When are you strong enough?

juliewatkin

One issue is the increasing risk of injury. Too many lifters have some kind of joint issue. You might as well eat 10 Big Macs every day because you'll also have joint issues but at least you'll feel satisfied. :laugh:

At the moment, my right elbow aches from strength training. I've had it for the last 3 or so months. Climbing doesn't help. Speaking of which, I've gathered loads of injuries from rock climbing. And they say exercise is good for you.

Moving forward, you could look at calisthenics. There's a ****load of moves I want to be able to do.

http://youtu.be/GhiyHUg2TZY

Do you do much mobility work? I also get joint pain but try to stay on top of mobility.

Part of it may be age. My husband and I have discussed this type of thing many times as he competes as well. He's 55 and I'm almost 49. Nagging issues will come up for both of us. However, when I talk to other people our age who don't lift or push themselves physically in some capacity they have significantly more nagging issues with their bodies than we do. It's kind of like you pick your poison.

By mobility, you mean stretching? I can do the splits if that helps (martial arts background). Climbing requires a good degree of flexibility, too.

I know what you mean about picking your poison. I don't intend to stop doing sports in preference for leading an unhealthy life. I enjoy sports too much! My sports injuries do spoil the fun somewhat, though.

Yeah. Kind of like stretching for mobility but often more dynamic that static. I would imagine you'd have to have good flexibility for climbing.

I find my shoulders take a kicking mostly from heavy squatting. The weight on my back ends up with pain in my hands. I do shoulder work like ytwl and that helps a bit.

Right now I'd love to be able to do the splits. I've been doing more hip mobility to assist my bench and the hardest one for me, mirrors the spilts but with legs bent. This is a video I've been watching. The frog one is the one that is most difficult for me and the one that I think will help my bench issue. http://www.lift.net/2012/11/28/increase-hip-flexibility-exercises/

tomcornhole

also I think a lot of us arent doing this to lose weight or get to a certain level of strength, I think we just truly love the entire process and dont feel like we are beating the crap out of our bodies - more like improving ourselves to optimum levels.

Agree completely. Well said.

yogicarl

Moving forward, you could look at calisthenics. There's a ****load of moves I want to be able to do.

http://youtu.be/GhiyHUg2TZY

Thank you darrensurry for the link above. When I think of weightlifting I can take or leave it, but when I see calisthenics like in the link above or an advanced show of yoga my heart starts to race and I think - "that is where I want to go".

So, when will I be strong enough - I thought that was when I could hold a plank comfortably, but now it's when I can hold Crow Pose easily and I know I will want more when that goal is reached. When I can do 3 sets of eight chin-ups at the moment, but then it will be 3 sets of 8 pull-ups and so on.

It's a process rather than a goal, but measured by progressive goals along the way. The trick is to enjoy the journey.

darrensurrey

Yeah. Kind of like stretching for mobility but often more dynamic that static. I would imagine you'd have to have good flexibility for climbing.

I find my shoulders take a kicking mostly from heavy squatting. The weight on my back ends up with pain in my hands. I do shoulder work like ytwl and that helps a bit.

Right now I'd love to be able to do the splits. I've been doing more hip mobility to assist my bench and the hardest one for me, mirrors the spilts but with legs bent. This is a video I've been watching. The frog one is the one that is most difficult for me and the one that I think will help my bench issue. http://www.lift.net/2012/11/28/increase-hip-flexibility-exercises/

Thanks. I tend to do more static stuff. WIll look at that link.

yogicarl

http://www.lift.net/2012/11/28/increase-hip-flexibility-exercises/

Careful with the Pigeon Prep in the link above. The guy's back leg is turned out with the knee winging out, but the thigh and knee is supposed to be facing the mat.

Think of pulling the front and rear knees towards each other and the energy rising up your spine while at the same time allowing your hips to relax and sink downward.

EDIT: sorry just noticed he corrects this just before the video ends, but the above still stands so I left it in.

cats847

Well, I have some pretty specific strength goals -- such as a 1.5x bodyweight squat, 2x bw deadlift, 20 pullups straight, and so on...slowly but surely, I am getting there. And what will I do after I hit these goals? I'd like to maintain that strength level throughout the years, and I have plenty of other athletic goals to keep me busy, such as martial arts, gymnastics, and etc.

Unknown

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melham

I'll be strong enough when I can climb 5.12.

dakotababy

I actually really appreciate this post. I have started to go to the gym - but really, how strong do I need/want to be? I have always been interested in being able to do multiple flips...and I heard about Capoeira. I want to go to brazil and show the locals up one day!

V0lver

tagging to read later

Alehmer

Why do I want to be strong?
Because I do this:

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu


and this

Judo


I also fight in the Heavyweight (195-208) divisions, so I am facing some seriously big and strong fellas most of the time.

When am I strong enough?

Uh, never. There's always somebody stronger out there, and he will likely be at my next tournament, so I better work as hard as I can right now.

FrnkLft

The zombie/alien/EMP induced/solar flare/twerk apocalypse is coming.

