May Progress
Replies
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Overheads are my nemesis.
I'm stuck at 50 lbs. I will deload to 45 next time, but I'm so frustrated with this one. I almost want to change to push press just so I can go up in weight.
Last time, I thought my form might be a little off, so I watched the Rippetoe videos again. My grip had become too narrow and I fixed that today, but I still couldn't finish at 50 lbs. Now, I started at 30, so there is some progress; it just doesn't feel like it.
Is there any ancillary work I could do that would help this? Dumbbell shoulder presses on my bench days or something?
Too funny because I'm trying to stop doing the push press so I can do the OHP! The one big difference, which Rae pointed out and I felt it during my sets on Friday, is the core work for OHP is great and I didn't feel it in my core at all on the push press. I think the smaller increment weights idea is great. I may have to do the same! Amazon...noted...0 -
Squats: 100
BP: 75
DL: 145
Sorry, while waiting in line at El Pollo Loco, I realized I recorded last night's workout wrong. I posted OP's when I actually did BP. I know nobody really cares, but since I'm just getting started here, I wanted to get my starting stats right. :-)0 -
Yeah, I know about the iron woody fractional plates, but I really can't afford to drop $50 on something right now.
I've seen some stuff about creating fractionals with chains from home depot; I might try that. . .0 -
Any reason why you did bench on deadlift day? You mentioned earlier about the starter program. Is that different than the online program? My understanding is you want to do bench followed by rows. Then workout B has OHP followed by deadlifts.Squats: 100
BP: 75
DL: 145
Sorry, while waiting in line at El Pollo Loco, I realized I recorded last night's workout wrong. I posted OP's when I actually did BP. I know nobody really cares, but since I'm just getting started here, I wanted to get my starting stats right. :-)0 -
Yeah, I know about the iron woody fractional plates, but I really can't afford to drop $50 on something right now.
I've seen some stuff about creating fractionals with chains from home depot; I might try that. . .
Yeah, $ is why I went with the ankle weights. I thought about chains but I'm pretty sure my boys would walk off with them.0 -
Yesterday was row day for me, and I think I may have tweaked my back. My lower back is a little sore, which could just be my back, or it could be tweaked. It does tend to get sore from time to time depending on specific workouts, but its more sore than normal....
I have a hard time with form on the rows. Is it ok to sub in a row type move on the nautilus???0 -
I have a hard time with form on the rows. Is it ok to sub in a row type move on the nautilus???
I wouldn't. I don't think doing it on the machine would give you the same benefits. Maybe try deloading and work on form? I've done it several times and find it helps.0 -
Yep, I'm a fan of deloading to work on form. I've done it extensively with squats. Tonight, I did it with OHP, from 65 lbs to 55 lbs. I had not failed 3x yet, only twice, but I felt my form was really suffering, so I went back down to 55 lbs. It was great tonight, really was able to focus on form instead of "oh *kitten*, this is heavy!"
I wouldn't. I don't think doing it on the machine would give you the same benefits. Maybe try deloading and work on form? I've done it several times and find it helps.I have a hard time with form on the rows. Is it ok to sub in a row type move on the nautilus???0 -
Last Wednesday I had my 5th session. I fixed my squat grip and it felt so much better! Squatted 40, and I'm going to try the empty bar today. Might struggle as I'm really sore from a football tournament all weekend, and the last time I squatted was last Wednesday (missed Friday cos I was travelling).
OHP today. I really struggled with this last week so I think it'd be silly to try to go to 40. Gonna stick on 30 and try to fix the form.
Deadlift, going to 75. Do you think height wise this is ok or do I need to stack plates under?0 -
thanks!!
too bad, I would have loved any excuse to avoid the row!:laugh:0 -
thanks!!
too bad, I would have loved any excuse to avoid the row!:laugh:
:laugh: You're not alone...:flowerforyou:0 -
Question for you ladies...
Last Sunday or Monday I started my second week of SL, so workout B was the 1st workout.
Due to a really crappy week,I wasn't able to get to the gym again.
Should I just "redo" my week 2? Also, I'll be in NYC the following week with no way to lift, so I'll be forced to take a week off then.
I'd love to hear your thoughts...0 -
Question for you ladies...
Last Sunday or Monday I started my second week of SL, so workout B was the 1st workout.
Due to a really crappy week,I wasn't able to get to the gym again.
Should I just "redo" my week 2? Also, I'll be in NYC the following week with no way to lift, so I'll be forced to take a week off then.
