before starting strength

[Grayhane]

As an older lifter just starting out, I cannot due 5x3 one some lifts even with an empty bar.
Is it better to increase weight at this time as the program suggests or work on increasing my reps/ sets to get to 5x3 before beginning to add weight at the suggested pace ?

[Mark Rippetoe]

You cannot bench press and empty bar for 5 reps? How old are you? 124?

[Bigbrother24]

Dunno Coach could be an underweight old lady, I had the wife (Was 115 at 5'6) use the womans Oly bar as she had 0 upper body strength with noodle arms so couldn't do 1 rep of Bench or OHP with normal bar.

[Mark Rippetoe]

That's probably it. But usually older ladies will tell us they're older ladies.

[Tom Campitelli]

A 15 pound bar is a useful addition to your training arsenal, Grayhane. Even after you are handling the 20 kg bar for work sets, the lighter bar can be of use for warmups.

http://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-5k...-technique-bar

[DeriHughes]

A 15 pound bar is a useful addition to your training arsenal, Grayhane. Even after you are handling the 20 kg bar for work sets, the lighter bar can be of use for warmups.

http://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-5k...-technique-bar

^this

My mother-in-law, aged 60, started out warming up with a broomstick handle before benching a 10kg bar for 5x3. Tonight she will bench 27kg x 5 x 3.

[JimtheConquerer]

In a commercial gym they usually have fixed barbells starting at 15ish lbs. not sure what the jumps are, but you could get some chain from the hardware store and weigh them to add weight to the barbell in order to progress.