Stage 1

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  • Beeps2011
    Beeps2011 Posts: 12,150 Member
    It was only me and one guy in the weight room, today. I was on the squat rack and he was in this open area, with an OB and about, oh 200 lbs on it. I really wasn't paying attention to him, as I worked through my weight-training.

    BUT, at one point, he hoisted the bar, it was too heavy (he was obviously getting tired...) and he fell backward while it pinned him down on his chest!!

    (I saw this in the mirror reflection....)

    I didn't do ANYTHING. He hopped out of it and moved around and I thought, "...there's staff here to help you, DUDE, go ask for a SPOT...."

    Anyway, he didn't, and he tried the weight, again, and just kept doing it. He did, maybe, 10 sets of 2-4 reps each.

    (Oh yeah, and BIG TORSO GUY, with spindly little legs...)

    Keep squatting girls!!
  • aregensb
    aregensb Posts: 239 Member
    Dorito Dudes.

    That is very silly to me. He's asking for an injury by doing that.
  • carrie_eggo
    carrie_eggo Posts: 1,396 Member
    It was only me and one guy in the weight room, today. I was on the squat rack and he was in this open area, with an OB and about, oh 200 lbs on it. I really wasn't paying attention to him, as I worked through my weight-training.

    BUT, at one point, he hoisted the bar, it was too heavy (he was obviously getting tired...) and he fell backward while it pinned him down on his chest!!

    (I saw this in the mirror reflection....)

    I didn't do ANYTHING. He hopped out of it and moved around and I thought, "...there's staff here to help you, DUDE, go ask for a SPOT...."

    Anyway, he didn't, and he tried the weight, again, and just kept doing it. He did, maybe, 10 sets of 2-4 reps each.

    (Oh yeah, and BIG TORSO GUY, with spindly little legs...)

    Keep squatting girls!!

    :O ...my mouth is hanging open.....lol
  • samntha14
    samntha14 Posts: 2,084 Member
    My book arrived today! Reading up this weekend and getting ready to start on Monday. Gotta say I'm a little nervous about squatting the bar. I've read, I've watched the videos, I've practiced the moves, but #1 afraid of looking like an idiot and #2 afraid of hurting myself
  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    I figured today I'd end up pulling my weight back since I haven't been feeling so hot but I surprised myself. I kept my dead lifts at 90 for all three sets but didn't drop the weight down at all like I thought I might. I actually increased the weight on my lunges, shoulder presses, pull downs and weighted crunches which was pretty surprising to me! And I felt better after my workout so that was a nice bonus.

    Before I get scolded about working out sick, I think I'm gluten intolerant and was feeling it this week. My daughter is for sure so the whole family is mostly GF since it's just easier and most of our food is from scratch anyway. We don't eat much bread, pasta or stuff like that and what we do eat I can make from scratch so I haven't really had anything with gluten for awhile. Well this week I splurged and had some fish sticks that were in the freezer and then I had some bread two days in a row. I was feeling it a little bit earlier in the week but didn't really figure out what was happening until yesterday when I really, really felt like crap! All my old symptoms came back (joint pain, muscle pain, extreme fatigue and a very unhappy digestive track). Now that I know I'll be careful about it but I have to get through this part first. I even took a nap for the first time in forever today!
  • keiraev
    keiraev Posts: 695 Member
    Finished workout B2 last night! Can't do A3 until Monday now- don't feel as sore today though so going to up the weights next time :happy:
  • LoveLiveLift
    LoveLiveLift Posts: 459 Member
    Does anyone else find it easier to go heavier on the squats than the deadlifts? I'm at 105 lbs with my squat in workout 4A, but I'm only at 85 lbs with my deadlift in workout 4B. (I'm starting workout 5 next week). I'm wondering if part of it is fear of me hurting my back that holding me back from lifting more for the deadlift.
  • Beeps2011
    Beeps2011 Posts: 12,150 Member
    I am heavier on my back-squats than on my deadlifts.
  • grapenutSF
    grapenutSF Posts: 648 Member
    my impression has been that everyone (but me) lifts heavier on squats than on deadlifts. i was wondering if this was a sign of an imbalance in my muscles or if it's just something that varies from person to person.
  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    I'm actually the opposite. My deadlifts are heavier than my squats. Not by a whole lot, only about 15 pounds but still. I don't know how much progress I'm going to make on the squats for a little bit though since I need a power rack. I'll be getting one but until I do I don't want to go much heavier out of safety concerns (I lift at home.)
  • ruststar
    ruststar Posts: 489 Member
    I was much stronger on my deadlifts than my squats - I could do 145 lbs on the deadlift and only got to 95 on squats by the time I finished the program.Now I'm working on a new program to help me build up weight in both areas and I hope to surpass those numbers by a large amount in the next couple of months.
  • Jenlwb
    Jenlwb Posts: 682 Member
    i read on the bodyrecomposition website that a general target for serious lifters could be 300 bench 400 squat 500 DL-