I intend to be the muscle of the group. So NEVER

Tweak apocalypse, wtf lol



I'm beginning to ask myself the same thing. I hurt myself in the gym, and while I would have told you before that the sky is the limit, I'm concerned that too much weight (whatever that number ends up being) might not make me better, but run me down. Now, despite how careful I was being (believe me, ridiculously careful), I may still have done too much weight too soon, but it really makes me wonder. Good thread.

I HAD a doctors appt for today to get checked out, but ****ing insurance hadn't updated their list to exclude this one guy. Fml.

Leadfoot_Lewis

I've set goals for where I'd like to be with the big lifts. Once I hit those goals that's good enough for me.

jayche

To be honest I just lift now, I have no goals for how strong I want to end up being or how big I want to end up. I set micro-goals here and there and enjoy the ride.

TR0berts

I'll be strong enough when I'm dead.

CarlKRobbo

I'm a powerlifter so never strong enough.

For a good general strength level I think 1rm aound 2x bw squat, 2.5xbw deadlift, 1.25xbw bench and .8xbw SOHP are good goals.

^^^^ This x 2

Fellow Powerlifter, in one of the most competitive weight classes going at the moment!!

The above markers are good, maybe I'd adjust down to a 1.5x BW squat and 2 x BW Deadlift.. (Just my 2 cents though)

danimalkeys

I'll never be as strong as I was 8-10 years ago, but I don't need/want to be any more. I still want to progress, and still have goals, but they are no longer doing 1 rep max competition lifting at meets like I used to do.

You just started lifting in March. Soon you'll find that your progress will slow down drastically as you reach your natural limits. When you struggle for 6 months to put 5lbs on a lift or get 3 more reps to finish that 5x5 of a weight goal, that's when the real lifting starts. Where you have to reach down deep and work thru the mental aspects of why you aren't improving like you used to, but you keep going because you love doing it so much.

mikemc620

I'm a powerlifter so never strong enough.

For a good general strength level I think 1rm aound 2x bw squat, 2.5xbw deadlift, 1.25xbw bench and .8xbw SOHP are good goals.

Based on your numbers I feel like I am a bit off. I am at 1.625x Squat, 1.825x Deadlift, 1.325x Bench and 0.8x OHP. My squat and deadlift really need to improve, but I think that everything does.

I don't think that I will ever become strong enough. Goals will always be set higher.

tomcornhole

In case anyone is still following this thread, I have determined the answer to the question for ME. My goal is to hit 1,000 lbs total between DL, squat and bench. No particular reason other than I need a goal to keep me motivated and that is as good as any. When I hit that, I will evaluate what I want to do next.

Tom

janer4jc

I'm 46 years old. I want to be strong because I don't want to lose muscle mass (as is typical at my age).
I do not believe I will ever be strong enough.

rainbow198

I'm always striving to be stronger. I remember wanting to do a proper push up on my toes. I did them on the wall and on the desk while I was building up my upper body strength. One day I tried to do one on the floor and was able to do three in a row. I kept going until I was able to do at least 20 non-stop.

Then I moved on to wanting to hold a plank. I did the same thing above and with lots of practice I am now able to do more advanced planks with ease.

Now I'm wanting to do proper chin-up and I will get there.

I'm always growing and wanting to challenge myself - not just regarding fitness but with life in general. I can't see myself ever saying "I'm strong enough so I will stop". There is always something else I can try to conquer.

It's been over 2 months since I posted the note above. I'm happy to report that I now can do 5 chin ups in a row! I'm now working toward being able to complete 10.

With practice, patience and dedication you all can achieve your personal goals...no matter how small it may seem to be.

Shawshankcan

So I started barbell lifting in March to see what that's all about. I liked it and set some simple goals: Deadlift 8 plates, Squat 6 plates, bench 4 plates and overhead press 2 plates. No particular reason for those except they are easy to remember and they seemed high enough to challenge me for a long time. I've made good progress and those goals are within sight. But then what? I don't need to be that strong. I don't need to lose weight. I don't need to add muscle. I don't want to keep beating the crap out of my body going for ever heavier weights. I would be perfectly happy getting to 5x5 at each of those weight goals and staying there forever.

So, why do you want to be strong and how strong do you want to be?

Tom

When someone says 4 plates, that means 405. I think you are meaning a 2 plate bench (225.)


That being said, its never enough. Short term goal is 600lb deadlift. As soon as I hit that, it will be a 635 deadlift and so forth.

DMZ_1

Hasn't happened for me yet.

rybo

I became strong enough a long time ago. But that doesn't mean I have to settle for that level of strength forever. While I no longer focus on going super heavy on the main lifts, I am trying to achieve other feats of strength. Whether it is a particular gymnastics hold or a certain number of reps of a difficult movement.

hazeljordan1974

I am at the beginning of my strength journey... For me I want to be able to lift my own body weight by way of a single chin up - I have a very long way to go before I get there, but I am hopeful. Oh yeah and I want to be able to do 40 squats without getting DOMS the next day!