What are your opinions on Stronglifts?

[Alex B]

Just curious. I've heard it said that it's looked down upon as the inbred village-idiot here, so I'm interested in how you guys think of it. I'm currently doing it, but use this forum since....well, the SL forums are closed off, and there's a helluva lot to learn from the people here.

But if you do have a negative opinion, why? It's only got 2 extra sets on exercises, and the power clean for rows trade off doesn't seem like anything major when you consider the complexity of the clean. Yes, Rip doesn't like rows, but it's helped a lot of people get some strong backs (I clean, but I don't look down on those who row)

I can't say I'm Mehdi's biggest fan, as he tends to censor the facebook page, but he's still a pretty friendly guy if you talk via email, responds to questions, and has helped a lot of people get strong.

So if your opinion of SL is bad, why is that?

[mstrofbass]

Search function broken?

[Eric K]

I think people mostly have a problem with Medhi, but I don't know, and why should that matter? It's a reasonable program (it's almost the same as the novice program recommended in SS), may not be the best, but I never tried it. I'm sure that it won't destroy your potential to get stronger.

[hamburgerfan]

Doing 3 sets is much more effective for making progress, and the program that is more effective for making progress is the better program.

[Cambero]

I used to do SL that is how I finally learned about SS and coach Rippetoe. I liked SS better, specially since Medhi keeps changing his program depending on the feedback from users. Medhi gives a lot of useful information, but 'do bridges' then 'don't do bridges'! seriously. Medhi seems like smart and knowledgeable guy that has read plenty on proper lifting, etc. but that doesn't necessarily qualify him to coach.

If you search the forums and read SS there should be no doubt that Power Cleans are more useful than Rows if you desire practical strength. If you are still not convinced...try it yourself, do Rows...then later in the program while still progressing the Squat, switch to Power Cleans. The gains in deadlift and increase power, after switching and progressing in Power Cleans, will be your proof.

[Valhall]

I first started with a 5x5 variant program I found off a body building forum (built like a pyramid though), then went on to Stronglift which then lead me to Starting Strength.

Funny thing is that I recommended a friend read the Stronglifts "book" and after I found Starting Strength I had to call him and say "STOP READING, get SS instead!". hehe

I think Stronglifts is positive in a way that Crossfit is positive, brings people to the barbells. Both of these will also bring people to SS and maybe weightlifting or powerlifting.

SS > Stronglift by a mile, but its not all bad. I didnt unsubscribe to their mailinglist until Medhi started spamming about the Andy Bolton package (those emails where seriously annoying, with contradicting email subjects).

[Alex B]

Search function broken?

Good point, but at 5am in the morning and some booze in me, I think it can be forgiven.

I think people mostly have a problem with Medhi, but I don't know, and why should that matter? It's a reasonable program (it's almost the same as the novice program recommended in SS), may not be the best, but I never tried it. I'm sure that it won't destroy your potential to get stronger.

Like I said, I'm just curious, as apparently it's 'hated' here. Like I said, Mehdi can be a prick, but usually he's alright. I figured the similarities between the two, which you rightly point out, would mean that there'd be little to no criticism, but I've heard otherwise, and would just be interested in finding out why.

Doing 3 sets is much more effective for making progress, and the program that is more effective for making progress is the better program.

True, but the program does tell you to scale down to 3x5 after stalling on a lift 3 times, so it recognises that.

I used to do SL that is how I finally learned about SS and coach Rippetoe. I liked SS better, specially since Medhi keeps changing his program depending on the feedback from users. Medhi gives a lot of useful information, but 'do bridges' then 'don't do bridges'! seriously. Medhi seems like smart and knowledgeable guy that has read plenty on proper lifting, etc. but that doesn't necessarily qualify him to coach.

If you search the forums and read SS there should be no doubt that Power Cleans are more useful than Rows if you desire practical strength. If you are still not convinced...try it yourself, do Rows...then later in the program while still progressing the Squat, switch to Power Cleans. The gains in deadlift and increase power, after switching and progressing in Power Cleans, will be your proof.

Have to agree. I remember reading a lot of conflicting articles; "only eat carbs post workout" vs "stock up on carbs to help get your calories," "6 static stretches you should do" vs "why you should never do static stretches." What is this madness?

I first started with a 5x5 variant program I found off a body building forum (built like a pyramid though), then went on to Stronglift which then lead me to Starting Strength.

Funny thing is that I recommended a friend read the Stronglifts "book" and after I found Starting Strength I had to call him and say "STOP READING, get SS instead!". hehe

I think Stronglifts is positive in a way that Crossfit is positive, brings people to the barbells. Both of these will also bring people to SS and maybe weightlifting or powerlifting.

SS > Stronglift by a mile, but its not all bad. I didnt unsubscribe to their mailinglist until Medhi started spamming about the Andy Bolton package (those emails where seriously annoying, with contradicting email subjects).

Ohhh god, the Andy Bolton crap. Don't get me started. That would be my biggest issue with Mehdi; his 'commercialisation' of the site. But the guy's gotta make money, and unlike Rip he doesn't own a gym so I can't hold it against him....but I can get disgruntled about the amount of crap that came into my inbox!

I think his e-books are an interesting read, particularly for, as you say, people who are just getting into weightlifting and will move on from there. SL is how I started learning about proper lifting, and it's from there that I wanted to learn more and found and got myself the SS books and DVD. It's definitely a good 'jumping platform' to get people into it.

[gzt]

As far as programs, yeah, whatever, it's not terribly different, though I think SS is somewhat better. As instruction, the SL book is bad and derivative. As a person, Mehdi is a douche. Most people think programs are magic and the only thing we mean by any of this, so to them there's no difference.

[Les Hahn]

I used to do SL that is how I finally learned about SS and coach Rippetoe. I liked SS better, specially since Medhi keeps changing his program depending on the feedback from users. Medhi gives a lot of useful information, but 'do bridges' then 'don't do bridges'! seriously. Medhi seems like smart and knowledgeable guy that has read plenty on proper lifting, etc. but that doesn't necessarily qualify him to coach.

If you search the forums and read SS there should be no doubt that Power Cleans are more useful than Rows if you desire practical strength. If you are still not convinced...try it yourself, do Rows...then later in the program while still progressing the Squat, switch to Power Cleans. The gains in deadlift and increase power, after switching and progressing in Power Cleans, will be your proof.

I agree that SS is the better product, even if someone were to change the SL format to 3x5. It has less to do with the exercises (which are similar) and more to do with the quality of the book and explanations of the lifts in SS.

As for powercleans, why couldn't someone do speed deads or high pulls if they only care about power for their deadlift? If someone wants to do O-lifting, then they should do powercleans and eventually full cleans to get better at that sport. If someone only wants to powerlift, do you still think they have to do powercleans to get the most out of their DL's?

[OCG]

Powercleans are also useful to learn if you want to know how to pick up a loaded bar and rack it without looking like a complete moron.