    I'm a little newbie to heavy weights, so i'm currenly the same for each (26kg/67lbs after 4b). But i have the same prob as Knittnponder- I'm at home, no power cage, and my squat rack is not the best. I think my DL will go higher as my squat will be limited. That's ok!
  • LoveLiveLift
    LoveLiveLift Posts: 459 Member
    Thanks for all the replies. @grapenutSF-I was wondering if my muscles were imbalanced too. It seems like there is quite a bit of variation out there. I'm just going to continue to do my best. I want to try to get my deadlift closer to my squat numbers, but we'll see.
  • Beeps2011
    Beeps2011 Posts: 12,150 Member
    Just "WOW" at the general targets for serious lifters, Jen!!!!!

    At this point, I'd like to be able to lift my body-weight on both DL and squats. And, once I can do that, I'll aim for BW+50, or some such thing. Because I have NO GOOD SENSE of how LONG it will take to get to these types of "goals", I just keep plugging along, believing it's out there, somewhere.

    ....and, in the meantime, I set smaller goals to achieve (like push-ups, chin-ups, blah, blah, blah).
  • Jenlwb
    Jenlwb Posts: 682 Member
    Beeps, i suspect those targets are for men with some chemical assistance!

    I have a query- i MAY have been doing the step-ups wrong. The book is not clear, but between each rep do you also take the active leg down to the floor, or does that stay up on the step for the whole 10/12 reps? I had been totally stepping down both feet until now.

    I also paid more attention today to using ONLY the active leg and not pushing off from the back foot- Way harder!! Will be sticking with 2 x 8kg dumbells for another session methinks.

    Still loving this :love:
  • grapenutSF
    grapenutSF Posts: 648 Member


    I have a query- i MAY have been doing the step-ups wrong. The book is not clear, but between each rep do you also take the active leg down to the floor, or does that stay up on the step for the whole 10/12 reps? I had been totally stepping down both feet until now.
    I like this version:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQqApCGd5Ss
  • cgrout78
    cgrout78 Posts: 1,628 Member
    I was much stronger on my deadlifts than my squats - I could do 145 lbs on the deadlift and only got to 95 on squats by the time I finished the program.Now I'm working on a new program to help me build up weight in both areas and I hope to surpass those numbers by a large amount in the next couple of months.

    I'm stronger on deadlifts too...i am doing 75 deadlift, but only 65 squats...
  • badgerbadger1
    badgerbadger1 Posts: 954 Member
    I need a new gym. They have ONE bar there and it's only 5 ft. No squat rack, they seem to be out of vogue here, arghs.

    I'm starting my 1B tomorrow.
  • cgrout78
    cgrout78 Posts: 1,628 Member
    i did my first set of squats on the smith machine because I was scared of using the squat rack and a REAL bar...but then I decided to balls up and just do it. I'm lucky that my gym is pretty tricked out, and has 2 of each, but it's a ymca and so they have pretty much everything.
  • jenniebean1680
    jenniebean1680 Posts: 350 Member
    Yeah, dude, I used the smith rack today. I liked it but hope to switch over to the regular rack in the next couple of weeks. :)
  • Jenlwb
    Jenlwb Posts: 682 Member

    Thanks Grapenut, that's really good. Turns out i'd been doing it wrong :ohwell: Not anymore! Interesting about the thigh no higher than 90 degree angle, if i had gone higher than my 13" step it would be too high by her standards. And my knackered hips would probably dislocate :wink:

    Deadlift day tomorrow, gonna try to get it more than my squat weight.
  • Beeps2011
    Beeps2011 Posts: 12,150 Member
    One of the reasons NOT to take the feet back down to the floor before repeating a step-up is the BALANCE issue. If you have to keep re-positioning your foot on the bench, you really might be affecting your balance. So, I don't keep re-positioning my foot. Once my foot is on the bench, it's on the bench for the duration of the set.
  • Jenlwb
    Jenlwb Posts: 682 Member
    Sounds good Beeps. Also feels less like a 90s step class too!
  • DarkAngellEyes
    DarkAngellEyes Posts: 317 Member

