[omginternets]

If you want an "out-of-the-box" routine that's simple and balanced, I'd recommend "stronglifts" [0]. To be sure, it's a very strength-centric routine, but you can very well dial it back to twice a week and complement it with a weekly run.

The reason I suggest this particular regimen is threefold:

1. it's simple

2. the "culture" of stronglifts focuses heavily on proper form

3. the exercises involved are compound (i.e. multi-join, multi-muscle-group) lifts, which reduce the risk of muscular imbalances.

[0] http://stronglifts.com/5x5/

[ryanmarsh]

I did CrossFit, got hurt. Tried again, got hurt. Final time, got hurt.

Did StrongLifts. Got gains. The only injuries came from my Krav Maga instructor. ;-)

[inuhj]

I've been lifting on and off for the past 15 years. I'm currently doing stronglifts after a 4 year lull.

It is not for the beginner. Squats are difficult to do correctly and I spent about an hour watching videos before I attempted it with a personal trainer. Then I kept watching videos to improve form. It's not a simple exercise and it is easy to perform it wrong. Barbell rows are easier to learn but also easy to perform incorrectly. Bench press is pretty safe. Overhead press is pretty safe. Deadlift is worrisome but not so much at the low starting weights of the 5x5.

I would recommend watching a lot of youtube tutorials on how to do the exercises correctly. Do a complete warmup before lifting. Hire a personal trainer who is a weight lifter to make sure you're doing the exercises correctly. Then you can feel comfortable doing it on your own.

[omginternets]

Squats really aren't that hard to learn on your own. There's no reason a level-headed beginner can't start squatting on his own.

If you have a mirror and you start with light weights, you can monitor yourself for form. Yes, there's a bit of due diligence involved, but it ain't exactly rocket science...

That having been said, the importance of doing all of these exercises with proper form cannot be overstated.

[lisivka]

I recommend to use "ladder" technique instead of simple repeats, because it adjusts itself, so no need for app, spreadsheet, or personal trainer to calculate proper weights and number of repeats, moreover, it has lower risk of injure.

Start with x repeats, then count to 20, do x•2, count to 20, do x•3, ..., until you tired, e.g. x•5, count to 100, then do x•4, count to 20, do x•3, count to 20, do x•2, count to 20, do x repeats in row. X can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc., e.g. 5, sp, 10, sp, 15, sp, 20, lp, 15, sp, 10, sp, 5, lp, an another exercise...

Important NOTE: Each of downslope repeats must feel like top repeat, i.e. you should be equally tired for X•N, count to 100, X•N-1, count to 20, X•N-2, and so on. If you are not tired, then increase X or weight.

[omginternets]

I don't dislike your suggestion in the least, but it's a bit disingenuous to suggest that a routine like StrongLifts requires an app, spreadsheet or trainer.

You just do 5 sets of 5 reps for a couple of exercises... that's really all there is to it.

[Joof]

So stronglifts is a slightly modified starting strength? I like it; I've been doing starting strength, but I can't do pull-ups very well so when I got to them I had to start with rows.

[omginternets]

Yes, it's more or less the same thing. Potato-potahto, as far as I'm concerned.

>I can't do pull-ups very well

Funny it's the opposite for me. I can do pull-ups all day long but still struggle with bent-over rows to this day. TBH I don't really do rows anymore. I just hold a dumbbell between my thighs and do pull-ups.