What routine to do?

[Riggins]

Guess I've been reading too much over the last few weeks. I'm 6 feet 245 lbs and want to workout again. I did a bunch of routines like SS, HST some years ago before the baby came and made my life busy as hell.

I think I might have added weight too quickly on Starting Strength and tweaked my back once while squatting and another time while deadlifting.

Anyways that's a long time ago, I want to get back into lifting but I'm way to confused about which routine to follow.

I have it narrowed down to a couple and just looking for some input, possible pro/cons for them:

Starting Strength
Stronglifts 5x5
HST
Casey Butts beginner routine
"The Program" from Stuart McRoberts book

They're all so similar yet different. Does it even really matter which one I pick?

[Abaddon]

Hi, welcome to the forum.
If you want something different, try mine. It's in my signature.

[MikeM]

I know the new baby and busy routine all too well! I'm a stay at home dad for a 5 and 2.5 year old!

I'm sure someone here will sort you out well enough on pros and cons of all the programs you mentioned, but for me, I found that it didn't matter what anyone else said about this program or that one. I scrolled through tons of them and was overwhelmed too, but some of them just had common threads that fit my workout parameters in terms of interest, goals, time needed per day, and days per week, etc. Then with only a few to choose from, I saw that only a few really really spoke to me as being perfect. I would suggest you go that route and see what speaks to you deep down. Don't wait for something perfect, just find something perfect for now and grow from there.

I am currently doing a 5x5 and loving it. Best thing I ever did. You will find one that is perfect for you too, I have no doubt.

Looking forward to you meeting your goals.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Riggins

Guess I've been reading too much over the last few weeks. I'm 6 feet 245 lbs and want to workout again. I did a bunch of routines like SS, HST some years ago before the baby came and made my life busy as hell.

I think I might have added weight too quickly on Starting Strength and tweaked my back once while squatting and another time while deadlifting.

Anyways that's a long time ago, I want to get back into lifting but I'm way to confused about which routine to follow.

I have it narrowed down to a couple and just looking for some input, possible pro/cons for them:

Starting Strength
Stronglifts 5x5
HST
Casey Butts beginner routine
"The Program" from Stuart McRoberts book

They're all so similar yet different. Does it even really matter which one I pick?

Since you tweaked you back with rapid progression in the past, I would pick one of the programs above and just tone the progression down a little to fit your needs. Really all of the are good programs.

Right now you need to regain that fire, so to speak, so I would use the program that most motivates you to train.

Most of them focus on basics, and use the same lifts, so in the end hard work on any of them will lead to success.

[Riggins]

Whatever program I go with, I'll definitely take the Stuart McRoberts conservative approach to adding weights each workout. I have little plates I can bring with me to keep the cycle going for a long time I hope. I like the layout of Stronglifts as it's dummy proof and tells you exactly what to do. I think that's something that fits my personality. If things aren't laid out clearly, I'll start wondering and questioning the routine and look for something else to do especially once I start struggling with the weights.

I also like HST because the layout of it as well. You know exactly what to do every workout, but HST will be better for intermediate lifting I think.

[BigJosh]

Originally Posted by Riggins

Guess I've been reading too much over the last few weeks. I'm 6 feet 245 lbs and want to workout again. I did a bunch of routines like SS, HST some years ago before the baby came and made my life busy as hell.

I think I might have added weight too quickly on Starting Strength and tweaked my back once while squatting and another time while deadlifting.

Anyways that's a long time ago, I want to get back into lifting but I'm way to confused about which routine to follow.

I have it narrowed down to a couple and just looking for some input, possible pro/cons for them:

Starting Strength
Stronglifts 5x5
HST
Casey Butts beginner routine
"The Program" from Stuart McRoberts book

They're all so similar yet different. Does it even really matter which one I pick?

I too have tweeked my back quite badly using a rippetoe novice program. Like you it was from both deadlifts and squats. I believe part of it was my own over aggression with the weights and part of it was that my lower back simply doesn't recover quickly enough for max effort squats 3 times a week, week in and week out coupled with max effort deads and powercleans once, sometimes twice a week.

I agree with what BTB said, whatever you pick tone it down to fit your needs. I've learned with myself, if I simply focus on a weekly progression scheme, as opposed to a workout by workout progression scheme (starting strength), I do not run into much trouble (so far).

Bottom line, as hard as it can be to do, we have to listen to what our body tells us. You can't always push through and sometimes you have to hold back. It's better to hold back a few workouts and continue, than to be injured. Guys like me, you and I'm sure many others have learned this the hard way!

[lars]

I would stick to a simple plan that fits with your duties as a dad. Focus on the big compound lifts and on the correct form. I think form is a very important factor when it comes to avoiding injuries. That and keep the weight increases moderate. I nearly dropped a loaded barbell on me while I tried some 1RM with a buddy and we were aiming to high.

[Kevsworld]

As the others have said, you would probably do well to go back to one that was working for you before.

[MMA Max]

West-Side is the best side, Nuff said