I'd love to hear your thoughts...
I stick to alternating when I have a couple of weeks like that to keep the different muscle groups and lifts fresh for when you get back into it, but I'm guessing it wouldn't make a huge difference either way!
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Boo to Monday...
Squats 110
Pend Row 90 failed set 3, 85 @ 5x5
Bench 65 fail set 1, 60 failed set 3, 55 @ 5x50 -
I hope it's OK to jump in here! I'm new here, new to lifting, new to the programme and trying to do it at home with just a barbell and weights. I'd been planning to start the New Rules of Lifting for Women programme, but when the book arrived it seemed too complicated. Stronglifts only had a few movements to learn.
I did Workout A two days ago, but obviously couldn't do the bench press without equipment. I'm substituting modified press-ups instead. I can't do a single press-up so am doing them on an incline to start with. I haven't included the barbell in the weight because I don't know how much it weighs. Squat 45 lb. Pendlay row 65 lb.
I did Workout B today. Squat 50 lb. Deadlift 95 lb. I tried the overhead press at 45 lb as recommended, but it wasn't going anywhere. It felt so heavy that I dropped right down to 30 lb. I managed a few, but then couldn't move it at all. I felt as if I should still be able to lift it, but it just wouldn't move! I suppose that's "failure". I haven't tried with a lighter weight, but next time I might start at 20 lb and try to build up from there. I'm not sure why I found this so difficult.
I also had a problem with the squat as it's so difficult to judge parallel without a mirror that I decided to squat right down. And then I couldn't get up again! So I need to work on that. It's the last/lowest bit of the squat that I find the hardest.0 -
Welcome!
I went ahead and just restarted week 2...
Squats: 90lbs
OHP: 55
DL: 95
I'm a skeered about 60 lb OHP. My first 2 sets, I can pump out no prob, but I struggle on reps 3-5 for sets 3-5. Coincidence?0 -
Well, you're already superstrong, Dot (aka the other Amy:). I have not been increasing 5 lbs each time, usually 2.5 with the little magnetic weights...0
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I also had a problem with the squat as it's so difficult to judge parallel without a mirror that I decided to squat right down. And then I couldn't get up again! So I need to work on that. It's the last/lowest bit of the squat that I find the hardest.
Could you get a mirror? or record yourself on your phone or other device, but if you could squat even without weight in a mirror you might be able to tell your brain what parrallel feels like. I can't see a mirror when I am squating in the power rack, but there are other mirrors and just get the form right and see how it feels.0 -
Has anyone gained weight doing this, even with calorie deficit???
I started SL the first week of May and weight was 173. One week later down to 172 and the past 10 days weight is holding steady at 175, which is 15 pounds higher than I was a year ago. THe scale is totally giong in the wrong direction and I am getting freaked out.
Measurements are about the same. Hard to tell, because not sure if I measure in exactly the same spot, but if there is change, its negligible.
My clothes have been getting tighter as the scale has creeped up.....The past 2 weeks I cut back cals a little and this week I am cutting back more.....0 -
Oh, derp, Amy. I forgot I could use the 2.5 pounders. :laugh:0
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Has anyone gained weight doing this, even with calorie deficit???
I started SL the first week of May and weight was 173. One week later down to 172 and the past 10 days weight is holding steady at 175, which is 15 pounds higher than I was a year ago. THe scale is totally giong in the wrong direction and I am getting freaked out.
Measurements are about the same. Hard to tell, because not sure if I measure in exactly the same spot, but if there is change, its negligible.
My clothes have been getting tighter as the scale has creeped up.....The past 2 weeks I cut back cals a little and this week I am cutting back more.....
Yes, and it is creeping off slowly. The size should start decreasing for you soon even if you don't see a drop on the scale. I took pictures when I started sl then I took pictures at my 1 month mark and saw no change. I took my 2 month pictures this weekend and even though the scale and measuring tape showed very little change, the pictures showed loss in areas I didn't even consider. You have to have a little faith in the process. It is hard to be patient when you don't see quick changes or fat/weight isn't falling off of you as fast as it seems to for others but things are happening.0 -
Squats 5x5 #90, BP 5x5 #65, Rows 5x5 #85
Weight and inches holding steady.0 -
Has anyone gained weight doing this, even with calorie deficit???
I started SL the first week of May and weight was 173. One week later down to 172 and the past 10 days weight is holding steady at 175, which is 15 pounds higher than I was a year ago. THe scale is totally giong in the wrong direction and I am getting freaked out.
