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February Check-n-chat: Bada$$ B!tches do it with barbells

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  • Will_Thrust_For_Candy
    Will_Thrust_For_Candy Posts: 6,109 Member
    Bahaha Tree you kill me :laugh: That just might be the longest post yet in one of our monthly threads! I loved every minute of it though :happy:

    Question in regards to what you wrote about the bench tips and lifting to high. WTF do you mean by that? :laugh: I don't understand how you can bench too high so clearly I'm missing something :huh:

    I hope you feel better soon :flowerforyou:

    Oh and BTW....my *kitten* is screaming at me because of all the badassery that happened this morning. This is good though as it means I am one day closer to having a Chive-worthy *kitten* :bigsmile:
  • darwinforyou
    darwinforyou Posts: 988 Member
    so much to read.....oh my.

    wannabeahotmom - lotsa controversial stuffs in your post! On the "so you think you can squat" videos on youtube, they actually talk about where you're supposed to look, they actually tell you on there that you shouldn't look at the horizon (straight ahead). I look up and I haven't had any back pain from it.

    Same with belts - I don't think any ladies here wear belts? We do deload and work on form though -



    Vegas!!! You are seriously lifting some crazy *kitten* numbers!!!! Way to go chica!!!

    Tree - I always want to use a tree reference with you. Call you pine one day, maye spruce, redwood....the majestic oak. So many names....but I'd feel like a super huge dork.

    So anyways.....feeling kinda down actually, just had a call from my family that a bunch aren't coming to my wedding. I'm seriously starting to feel like a bridezilla here - so happy one minute, breaking down in tears the next.....WHY DIDN'T WE ELOPE???????

    I'm feeling stressed. So therefore I lift and drink out of penis straws.

    Here's my numbers today -

    Squatty squat 1x5 95 1x5 100 2x5 110 1x5 115 - My goal is do 120 next time which will be A PERSONAL RECORD! (i like caps today).

    rows 5x5 70

    benchpress 5x5 70 - I would have tried 75 were there anyone else there to ask to spot me. Alas....twas only pre-pubescent lads.

    I think I need a bottle of wine tonight.
  • Fittreelol
    Fittreelol Posts: 2,535 Member
    By too "high" on bench I meant like too far towards your head, which can make for sad shoulders.

    I fly my dork flag high! No pun or reference is too cheesy for me. I wear wayfarers so I feel it balances things out. Don't want people thinking I'm too cool :glasses: :bigsmile:
  • fisherlassie
    fisherlassie Posts: 542 Member
    Tameko I went for years without actually going barefoot. I would even wear my Birkenstocks to go to the bathroom in the night. I was so heavy and my arches were so weak and everything hurt so much back then. Now that we do aikido I am barefoot on the mat at the dojo and my feet have gotten much stronger. I do wear shoes most of the time but I'm not obsessive about it any more.

    I was just thinking how much I miss aikido. Unfortunately I felt my sensei was handing out belts just to earn more money, and most of us weren't actually earning them (I was working on my brown when I left, and I had only been there about a year). Of course, that was about five years ago, so I guess I could have found another dojo since then, but I never did.

    I finally had a workout that kicked my *kitten*. I tried squats at 65lbs, but my form was lacking, so I dropped down to 60. I'll be there for the week and then assess. For some reason I thought I had made it to 85 when I hurt my knee, but I was only to 65, so I've been too ambitious in adding 10lbs per week. So, I'll stick with adding 5 per week and making sure my form stays clean. Tried OHP at 52.5 and kind of made it through two sets. And DL finally felt difficult! Actually had to rest before moving the bar back to the squat rack to unload. My legs feel like jello. Finally! I've killed my upper body before, but nice to have finally killed the bottom half. Woohoo!

    Brown belt in one year is very fast! We are coming up on two years. We started in the "parent" class which means we move through the levels with colored belts just like the kids. My son is blue belt and my husband and I are green belts. In the Adult class we are all white belts. It is too bad you didn't find another dojo. I think there really is a big difference between them. Our sensei is amazing. He is such a good example for our son. It's never too late!! ; )
  • fisherlassie
    fisherlassie Posts: 542 Member
    Well I'm back at it today!! I did a little workout today with just the bar on everything. (Squat, Bench, row) It felt really good to use my back in a nice gentle way. I didn't even feel sad or discouraged. I will work my way up and I'm sure it won't take too long ...Right?
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
    Super busy today, not much time, seems like everyone is doing good.