    Thanks Grapenut, that's really good. Turns out i'd been doing it wrong :ohwell: Not anymore! Interesting about the thigh no higher than 90 degree angle, if i had gone higher than my 13" step it would be too high by her standards. And my knackered hips would probably dislocate :wink:

    wow - I've been doing them wrong this whole time too! Oops!! looking forward to doing them CORRECTLY tomorrow! haha
  • sarah_ep
    sarah_ep Posts: 580 Member
    Hey guys,

    I was dumb this weekend. I wanted to move the couch to vacuum underneath so employed my boyfriend to help. I figured it wouldn't be hard, just like a deadlift! The first time we moved it it was fine. But the second time, as soon as I got up I knew I had done something wrong. I had back spasms all night. That was Saturday, I am feeling better though still store. I am hoping to start lifting again on Wednesday. Do you guys think 5 days is enough?
  • Beeps2011
    Beeps2011 Posts: 12,150 Member
    Hmmmm, backs are a TRICKY thing, sarah. Maybe go and see the chiropractor or a physiotherapist, first.

    And, are you icing it?? Try to ice it for 10 minutes, every hour.
  • Beeps2011
    Beeps2011 Posts: 12,150 Member
    I have to do step-ups, today, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to retreat to a smaller step. I am going to try STARTING on the top of the step and then go, DOWN/UP to avoid ANY "pushing off with back leg". I'll keep dumbbells in my hand, for balance. But, I bet anything, my hip is gonna swing WAY out to the side....which is MY sign that my glutes are doing NOTHING and my tendons/ligatments are being overworked.

    We shall see. But, this is my fear for today.
  • gillleeman
    gillleeman Posts: 397 Member
    I'm a sports therapist in the UK, where abouts are you feeling the pain in the knee?

    Right around my kneecap - like to either side of the kneecap itself. I'm doing WB3 today so I'll see if it happens again (it happened in lunges the last workout). It's not really "pain" yet... really just a negative feeling more like pressure then pain. It just makes me nervous to push the weight up any more in those exercises - but, in the squats - I'm not "feeling it" anywhere else...
    Lunges utilise the adductor magnus muscle (inner thigh), whereas the squat does not. You may find these are excessively tight and feel tender when pressed. When we stretch we are good at stretching the quads and hamstrings but not always the adductors. Tight adductors can also lead to lower back ache (although you haven't mentioned this, its just some added information :wink:). Tight adductors can be pulling the knee out of balance causing the pressure around the kneecap itself, so can tight hamstring and quads. Hope this helps.
  • gillleeman
    gillleeman Posts: 397 Member
    Hey guys,

    I was dumb this weekend. I wanted to move the couch to vacuum underneath so employed my boyfriend to help. I figured it wouldn't be hard, just like a deadlift! The first time we moved it it was fine. But the second time, as soon as I got up I knew I had done something wrong. I had back spasms all night. That was Saturday, I am feeling better though still store. I am hoping to start lifting again on Wednesday. Do you guys think 5 days is enough?
    Hi Sarah I'm a sports therapist in the UK. Definately ice the area for 3 days, then replace that with heat after 72 hours. If you think its muscular (not disc related) gently incorporate back stretches (google these for ideas) and try to keep as mobile as possible. Can you get your boyfriend to massage the area after the third day. Heat area first for 5 mins, then massage concentrating on tender area) then heat again. Only exercise if back feeling a lot better, but going to a lower weight just for that days workout. If all ok return to new weight next time. Hope this helps. If in doubt on the day leave to next appointed day. Keep stretching as much as you can.
  • sarah_ep
    sarah_ep Posts: 580 Member
    Thank you Beep and Gillee!

    Beeps - It is something I have done before, years ago and it feels the same. I don't feel the pain warrants a doctor's attention, I just think I need to lay off and give it time to heal.

    Gillee - I am positive it is not disc related and I have been icing. I was planning on starting heat therapy today and just do a little cardio. Starting again with lower weights is a good idea, and something I was already thinking about.

    Thanks for the pointers guys!

    I am more dissapointed than anything I have to take an early break. I was actually starting to see small results in the waist area and I loved rate at which I was progressing. Rather be safe than sorry and make anything worse.