What is the hardest lift for you?

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Replies

  • Posts: 1,594 Member

    I can't speak with any expertise, but I looking at the example on the Medhi's site that sounds about right.

    Thank you for mentioning the site. Went there and this is want I found:
    In fact, Coach Glenn Pendlay MS USAW (who taught me this very Barbell Row technique years ago) has done EMG studies comparing every single possible variation of Barbell Rows. Guess what he discovered?

    Barbell Rows Done With The Bar Returning To
    The Floor On Each Rep Strengthen Your Back, Lats And
    Traps More Than Any Other Barbell Row Variation!
  • Posts: 693 Member
    Just failed my first 5x5 on the overhead press at 95 lbs. 5-4-2-2-1. Now the tracking gets a little more complicated!
  • Posts: 473 Member
    I'm kind of curious how everyone was doing BOR's before that you find this classic version so much different. Back position was always parallel or very close to it. The only difference is pulling each rep from the floor, allowing more weight. You start with a slight hip extension to break the weight from the floor before pulling with the arms, so that action brings your back angle up slightly. I find these much more comfortable since I don't have to deal with the bar hanging from my hands for reps.
  • Posts: 3,399 Member
    Just failed my first 5x5 on the overhead press at 95 lbs. 5-4-2-2-1. Now the tracking gets a little more complicated!

    hit my fist failure on overheads at 100 lbs, Saturday will be my 3rd try on 100 I sure hope I break through. I was close on the second try. as far as tracking I am using the excel spreadsheet he sends out and just delete the formula in the cell you want to change and add in the number, it will add up from there in the following cells. good luck to breaking through :)
  • Overhead press and barbell rows. OHP is just plain difficult, BBR feels so awkward still...
  • Posts: 105 Member
    overhead press!

    also my left arm fails much sooner than my right. i think it makes me seem like a cartoon character. ugh.
  • Posts: 693 Member
    On my next overhead press day I allowed 5 min between sets and I was able to hit 5x5 this time. So on to try 100 next time!
  • Posts: 127 Member
    Overhead press!

    Going to hit 30kg this week and I think I can see my first fail lurking around, haha.
  • Posts: 266
    I need to revise my original pick, OP. Turns out it is squats. For the second time I have tweaked my quad trying for a new PR. No problems with my body holding up with the other lifts.
  • Posts: 473 Member
    I need to revise my original pick, OP. Turns out it is squats. For the second time I have tweaked my quad trying for a new PR. No problems with my body holding up with the other lifts.

    Did you read in Practical Programming about cyclists and squatting? How cyclists tend to be able to lift heavier loads than most beginning lifters, but since cycling is all concentric, cyclists have not developed the strength to handle the eccentric portion of a heavy squat., and thus need to be careful not to go too heavy too soon. I don't know how hardcore of a cyclist you are or how fast you've been progressing on your squat. Just thought it might be something to look at.
  • Posts: 3,399 Member
    Finally broke through the 100# overhead press.. took a couple weeks and a drop back to 95#, but I finally got it. :drinker:
  • Posts: 8,934 Member
    Finally broke through the 100# overhead press.. took a couple weeks and a drop back to 95#, but I finally got it. :drinker:

    Woohoo way to go! That one is a b*tch!
  • Posts: 764 Member
    Rows. I hate rows. I think it my very vell be impossible to do the stronglifts style of rows with proper form and frequently find myself reverting to typical rows rowed to the stomach in order to keep my back straight.
  • Posts: 473 Member
    Rows. I hate rows. I think it my very vell be impossible to do the stronglifts style of rows with proper form and frequently find myself reverting to typical rows rowed to the stomach in order to keep my back straight.

    I'm confused. The rows in Starting Strength, where the description specifies breaking the bar off the floor with straight elbows and a sight hip extension, then rowing the bar to the upper stomach, are identical to the rows in Stronglifts. Not saying these are easy, but the only difference I see in form between these and typical rows is starting from the floor and the hip extension that brings your back into the usual start position. I like these better because I get a break when the bar goes back to the floor and I get to reset my back position. What am I missing as I keep hearing similar complaints? Unless you don't maintain your back parallel to the ground when you're doing common rows.
  • Posts: 764 Member
    Stronglifts utilizes the "pendlay" row, where you stand with your back paralell to the floor and row from the floor to your chest. The movement is supposed to look like the opposite of a bench press. Rowing to my chest without rounding my back is hard for me. When I get the bar about 80% up I start to raise up. I can do the same weight rowing from the floor to my stomach (starting strength style) and keep my back straight though.
  • Posts: 764 Member
    Rows in strong lifts and starting strength both differ from "common" rows, in the most typical variation of raows you see people doing you stand with a straight back at a 45 degree or so angle and row to your stomach and return the weight to full extension of your arms so that you are still holding the weight at just above your knees. Common rows you dont stand bent over paralel to the floor and you are not returning the weight to the floor on each rep.
  • Posts: 473 Member
    Rows in strong lifts and starting strength both differ from "common" rows, in the most typical variation of raows you see people doing you stand with a straight back at a 45 degree or so angle and row to your stomach and return the weight to full extension of your arms so that you are still holding the weight at just above your knees. Common rows you dont stand bent over paralel to the floor and you are not returning the weight to the floor on each rep.

    You're right I guess that most people don't do common rows with their back parallel to the ground, but that is how I learned to do them, so the transition was easier for me I guess. I believe that they are intended to be done with back parallel and, as with many other exercises, form has been compromised in order to lift heavier weights. The fact that Rippetoe refers to rows from the floor as classic rows implies this is what a BBB row was intended to be. But I mostly commented because you mentioned having to revert to rows rowed to the stomach...which is how the classic row is described by Rippetoe, so you're not that far off. Maybe with a slightly different angle, but you're supposed to slam the bar into your stomach. Before reading Rip's description, I had always rowed to my ribcage with common rows.
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