On April 22 2011 09:20 Anabolicqt wrote: I see most of you guys talking about shoes you use during your workout and I was wondering if you actually "feel" a difference in them.
I was squatting in running shoes at first up until like 110kg, then switched to chucks. the day after my first workout with them I had muscle soreness like never before... I hit COMPLETEY different muscles with my new shoes. so yeah, the difference is noticeable.
While you guys are all so strong/ripped... it's crazy to me lol. Squatting 500? I'll be content when I hit 300 k thanks.
When I started back in mid Feb February I was at: Squat: 95 Bench: 95 Press: 60 DL: 135 Rows: 65
I'm now at Squat: 175 Bench: 155 Press: 95 DL: 225 Rows: Switched over to inverted rows because I didn't trust my form with barbell rows, I'm going to go back to barbell rows in May.
I tweaked my knee in late March and found I couldn't Squat or DL for about 1.5 weeks. After that though my squats fucking sky rocketed and my forms actually way better than it use to be. Weight's starting to get really heavy at 175. I turn super red while doing squats now ^_^. Missed a few reps last workout and found my form was off so I'm going to stick to this weight until my form clears up..
Oh yeah thanks to GOMAD my weight got up to 180. Stopped doing it last week (a week ago today actually) and my weights gone down to 175. I need to incorporate some cardio or something into my workout regime because GOMAD made me chubby (which was to be expected). Maybe not pure cardio, but like start being more active in like sports n shiz
My question for you guys is: I'm stalling/missing reps on BP and OHP should I reset? My numbers seem really weak compared to where I think I should be, especially BP. I think someone replaced my chest with a vagina it's so lame (but I've been stalling/missing reps/poor form the past week and a half on it).
nice progress man, keep it up! I would advise you to read the section on stalling in the SS wiki. basically, if you miss more than 3 reps total on your work sets (like 5-4-2), try the same weight again next workout. if you cant get it, try again. if you still cant get it, reset.
my bench is very weak as well. I deadlift 155kg but cant bench more than 90kg as of now
On April 22 2011 09:44 Catch wrote: Bench and press are hard to move up in. They are by the two lifts you will reset the most on SS (Can't speak for rows/power cleans from personal experience). So following SS protocol if you need to reset them (3 strikes) and do so; it isn't a bad thing and you'll probably come back and bust through your old numbers easily.
My max for squat before I couldn't lift anymore (Doc said not until mid may ) was like 265 lbs. You'll hit 300 in no time and then want 500.
Eh, not a fan of GOMAD, despite the popular opinion on here lol
Oh I'm doing Stronglifts 5x5. Every time I'm done with my 3rd set of squats I curse all the people doing SS, but I know it's worth it to keep putting work in on my squat form.
My goal weight was to get to 175 I believe? (can't find my original post), and I got to it, but now I need to get rid of the chub and make the muscle strong!
Honestly I don't really care if I have a bit of chub on me. I'm not worried about looking strong, I'm worried about being strong. Plus, I would think the stronger I get the more the fat becomes muscle, so I think all-in-all it works out well for me (and others here as well).
As far as shoes go... I rock chucks. They seem to work pretty well. I can't imagine working out barefoot or in socks. That would look crazy to me. Plus, I'm clumsy as it is; don't want to be running into nothing at the gym barefoot lol.
On April 22 2011 09:20 Anabolicqt wrote: I see most of you guys talking about shoes you use during your workout and I was wondering if you actually "feel" a difference in them.
I was squatting in running shoes at first up until like 110kg, then switched to chucks. the day after my first workout with them I had muscle soreness like never before... I hit COMPLETEY different muscles with my new shoes. so yeah, the difference is noticeable.
While you guys are all so strong/ripped... it's crazy to me lol. Squatting 500? I'll be content when I hit 300 k thanks.
When I started back in mid Feb February I was at: Squat: 95 Bench: 95 Press: 60 DL: 135 Rows: 65
I'm now at Squat: 175 Bench: 155 Press: 95 DL: 225 Rows: Switched over to inverted rows because I didn't trust my form with barbell rows, I'm going to go back to barbell rows in May.
I tweaked my knee in late March and found I couldn't Squat or DL for about 1.5 weeks. After that though my squats fucking sky rocketed and my forms actually way better than it use to be. Weight's starting to get really heavy at 175. I turn super red while doing squats now ^_^. Missed a few reps last workout and found my form was off so I'm going to stick to this weight until my form clears up..
Oh yeah thanks to GOMAD my weight got up to 180. Stopped doing it last week (a week ago today actually) and my weights gone down to 175. I need to incorporate some cardio or something into my workout regime because GOMAD made me chubby (which was to be expected). Maybe not pure cardio, but like start being more active in like sports n shiz
My question for you guys is: I'm stalling/missing reps on BP and OHP should I reset? My numbers seem really weak compared to where I think I should be, especially BP. I think someone replaced my chest with a vagina it's so lame (but I've been stalling/missing reps/poor form the past week and a half on it).
nice progress man, keep it up! I would advise you to read the section on stalling in the SS wiki. basically, if you miss more than 3 reps total on your work sets (like 5-4-2), try the same weight again next workout. if you cant get it, try again. if you still cant get it, reset.
Yeah you pretty much confirmed I need to reset... which sucks. It's 80% of your current work weight isn't it? I've read the SS wiki before, but I can't remember the exact numbers... Oh well, sup 70lb OHP and 125lb BP. Lame.