    So re: Belts.

    Belts are not fundamentally bad. But the reason you see a lot of negativity about them, is that a) people use them improperly and b) people don't learn proper form, they just jam a belt on and hope that helps. And, it will, but you're missing out on all the core stabilization development you'd be getting without one.

    You SHOULD learn to develop your ability to stabilize your spine without the belt. Normal and 'recommended' usage, for those getting up to squat numbers that require a belt, would be to do your lighter work without a belt and only put on the belt for your sets that are like 75-80% of your 1rm and up.

    For the person that was struggling before putting on a belt (forgot who it was) -- At the very least, I'd recommend you start doing your warmup sets without the belt. Ideally, I'd recommend you deload and learn to squat without one. Depending on what you're doing this for of course, but for me and I think most of the ladies here, we value the squat as a movement because it hits SO many muscle groups at once, both small and large. I also think your squat number is lagging a bit more than I would expect behind your other lifts, which makes me think there's something you could improve (probably hip drive , that's the biggest possible issue)

    For everyone else - if you get to the point that you feel like you need a belt to increase your weights, its probably time to move to an intermediate program and try that before you buy a belt. Unless you're one of the rare people who do very well on 3x5 forever - but most people find that straight sets at that volume is too much and they start to burnout.

    And for a useful bit of information: Partial valsalvas!

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/breathing-during-weight-training.html
  • Will_Thrust_For_Candy
    Will_Thrust_For_Candy Posts: 6,109 Member
    Super busy today, not much time, seems like everyone is doing good.

    So re: Belts.

    Belts are not fundamentally bad. But the reason you see a lot of negativity about them, is that a) people use them improperly and b) people don't learn proper form, they just jam a belt on and hope that helps. And, it will, but you're missing out on all the core stabilization development you'd be getting without one.

    You SHOULD learn to develop your ability to stabilize your spine without the belt. Normal and 'recommended' usage, for those getting up to squat numbers that require a belt, would be to do your lighter work without a belt and only put on the belt for your sets that are like 75-80% of your 1rm and up.

    For the person that was struggling before putting on a belt (forgot who it was) -- At the very least, I'd recommend you start doing your warmup sets without the belt. Ideally, I'd recommend you deload and learn to squat without one. Depending on what you're doing this for of course, but for me and I think most of the ladies here, we value the squat as a movement because it hits SO many muscle groups at once, both small and large. I also think your squat number is lagging a bit more than I would expect behind your other lifts, which makes me think there's something you could improve (probably hip drive , that's the biggest possible issue)

    For everyone else - if you get to the point that you feel like you need a belt to increase your weights, its probably time to move to an intermediate program and try that before you buy a belt. Unless you're one of the rare people who do very well on 3x5 forever - but most people find that straight sets at that volume is too much and they start to burnout.

    And for a useful bit of information: Partial valsalvas!

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/breathing-during-weight-training.html

    Tameko as usual you sum up the whole belt topic incredibly well. I narrowly avoided this debate as my man friend is a big believer in them (probably because the "bro's" at the gym are) and he is encouraging me to start using one only so that I can lift more. :huh: I'm progressing fine without one....sooooo......why on earth would I use one :laugh: I have also read that if you injure yourself while wearing a belt that the injury will usually be worse than without a belt. Meh, I'm not closed to it but really at the numbers I'm putting up I really don't think that its necessary at this point! For some reason I'm also thinking that I just read in the SL archives that Mehdi recommends going the way of the belt if you have stalled at least 3 times on squat, but not before then. I could be wrong about that being where I read that info though!
  • a_vettestingray
    a_vettestingray Posts: 654 Member
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/breathing-during-weight-training.htm

    Tameko - That article was amazing. It finally explained the breathing technique in a way I can understand! I have been struggling with breathing in deep (I was filling my chest - not my stomach) and stabilizing my spine using IAP. Just tell me to push out like I am trying to push out a poop makes everything click! :laugh:
  • vegannlg
    vegannlg Posts: 170 Member
    Whoop! A banner day to report -- at least for me.