Measurements are about the same. Hard to tell, because not sure if I measure in exactly the same spot, but if there is change, its negligible.
My clothes have been getting tighter as the scale has creeped up.....The past 2 weeks I cut back cals a little and this week I am cutting back more.....
I stayed in the same three pound range (187-190) for about . . .3? 3.5? weeks. The scale is finally moving (down) now.
In the beginning, you will hold on to water when your muscles are recovering and such. Don't worry about it unless it lasts longer than 4 or 5 weeks.0 -
My water retention lasted longer than 4 weeks, for the record, it basically lasted the whole time I was doing the program (6 weeks) and it only dropped when I took my vacation (Which has turned into a pretty dang long break from lifting for that matter).
Actually the first 2 weeks when it was still really light (for me) I was still dropping but when the weights increased my weight shot up like 3-5 lbs and stayed there.
and on that note I am FINALLY getting back to the gym today. We had a nearly 21 day break because of vacation + getting sick, soooo we'll see how it goes.0 -
Any reason why you did bench on deadlift day? You mentioned earlier about the starter program. Is that different than the online program? My understanding is you want to do bench followed by rows. Then workout B has OHP followed by deadlifts.Squats: 100
BP: 75
DL: 145
Sorry, while waiting in line at El Pollo Loco, I realized I recorded last night's workout wrong. I posted OP's when I actually did BP. I know nobody really cares, but since I'm just getting started here, I wanted to get my starting stats right. :-)
I am doing the program from Rippetoe's Starting Strength, which is in a different order. Everything else is the same. But deadlifts follow bench press and BO rows follow OHP. I'm thinking this Mehdi guy doesn't want Stronglifts to appear to be a direct rip off of Starting Strength, so he switched up the order. It won't matter.
Monday:
Squats: 105
OHP: 50
BO Row: 850 -
OH GOD. OH GOD IT HURT SO BAD WHY DID IT HURT OH GOD.
Ok so I'm a MORON and I waltzed in, did 2 empty bar sets while I was waiting for a rack, thought "oh well its a deload so that's enough warmup" and the empty bar sets felt FIIIIINE, loaded up my 130, and basically DESTROYED my hamstrings in 2 squats. It probably would have been fine if I'd been lifting for the last 3 weeks. It probably would have been fine if I'm done a serious proper warmup before I went to my work weight. but neither of these things was true. And therefore, it hurt, oh god did it ever hurt.
I deloaded to 115 and figuratively limped through 3 sets of those before I was done with that.
Rest of it went fine, bench went surprisingly well because I think that's not something where you can get quite so stiff being as you use your arms and shoulders all day. Heck I dunno. but OW. OW. OW OW.
I don't think its an injury, per se, I just think I pulled them a bit. I'm off to foam roll.0 -
do you guys think i should just go and work back up from 120 on my squats or jump back up to 130 with a proper warmup? I can't decide what might be best.0
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In the beginning, you will hold on to water when your muscles are recovering and such. Don't worry about it unless it lasts longer than 4 or 5 weeks.My water retention lasted longer than 4 weeks, for the record, it basically lasted the whole time I was doing the program (6 weeks) and it only dropped when I took my vacation (Which has turned into a pretty dang long break from lifting for that matter).
"I will not freak out about this; I will not freak out about this; I will not freak out about this..."
It's been over 2 months. The scale has not budged. My measurements haven't changed either, even though I look better in my "after" pictures.0 -
Finally squatted the empty bar! Yay!
There were one or 2 where I wasn't sure if I hit parallel but overall went well.
OHP: Really struggling with this. Got it up but I'm doing this weird head thing and it's uneven. Basically my form is atrocious. A friend said it's probably because the 30lb is a tad too heavy, my form is good with 20, but the 20 is too light and no 25. So I'm gonna keep going with 30 til I can sort the form.
Dead: 75. It felt heavy but good.0 -
In the beginning, you will hold on to water when your muscles are recovering and such. Don't worry about it unless it lasts longer than 4 or 5 weeks.My water retention lasted longer than 4 weeks, for the record, it basically lasted the whole time I was doing the program (6 weeks) and it only dropped when I took my vacation (Which has turned into a pretty dang long break from lifting for that matter).
"I will not freak out about this; I will not freak out about this; I will not freak out about this..."
It's been over 2 months. The scale has not budged. My measurements haven't changed either, even though I look better in my "after" pictures.
I'm right there with ya. 0
This discussion has been closed.