February Check-n-chat: Bada$$ B!tches do it with barbells
Replies
-
At what point does one move to a 3x5?
For me it actually came out sort of ok (I'd say it aligned fairly well with my stalls), but my husband threw a tantrum and said he wouldn't' go unless we dropped everything to 3x5 (and then he threw another tantrum and didn't want to go at all so I moved us to 5/3/1 as that's much lower volume on the big lifts, kind of).
so the answer is ...it depends. But ...when you feel like its time, go for it. you wont' be hurting yourself or setting yourself back. The higher volume is very useful for getting accustomed to the movements but 3x5 is just fine for progress.
For the highervolume or increased volume - what would that be?
I'm stalled at the bench and the OHP pretty much - making gains on everything else. Should I go to 3x5 instead? I've been mulling this over myself.....Since I'd really like to lift more on BP.0 -
I'm getting to that point on the OHP and the BP as well, and I started the program with 3x5 squats. So, I think I'll keep going 5x5 until I start to fail, then switch to 3x5 on the lifts that I need to, keep on at 5x5 with the others. I need to figure out how many weeks I've been doing this...okay, I checked, 5 weeks, going 3x per week. I guess at some point I need to switch to a different program, but I have a few weeks before I want to worry about it.0
-
At what point does one move to a 3x5?
For me it actually came out sort of ok (I'd say it aligned fairly well with my stalls), but my husband threw a tantrum and said he wouldn't' go unless we dropped everything to 3x5 (and then he threw another tantrum and didn't want to go at all so I moved us to 5/3/1 as that's much lower volume on the big lifts, kind of).
so the answer is ...it depends. But ...when you feel like its time, go for it. you wont' be hurting yourself or setting yourself back. The higher volume is very useful for getting accustomed to the movements but 3x5 is just fine for progress.
For the highervolume or increased volume - what would that be?
I'm stalled at the bench and the OHP pretty much - making gains on everything else. Should I go to 3x5 instead? I've been mulling this over myself.....Since I'd really like to lift more on BP.
Go ahead and switch to 3x5 for those two and stick with 5x5 for the squats until you start to stall there too.
By higher volume I meant 5x5 is more volume than 3x5.0 -
Thank you oh wise one
0 -
Everyone has awesome lifts! Agree with everyone else that it's so cool to have tons of new posters.
Vette- HOOOORAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. I vaguely remember saying we should have cake when you hit body weight squats, so you know, next time you're in PA...
Extraordinary- Hooray for squats! I love your new avatar. Snorg Tees had a model when I was in college that would not shut her darn mouth. and she was always there in the sidebar. That was before the days of adblock. Now I don't have to see her ever again. \o/
Sarahz5- I remember reading you get super hungry from swimming because your body temp doesn't go up or something. Although I think I read it in my grandma's women's world so who knows how accurate it is.0 -
In other news....workout A for me today and it was BADASS!!!
Squat 5x5 @ 140# (against Mehdi's recommendation, I have started to squat these heavier weights twice, purely for form purposes)
Bench 5x5 @ 61# (YES! Finally officially over 60#!)
Row 5x5 @ 80# (So I stacked plates and did it from the floor. Yeah, huge difference. I feel like I have finally got this down the way it should be done!)
Happy Wednesday all!
@Vegas - holy crap batman!! 80# for row??? sheez not to mention 140# for a squat...yeah, in my dream...that is some awesome badassery!!
Thanks :blushing: I'm in week 11 so I'm very pleased with my progress! And super happy that I haven't actually "stalled" on anything yet.....failed definitely though :laugh:0 -
Vegas...you are amazeballs.
Tameko, thanks for being such a great resource. I can read, so I know I could JFGI, but I'd rather JFTI.
0 -
Wowee....leave the office for a day to do some actual work in from of actual customers and I miss SO DAMN MUCH!
I actually just wanted to share something funny I came across on youtube. If you search "awkward gym moments" some really funny shiit comes up. Highly recommend for a giggle!
@Fisher....didn't know you are in Canada! Where are you?!
I was also bragging to my colleague about all of us badass *****es and our ongoing badassery today. I think I even started to get her interested in lifting...here's to hoping!