    Today was a B day, my fav. too (what is it about deadlifting?)

    Squat: 80 #
    OHP: 46 # (s t u c k)
    Deaelift: 100 #!! Whoop! Felt so good!

    @ fisherlassie:45# sounds like a welcome break, despite my excitement over progress. Just keep doing what you're doing. Can I just say I covet your squat cage?? I even covet the carpet under it. Basement floor is cold and hard for crunches.
  • sarahz5
    sarahz5 Posts: 1,363 Member
    Doh! I think we need a poll on squat gaze. :D Rippetoe says NOT to look up! Mehdi looks down! I do something just below the horizon, I guess. I wonder if it's the difference between a high bar and low bar squat. If you do a high bar your body will be naturally straighter and looking up makes more sense.

    Lots of other reply-worthy stuff but I just got home from my Women's Tri Club's kick off meeting and I'm beat. I will say that I also find Tree hilarious. <falls asleep at keyboard.....z.zzzzzzzz>
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
    Doh! I think we need a poll on squat gaze. :D Rippetoe says NOT to look up! Mehdi looks down! I do something just below the horizon, I guess. I wonder if it's the difference between a high bar and low bar squat. If you do a high bar your body will be naturally straighter and looking up makes more sense.

    Lots of other reply-worthy stuff but I just got home from my Women's Tri Club's kick off meeting and I'm beat. I will say that I also find Tree hilarious. <falls asleep at keyboard.....z.zzzzzzzz>

    Most people say neutral gaze - my take on it is, whatever feels comfortable. But looking up is comfortable for NO one. The only reason I can think taht people started doing it is to kind of push their traps back and provide more padding for the bar? But you can do that without tilting your head, and if you squat low bar its irrelevant either way.

    I honestly can't imagine looking up, it hurts my neck to do it WITHOUT having a 150 lb barbell on my back.
  • zorreena
    zorreena Posts: 267 Member
    Okay I'm sure I saw it here. I don't know how tomsearchnthreads so going to ask a question I know was answered. I need a good recommendation for a protein powder with no artificial sugars. I HATE the flavor and they give me the ****s. I just suffered through my last jar but I'm not buying that again! I feel so silly for asking this again.
  • LKG31
    LKG31 Posts: 92 Member
    Good morning ladies!!!

    Last night I did 1x5 100# deadlift!! Only a few weeks into the SL program and I'm so proud of myself! I also increased my OHP and Squat by 5# each. I can just feel myself getting stronger and it freakin' rocks! :happy:
  • arikag
    arikag Posts: 94 Member
    I'm in my 10 week of Strong Lifts, but I'm new to this group- hi everyone!

    I started at:

    Squats- 50
    Chest Press- 30
    Row- 40
    Deadlifts- 40
    OHP- 30

    Now at 10 weeks in:

    Squats- 105
    Chest Press- 60
    Row- 75
    Deadlifts- 100
    OHP- 50

    Feeling pretty good about my progress, although I'm taking it sort of slow with the weight adding to make sure I don't over do it. I also started doing 10 reps x 5 sets and as I add weight more frequently, I'm now doing the recommended 5 reps x 5 sets
  • FluffyDogsRule
    FluffyDogsRule Posts: 366 Member
    I'm in my 10 week of Strong Lifts, but I'm new to this group- hi everyone!

    I started at:

    Squats- 50
    Chest Press- 30
    Row- 40
    Deadlifts- 40
    OHP- 30

    Now at 10 weeks in:

    Squats- 105
    Chest Press- 60
    Row- 75
    Deadlifts- 100
    OHP- 50

    Feeling pretty good about my progress, although I'm taking it sort of slow with the weight adding to make sure I don't over do it. I also started doing 10 reps x 5 sets and as I add weight more frequently, I'm now doing the recommended 5 reps x 5 sets

    Wow!! Awesome!! I'm only in week 5 and i'm so excited to see my numbers rise when I get as far along as you!!
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Brown belt in one year is very fast! We are coming up on two years. We started in the "parent" class which means we move through the levels with colored belts just like the kids. My son is blue belt and my husband and I are green belts. In the Adult class we are all white belts. It is too bad you didn't find another dojo. I think there really is a big difference between them. Our sensei is amazing. He is such a good example for our son. It's never too late!! ; )