@nemY: I apologize. I'm not familiar enough with 5x5 to help ya on resets haha. And yeah, I was at 200 and now I'm down to 182/1. I may stop at 180, or I may go down to 175. If I go to 175 I won't go any lower, i'll be too skinny. Regardless I'll be bulking after that and most likely starting a new program after five/six months on SS.
Lol I usually only need to take them off for deadlifts and then kept them on the rest of the time. Idunno, bare foot isn't bad - better than running shoes thats for sure. Maybe I'll go get those chucks soon... Fat can't turn into muscle, but I'm sure thats not how you meant it? lol
afaik 5x5 is more for intermediate , but never read about it
nemy, you should also consider: have you been getting enough rest? (maybe have an extra day of rest or two, it can do a world of help) have you been eating enough!! are you resting enough between sets (up to 5 minutes for the harder ones afaik)? also makes a world of difference are you perhaps just generally a session or so ahead of yourself? just go down 5 or 10lbs and make that your new starting point. i think its really easy to keep chucking on 5lbs every lift too hastily so you end up eventually struggling and feeling confused about it.
On April 22 2011 10:27 FFGenerations wrote: afaik 5x5 is more for intermediate , but never read about it
nemy, you should also consider: have you been getting enough rest? (maybe have an extra day of rest or two, it can do a world of help) have you been eating enough!! are you resting enough between sets (up to 5 minutes for the harder ones afaik)? also makes a world of difference are you perhaps just generally a session or so ahead of yourself? just go down 5 or 10lbs and make that your new starting point. i think its really easy to keep chucking on 5lbs every lift too hastily so you end up eventually struggling and feeling confused about it.
1.) Nope, I know my sleeping habits have been inhibiting my work performance. They always have. A few months ago (right about the time I started working out) I got off a crazy/insane work schedule that involved working most round the clock (most unhealthy thing for you ever btw). Nowadays I just started a new job (started two weeks ago) that runs from 7:30-4pm, but I usually don't get to sleep until midnight and I makeup for my sleep on weekends. My body's fucked and I know that's been hurting me; I'm working on improving it, but nothing's perfect.
2.) Yup. Pretty clean too (although I just ordered a pizza).
3.) Resting? Yup.
4.) Maybe...
As far as the differences between SS and Stronglifts... uhh Stronglifts is suppose to be more intermediate? Really? Because I see them as more or less the same thing, only with SL you do 5 sets instead of 3.
On April 22 2011 10:35 Zafrumi wrote: I thought 5x5 was more for novices because of the additional workload. once you can lift a decent amount, you wont need 5 sets to progress anymore
I might be wrong though
afaik, SL is just an alternative to SS; at least it's listed as such in eshlow's OP
On April 21 2011 17:44 Anabolicqt wrote: Had an intense leg workout today with both good news and bad. Good news is I hit a new max on squat of 495. Bad news is I had major pain in my lower back that I was complaining about some pages ago so no more squats for me. Back to filling up the leg press machine I guess.
The pain is most accurately described by the bulging or herniated disc except this is what I thought was the problem at first but went to the doctor and had an MRI, it was ruled out. Doc told me it was probably just a strained muscle, but I've never experienced this pain doing any back workout/deadlifting even when I know I've killed my back. The pain is not just intense all at once. The best way I can describe it is a burn feeling when you know you've put in some real work and during this time my low low back will "pulsate" with extreme pain. So I can feel like I got a good workout in my lower back and all of a sudden it's just like crippling pain for a few seconds up to 30 and it will stop. This will continue to happen for an extended period of time.
Hmmm, does any type of mobility work such as the exercises in the link help?
on my last rep with the deadlift, i pulled with all i got and i felt like i almost went out. i'm dizzy now i feel like i wanna sleep now but im scared i might not wake up lol.
Great start! I was about where you were when I first started lifting. Within the first time I started lifting (a year ago) and now I've added about 100lbs plus for the squat and deadlift, about 80lbs on the bench, and still improving. Keep up the good work!
As for my own personal progress, I'm going to have to do my first reset on the bench press. Ended up getting stuck at 145lbs, couldn't finish a full 3x5 for the past three sessions. Gonna go back to 125lbs and try to progress from there.
Squats and deadlift are still going up as well as my overhead press. This past workout I started adding weight to my chinups, definitely feeling great!
OK, so I know my hand positioning is screwed up on the second one.
I also know I don't have a rack. My brother helped me. I do OWN a rack, but I assembled it elsewhere, and I'm not sure where I'll have room to exercise. I'm not a gym member: might end up doing that .However, it's a bit depressing that I own everything I need, but don't have a room for it.
Sup, y'all :D I'm setting up a makeshift gym in my garage and I hope to be lifting by the middle of next week sometime. I've been gathering together what equipment I have and over the weekend I plan on purchasing some of the things that will make my gym complete! As for program I am going to start SS for at least 3 months. Kinda sucks that I didn't start earlier with the heavy lifting for summer but owell I'm not overly concerned as long as I make progress with strength.
Anyway for those with footwear concerns; I'd like to endorse Vibrams 5-fingers shoes. I know they look kinda odd. But for me I get a ton of functionality out of them, and they will become my lifting shoes as well once I start my program. I originally bought a pair (this model) for running a few weeks ago because I wanted to try barefoot running. I did a lot of research and actually have a lot to say about these shoes (I'm pretty much in love with them) but I'll save that for if anyone is actually interested. Point is as far as lifting is concerned they are essentially like lifting barefoot and are very comfortable.