Vegas I'm in Calgary! We're close! 140!!!! 80!!! you are one bamf!!! I also want to say I envy your "perkier *kitten*" I have what is technically called Sharpei Butt! Waiting for body recomp to happen! lol! I hope your back is ok and it was just a temporary twinge.
Vette you are my Hero!!! Body weight!! Woo hoo!!!
I did the workout with the OHP and DL at 45 today. My back is feeling better but I'm going to wait till next week I think to add weights unless I get a valentine's day miracle! time to go hop on the elliptical.0 -
Vegas...you are amazeballs.
Tameko, thanks for being such a great resource. I can read, so I know I could JFGI, but I'd rather JFTI.
Thanks Lady!0 -
Wowee....leave the office for a day to do some actual work in from of actual customers and I miss SO DAMN MUCH!
I actually just wanted to share something funny I came across on youtube. If you search "awkward gym moments" some really funny shiit comes up. Highly recommend for a giggle!
@Fisher....didn't know you are in Canada! Where are you?!
I was also bragging to my colleague about all of us badass *****es and our ongoing badassery today. I think I even started to get her interested in lifting...here's to hoping!
Vegas I'm in Calgary! We're close! 140!!!! 80!!! you are one bamf!!! I also want to say I envy your "perkier *kitten*" I have what is technically called Sharpei Butt! Waiting for body recomp to happen! lol! I hope your back is ok and it was just a temporary twinge.
Vette you are my Hero!!! Body weight!! Woo hoo!!!
I did the workout with the OHP and DL at 45 today. My back is feeling better but I'm going to wait till next week I think to add weights unless I get a valentine's day miracle! time to go hop on the elliptical.
Oh no that means we are supposed to be enemies! :laugh: I was just there last week actually....I spend a few days every month there for work!
My back is feeling better from yesterday....but those rows and bench did a good work over on my back/arms this morning so the pain has just moved I think :laugh:
Glad to hear your back is feeling better also....taking it slow is a good plan though 0 -
Wowee....leave the office for a day to do some actual work in from of actual customers and I miss SO DAMN MUCH!
I actually just wanted to share something funny I came across on youtube. If you search "awkward gym moments" some really funny shiit comes up. Highly recommend for a giggle!
@Fisher....didn't know you are in Canada! Where are you?!
I was also bragging to my colleague about all of us badass *****es and our ongoing badassery today. I think I even started to get her interested in lifting...here's to hoping!
Vegas I'm in Calgary! We're close! 140!!!! 80!!! you are one bamf!!! I also want to say I envy your "perkier *kitten*" I have what is technically called Sharpei Butt! Waiting for body recomp to happen! lol! I hope your back is ok and it was just a temporary twinge.
Vette you are my Hero!!! Body weight!! Woo hoo!!!
I did the workout with the OHP and DL at 45 today. My back is feeling better but I'm going to wait till next week I think to add weights unless I get a valentine's day miracle! time to go hop on the elliptical.
Oh no that means we are supposed to be enemies! :laugh: I was just there last week actually....I spend a few days every month there for work!
My back is feeling better from yesterday....but those rows and bench did a good work over on my back/arms this morning so the pain has just moved I think :laugh:
Glad to hear your back is feeling better also....taking it slow is a good plan though
Enemies? why? If it's football or hockey I don't care who wins! We don't have to be enemies! ; )0 -
Hey, all!
Woo-hoo, look at all us Canadians! But shh, we'll freak out Tameko with all our Canada-talk.
So, I had an awesome workout today. Okay, like I TOTALLY suck at squats, but I finally did 90, and I benched 70 (afterwards I was wishing I had done more) and I did rows at 77.5 (actually a deload, and felt like I could have done more but whatever.) It was just one of those REALLY great FEELING workouts, though, you know? I just felt SO STRONG. It was awesome. Really excited about my next workout. And especially the next time I get to bench. I love bench press.
I am doing 3 x 5 on everything, by the way. I was definitely stalling frequently on several lifts, but also it was starting to drive me NUTS that the workouts were taking so long. So I switched over to 3x5 and it's been happily ever after ever since. Starting strength is all based on 3x5, with just slightly different lifts, so I don't think there's a HUGE benefit to 5x5 over 3x5. At least that's how I understand it.
