The Progress Thread 2012

[Techun]

new bench PR

warmup
275x5
300x3
315x2
315x1

[ultimate steve]

Question about squatting with a belt.

I've been doing stronglifts 5x5. I haven't used a back belt when squatting until today. I did 205 today, first set with a belt and the second without a belt. I noticed immediately that the belt made the lift easier. It was as if I didn't even have to think about posture, and it was easier to go lower.

So question is, would it be better to continue squatting without the belt to strengthen my core better or should I use the belt. Either way I would've handled the 5x5, but it was much more comfortable with the belt.

I'm pretty happy with this program btw, just over 6 weeks ago I never squatted before and had trouble going parallel with 135. 205 today without any trouble, I know it's nothing compared to you ****ing monsters but it feels good. Im 5'7 155, not trying to gain weight with summer coming, I'm wondering when I can expect to plateau with squats at this weight.

[Techun]

My 54 year old mother was asking how my dad was doing at the gym. We discussed how much weight he did, and then she asked how much she would be able to do at certain things. So then we got home and I decided to see how much she can bench. I fully expected her to fail at 45lbs, that seems to be the case with girls my age who have never trained before. She surprised me and worked all the way up to 85lbs, which she did fairly easily. I could see her doing 100 with just a little bit of practice, she did 85 somewhat easily.

I have seen young men lift less before, especially for the very first time doing it.

[spoolin215]

Question about squatting with a belt...

If you find it easier to go deeper with a belt on, that means the belt is masking some kind of mobility issue you have, so I would forgo it until you at least correct that.

[autodubbin98]

, I'm wondering when I can expect to plateau with squats at this weight.

...When you think about plateaus long before they even happen. To me you already did mentally. Lifting is more mental then physical. The body just follows.

[ultimate steve]

If you find it easier to go deeper with a belt on, that means the belt is masking some kind of mobility issue you have, so I would forgo it until you at least correct that.

Even if I still go parallel without? I have the bars in the squat rack set up so if I get the bar within about 2 inches to touching its parallel. With the belt I was sometimes hitting the spotting bars or whatever you call them. So Id say I might be going a little past parallel with the belt. It's hard to tell though because I'm working alone, just going by what I see in the side mirror when I do a warmup with no weight on the bar.

[spoolin215]

If you can't squat below parallel without a belt you need to work on your mobility.

[Rob Cote]

Isn't squatting to parallel like a minimum..? You should set your bars lower.

[autodubbin98]

Even if I still go parallel without? I have the bars in the squat rack set up so if I get the bar within about 2 inches to touching its parallel. With the belt I was sometimes hitting the spotting bars or whatever you call them. So Id say I might be going a little past parallel with the belt. It's hard to tell though because I'm working alone, just going by what I see in the side mirror when I do a warmup with no weight on the bar.

That is a terrible way to judge depth. You could just be leaning over or "folding" more to hit them sooner with the added core support of the belt

[ultimate steve]

Not sure what you mean by folding, but I'm definitely not leaning forward.

[spoolin215]

Today was brutal

8x3 of snatches, 8 sets of PC+front squat+4 Push jerks. 5x5 of squats, 3x3 of snatch pulls.

FML.

[motherleopard28]

took a few days off because i was sick ... its crazy how fast strength can drop .. also started doing overhead squats .. those fry shoulders going to hit heavy 1rm bench see if i can get 275

[Chilledman]

Front squat 315x5
Bench 325x5

Yeeehaaaa
Cool part of this it's a constant thing !
Time to up weight , time to make 245 my warm up weigh lol

[spoolin215]

You bench more than you front squat? C'mon son.

[Techun]

You bench more than you front squat? C'mon son.

lol

[Chilledman]

You bench more than you front squat? C'mon son.

yeah short arms = easier bench

Shoot I all but front squat as much as I back squat .

- Wait I bench more then some DL here .....

[Residentevol]

Finally got some progress to put in here..Been doing the SL 5x5 for about 9 weeks now and was able to squeak out a PR for 1rm on the bench. 240...Weak sauce compared to most in here but seeing how when I started in Feb my max was 205 it's a big change for me..(not sure what my other max's are I need to try that all out to get an idea of where I'm at now)

I can feel my body changing it's pretty insane how much better I feel after living such a sedentary life....

My work weights on the program are all still manageble I have yet to hit any plateau's or miss my reps. Still pretty light compared to what you guys are working with but we all have to start somewhere. Thurs workout was

Squat 5x5 - 170
Overhead press 5x5 - 105
Deadlift 1x5 - 215

[Rob Cote]

I wish someone had told me how much better a morning workout is a long time ago

I just dead lifted 345 for a set of three. STRAPLESS! This up from 325 with straps last go 'round (albeit that was for 5x5, but I'm still stoked).

