffered slightly due to grip but subsequent grip work has helped me improve in that area as well. About the time I could squat 1.5 times bodyweight, I started stalling/deloading and decided I needed an intermediate routine.

I then spent 16 weeks doing Eric Cressey's Maximum Strength routine which helped with sticking points. Mobility exercises and deep tissue work (via foam roller and tennis ball) also helped.

I am now doing a Bill Star 5x5 variant and was planning on my next routine. Started reading about DFHT and ended up on this site. I prefer strength training because at my age I would like to be strong. Big muscles seem to not look as good on a balding old guy but being able to lift something heavy no matter what you look like. However, I liked the idea of doing a combined Starr 5x5 / DFHT and realized that this does not have to be an all or nothing proposition.

I look forward to contributing to this forum and learning additional info as I continue my quest to be a strong, chronically-challenged guy.

Welcome!

welcome to the forum.

Welcome.

If you are primarily interested in strength than I don't know why your would want to go to DFHT, a volume hypertrophy protocol and more 5x5, a middle of the road strength/mass protocol.

You were on the right road with Max Strength. I'd expand on that and learn from it. It almost sounds from your post as if you have gotten the idea that Max Strength is about quality only and these other volume based cookie cutters are about strength. I'm not saying that you have to continue doing just like Max Strength but that building on the ideas presented there will be a better way to go than these other things which, quite frankly will get you all stowed up and have you spending as much time not lifting as lifting. Especially if you are, like myself, chronologically challenged.

Look around at the journals.

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If you act sanctimonious I will just list out your logical fallacies until you get pissed off and spew blasphemous remarks.

Welcome Doo good to have you with us...

I suppose you are right. I was just thinking of experimenting and see what I could end up looking like even if I didn't stick with that type of program. I usually have more time during the winter months. I had planned on repeating Max Strength next summer but maybe I can repeat it next month when I finish up my current routine. I'll check the journals out. Thanks.

Thanks guys for the warm welcome...

Welcome to the board Doo, nice to have another Chicagoan around

welcome

welcome