    True, it isn't too late, but (at least last time) it was about $100 a month, and right now I have the money, but it's being deferred into savings and student loan payments. So, at least for now, I'm in a holding pattern for expensive hobbies. :smile:

    Had a fairly good day in the gym this morning. Stuck with 60lbs for squats, and hit them all fairly easily. Well, at least not struggling. I'm just sad at how weak my legs are. :cry:

    Bench went really well, although I didn't go up in weight (I failed on the last rep last time). Got all 5x5 at 72.5; I'll probably go up to 75 next time. Stuck with 60 on my rows to make sure I was getting form right. While I picture squeezing my shoulder blades together, I still feel like I feel it more in my arms than my back. Argh. I've searched all over the internet for different videos. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. Sigh.

    I did have a laugh because there was a guy on the squat rack when I first went in, so I started with bench again. He finished during my warm up sets, but I decided to just to them first anyways. He decided to use the other bench behind me to do reverse crunches/hip ups and used the bench bar to stabilize his upper body. At least he did until he ripped the bar off the stand. He did catch it before throwing it on his stomach. It's hard to do bench press when trying to not laugh... :devil: (Yes I'm a horrible person.)
  • FluffyDogsRule
    FluffyDogsRule Posts: 366 Member
    I thought my workout yesterday was a good one, and now today I woke up and every muscle in my body feels awesome. Not exactly sore...but they feel like they were used. They feel strong and my body feels hard. My abs feel like I did a straight ab workout, but I didn't. I feel great today!! I know it's my imagination, but I swear my body LOOKS better today, too. Excited to workout tomorrow!! I need to be better about adding EVERY time. I don't have faith in my strength, but I should! Reading over everyone's numbers and looking at your pictures makes me realize I should trust myself more. I can do it!
  • Will_Thrust_For_Candy
    Will_Thrust_For_Candy Posts: 6,109 Member
    Great numbers Kate and Arikag! It's so awesome when you not only FEEL yourself getting stronger but you KNOW you are because the numbers are going up!



    @ Audii.....I watched a video on youtube yesterday of Glen Pendlay giving instruction on rows...I found it to be super helpful. I think that (for me anyway) I have really been overthinking it. I also tend to get really stressed because I have short arms and struggle with the idea of doing it off the floor so I have been pulling from the lowest setting on my rack. Tomorrow I have made a commitment to try off the floor though. I found the link through the SL website in Mehdi's articles from sometime in 2011 I think!


    In other news....it was a yoga morning and I think I pulled a muscle in my back attempting to go from downward dog into warrior 1 :laugh: Damn yoga! Harder than it looks!

    Happy Tuesday Ladies!
  • extraordinary_machine
    extraordinary_machine Posts: 3,028 Member
    I think I've been unknowingly doing that breathing (belly, holding, etc.) when I've been doing my OHP, so whoot for me!!

    So, I'm a nerd.

    I made a squat poll...:laugh:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wxxghu9MPb9L-GYwoVHKEIFflUu2bVe9dcYZm7IRhio/viewform
  • _SusieQ_
    _SusieQ_ Posts: 2,964 Member
    I think I've been unknowingly doing that breathing (belly, holding, etc.) when I've been doing my OHP, so whoot for me!!

    So, I'm a nerd.

    I made a squat poll...:laugh:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wxxghu9MPb9L-GYwoVHKEIFflUu2bVe9dcYZm7IRhio/viewform

    I voted! :laugh:
  • Martucha123
    Martucha123 Posts: 1,089 Member
    I think I've been unknowingly doing that breathing (belly, holding, etc.) when I've been doing my OHP, so whoot for me!!

    So, I'm a nerd.

    I made a squat poll...:laugh:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wxxghu9MPb9L-GYwoVHKEIFflUu2bVe9dcYZm7IRhio/viewform

    I voted! :laugh:

    me too :)
    not sure if i got it right though
    I try to do my squats like Rip says in his book. So looking straight I guess...although for me it's somewhere between straight and down, neutral position. Def not up, never up
  • a_vettestingray
    a_vettestingray Posts: 654 Member
    I can't vote at work - google docs is blocked. I look somewhere between straight and slightly above horizon, just more comfortable for me, I guess.
  • Will_Thrust_For_Candy
    Will_Thrust_For_Candy Posts: 6,109 Member
    I think I've been unknowingly doing that breathing (belly, holding, etc.) when I've been doing my OHP, so whoot for me!!