[::xander::]

so the next 30 days are going to be exciting.

I told my girlfriend I was going to bulk, she's on board. I bought an obscene amount of pasta, eggs, milk, chocolate syrup. I plan on drenching everything in olive oil and butter. protein pancakes till I puke every morning.

bulking is my specialty. haven't done a real bulk in a few years. the occasion? I got me some oxymetholone.

time to get serious. progress to follow...maybe pics but progress pics from lean to fat isn't sexy. LOL

I'm hoping this goes as well as everyone tells me it should!

[Chilledman]

Psh it's not that hard most here do it every day !

Especially me ! Lol

[autodubbin98]

so the next 30 days are going to be exciting.

I told my girlfriend I was going to bulk, she's on board. I bought an obscene amount of pasta, eggs, milk, chocolate syrup. I plan on drenching everything in olive oil and butter. protein pancakes till I puke every morning.

bulking is my specialty. haven't done a real bulk in a few years. the occasion? I got me some oxymetholone.

time to get serious. progress to follow...maybe pics but progress pics from lean to fat isn't sexy. LOL

I'm hoping this goes as well as everyone tells me it should!

Why only 30 days?

And I'm only an inch taller than you and when I get up around 210 I feel like absolute ****. You have the same issues?

[ultimate steve]

Anyone ever do the gallon of milk a day for bulking up? Sounds gross IMO. But does seem like an easy way to get the calories.

[spoolin215]

Anyone ever do the gallon of milk a day for bulking up? Sounds gross IMO. But does seem like an easy way to get the calories.

A buddy of mine tried to do it, but it ruined him.

[::xander::]

Why only 30 days?

And I'm only an inch taller than you and when I get up around 210 I feel like absolute ****. You have the same issues?

yeah I've been 215 before, it was horrible. I wanted to lay down all the time and I couldn't tie my shoes. LOL

30 days is plenty for a first run of a50 imo

[ultimate steve]

A buddy of mine tried to do it, but it ruined him.

Made him fat? It honestly sounds awful. I can't even imagine doing a whole carton let alone a gallon.

[spoolin215]

Nah just made him sick and feel like **** 24/7

[autodubbin98]

When I was on a push to be 220 I was around 3/4 - a full gallon a day. Its really not that bad. I absolutely love milk. I just found that I was sacrificing food for milk, when the idea is to have milk to be a supplemented part of your diet.

[::xander::]

yeah I did about 3/4 a gallon today. I just basically chug it down at the end of my meals. I'm sure I'll be sick of it soon lol

[ultimate steve]

I could drink milk with any meal. Love milk but a gallon a day is a lot of damn milk. Even if you have it with each meal.

[Chilledman]

ugh I would be ****ting my brains out

-lactose intolerant

[ultimate steve]

ugh I would be ****ting my brains out

-lactose intolerant

Do you drink lactose free milk? I switched a couple years ago = I drink all I want and no gas. Plus I think it taste better.

[::xander::]

I'm mildly lactose intolerant. large amounts of milk make me crazy gassy. I might look into lactose free milk

[spoolin215]

Yeah I only drink lactose removed milk. Doesn't bother my stomach one bit.

[Rob Cote]

I haven't really tried to figure out maxes ever, but since I'm doing the 5x5, I'll use those numbers.

Bench - 215
Dead lift - 325
Squat - 185

Why is my squat so low? Also, by the following day, my arms feel pretty good after benching, my chest is a little sore but by day 2 it's great. My back feels tight-but-awesome the day after dead lifting, and my posture is excellent. I struggle to walk for 2-3 days after squatting usually. It's in my thighs; they get super tight and don't want to move to allow me to walk and such. Any ideas? It's not terribly painful, just an annoyance, really.

[autodubbin98]

I haven't really tried to figure out maxes ever, but since I'm doing the 5x5, I'll use those numbers.

Bench - 215
Dead lift - 325
Squat - 185

Why is my squat so low? Also, by the following day, my arms feel pretty good after benching, my chest is a little sore but by day 2 it's great. My back feels tight-but-awesome the day after dead lifting, and my posture is excellent. I struggle to walk for 2-3 days after squatting usually. It's in my thighs; they get super tight and don't want to move to allow me to walk and such. Any ideas? It's not terribly painful, just an annoyance, really.

You probably aren't active enough. You should spend at least 15 minutes rolling and doing dynamic work before squatting and you should be doing static stretching after. On days following walking really helps. You need to get the blood back to the muscle. You can also do your dynamic warm up stuff and static stretching on days following which will also help with DOMS.

Your squat is low because you allow it to be. Most people just don't know what they're capable of. Lead with the mind, the body will follow.