Training for strength -- 20 sets or 25 sets?

[Fluidic Kimbo]

I'm getting serious back into weightlifting again. Yesterday I did chest, and I did 5 sets of 5 exercises, giving a total of 25 sets.
* Decline bench
* Pulling cables forward and inward
* Pec Deck
* Chest press
* Dumbell press

How many sets is a good workout? I'm only concerned with building strength -- less concerned about muscle size.

[Cylon357]

I'm getting serious back into weightlifting again. Yesterday I did chest, and I did 5 sets of 5 exercises, giving a total of 25 sets.
* Decline bench
* Pulling cables forward and inward
* Pec Deck
* Chest press
* Dumbell press

How many sets is a good workout? I'm only concerned with building strength -- less concerned about muscle size.

Go read up on Wendler's 5 3 1

[Fluidic Kimbo]

I don't like the look of that.

Right now I'm doing 5 exercises, 5 sets of 6 reps.

So that's 25 sets.

If I can do more than 6 reps, I increase the weight. If I can only do 4 or 5 reps, I decrease the weight.

[Cylon357]

I don't like the look of that.

You don't have to like the looks of it. It is a proven and effective method for getting stronger.

Keep doing what you are doing and maybe you will incidentally get a little stronger, it works for beginners. What you are doing sounds closer to that sort of beginner thing Medhis Stronglift 5x5 anyhow.

[Fluidic Kimbo]

I'll do 1 month of 6-rep sets just to get my muscles back in working order . . . then I'll see about doing something like Wendler's. For the timebeing I'm still waking my body up -- my bench press is shocking.