    So, I'm a nerd.

    I made a squat poll...:laugh:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wxxghu9MPb9L-GYwoVHKEIFflUu2bVe9dcYZm7IRhio/viewform

    OMG you are awesome! I voted :) I'm a neutral girl....just keep my head in a natural position. Tend to be looking slightly down, but not directly down!
  • kit_katty
    kit_katty Posts: 992 Member
    I'm feeling pretty bada$$ today! Here's last night's numbers:

    Squat: 110lbs
    OHP: 45lbs (finally managed 5X5!)
    Deadlift: 125lbs!

    Next goal: Squat and Deadlift my weight! (150lbs)

    P.S. Love the idea of making sticky treads on calories, when to switch programs and whatnot. I could really use those!
  • sarahz5
    sarahz5 Posts: 1,363 Member
    ZOMG!!!!!!! WHO would block Google docs!??!?!?!/ :laugh: Off to vote. Kit-katty that is terribly badass!

    ETA - Aww. :heart: I totally do. I do love polls. They are incredibly efficient ways to make decisions. :tongue: :bigsmile:
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
    Okay I'm sure I saw it here. I don't know how tomsearchnthreads so going to ask a question I know was answered. I need a good recommendation for a protein powder with no artificial sugars. I HATE the flavor and they give me the ****s. I just suffered through my last jar but I'm not buying that again! I feel so silly for asking this again.

    you might be thinking of my discussion about http://www.truscience.com/trutein.html trutein a while ago. It *does* use artificial sugar (sucralose) but the chocolate covered strawberry and chocolate covered banana genuinely taste good and use real freeze dried banana/strawberry for flavor, and cocoa powder. I'm a weirdo that thinks fake/processed flavors taste funny and these taste decent to me. You can order samples through their website of every flavor and that's what I'd recommend you do to try it.

    Otherwise, I think your best bet is to buy an unflavored one and add your own flavors, OR http://www.truenutrition.com/ You can blend your own powder here, pick the carb you want to add (or fake sweetener) and flavor - so you can make a blend of casein, whey, and egg with fructose added and your own flavor.

    I want to say stuff to the rest of you but blergh. Work is so busy lately. So ...hi! kick ass. K. *runs away*
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Ha, I tend to look straight ahead in squats, but unfortunately the squat rack is in front of a mirror. Rippetoe said that's bad because then you can't tell if you're swaying back and forth and not having a vertical path for the bar. So, I'm trying a slightly more neutral look by looking at the cross support of the squat rack (although that height changes as I squat, so that might not be a good idea).

    And congrats Kat on your awesome day! Kicking *kitten* on those squats and deads! And super badass on throwing up all of your OHP!!!
  • HIITMe
    HIITMe Posts: 921 Member
    hola ladies.... still nursing the wonky knee..... I went to Dr yesterday and of course its causing no pain while Im there..... Im starting to think this is just old age....it hurts like hell when Im doing nothing but while exercising no pain.... I skipped SLs yesterday just as a precaution..... I get X-ray and see ortho on Thursday....

    today I did 15 mins on spinning bike as warm up then just worked on hip abductor, hip adductor and seated leg press.....no knee pain at all.....
    I did take tylenol to help with menstrual cramps so not sure if that is helping knee pain....
    Im going to try 30-ish minutes on treadmill later and maybe if Im up to it a lil yoga

    still gnna wait til I see Ortho before trying squats & such

    Im going thru withdrawals..... I miss that high I get after lifting
  • HIITMe
    HIITMe Posts: 921 Member
    I look sorta up while squatting...... tends to help with my form.... when I look lower I tend to put the weight on my toes instead of behind me
  • vashnic
    vashnic Posts: 93
    Two weeks of lifting now! :smile: This morning:

    Squat: 100 lbs of dumbbells (am very proud, ultimate goal is to lift bodyweight :love:)
    Benchpress: 50 lbs of dumbells (arm muscles are still itty bitty)
    Rows: 3 x 50, 2 x 60 lbs (these feel really awkward to do still, may keep it at this weight until I'm sure of form)

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