Impressed with you ladies ALL kicking some major *kitten* in your workouts!!0 -
Ok, I'm really hating squats. My knee felt kind of twingy throughout them, but I did keep going really focusing on keeping my knees out (still at 60lbs). One thing I did notice is that when I'm racking the weight, I'm not really doing a partial squat. I'm standing with my feet pretty close together and then bending my knees, well really only one, my left, so it's taking all of the weight as I'm racking (and of course it's the knee that hurts). Not sure how that habit started or if it's the problem, but it definitely can't be helping.
During OHP, I made it much farther with 52.5, 3 full sets, then one of three. Strangely when I did my last set with 50 I could only do 1x4 also. Although I think I'm having a mental block. It's like I mentally decided before trying to throw the next rep up that I was going to fail. Need to stop doing that because my arms/shoulders definitely listen. And my upper back/shoulder (again on the left) feels a little twingy too. Stupid twinges. Ugh. Hoping I didn't pull anything.
But that said, I GOT TO SAY HELLO TO BIG GIRL PLATES TODAY!!! My lower back felt fine, so I went ahead with my deads, and finally got to 135! And everyone is right, the warm up progresstion that Tameko suggested is awesome. Strangely today was also the first time I used 35 plates, because somehow with 125 I used a 25 and a 10 instead of the 35 (it was easier to add when doing warmups, but I'm liking the stacking all the different weights). Deads felt awesome, but I have a feeling my grip is going to start holding me back soon. On my last rep I had to actually put it down, let go of the bar and adjust my hands and then pull (as opposed to just touching the ground).
I'm sure it's been discussed a lot before, but what are some good ways to increase grip strength (and no, my gym doesn't have chalk, maybe I need to look into getting some).0 -
Happy V-Day, lifting ladies.
I stalled big-time on OHP this morning...why are they such a b*tch!?!? I couldn't even finish my reps after deloading. Said screw it, next time.
I did however do good on deadlifts.
I'm a little over a month in on WW (thought I'd give it a try) but I'm not losing much at all and it feels kind of restrictive...I'll give it a little longer since I paid for three months, and then I'll probably bump my cals up to TDEE - 20% and see if that does it.0 -
auddii, I've switched to a mixed grip for my work sets in deadlifts--starting around 120 pounds. Also, you can do farmer walks or just hanging from a bar.
butterfli, OHP sucks because we wimmen are delicate flowers. Actually, we just have "weaker" upper body muscles, so it takes us longer to build strength there, but we kick men's *kitten* with strength gain in the lower body.0 -
Woo-hoo, look at all us Canadians!
Impressed with you ladies ALL kicking some major *kitten* in your workouts!!
I'm in Toronto! Woot woot! We're all bada$$!
I'm really impressed with all your numbers!
Feeling pretty good myself, I got up to 115lbs for my squats and finally did 70lbs for my bench press and rows! Woot!0 -
@Fisher....of course we don't have to be enemies....I was just being a silly :bigsmile:
@Jay....where are you from? I have given some thought to 3x5 as well. I haven't started to stall yet though so I think I'm going to continue on 5x5 until I start to have problems and then adjust from there.
And where the hell were all my fellow Canadians when the ladies were giving me a hard time about bloody back bacon??!!! :laugh:
@Audii...I'm not sure if I missed it previously but what is happening with your knees? From what you describe in regards to re-racking the bar it sounds like that can't be helping matters either....but that's just my opinion OHP is such a b!tch to begin with that I definitely think a mental block can totally impair progress. I have experienced that myself too just because I dislike that lift so much (only because it's hard and I suck :laugh: ) As for the DL grip, like extraordinary, I have started to use a mixed grip on my work sets as well. If you go on the SL site, Mehdi has a bunch of blog posts in his archives about grip and ways to increase strength.
In other news....I mentioned yesterday that I think I finally got the form on the row down and by George I think I'm right because I was totally feeling it in my back last night! Whoop!
Keep throwing up these kick *kitten* numbers ladies!
So much BADASS BADASSERY I loves it!!!!!0 -
Vegas, that's awesome that you got rows down. Was there a video or description that was particularly helpful? I just really think that my form is ****e on those.0
-
good news/bad news
saw ortho today.....nothing is wrong with the knee except I have arthritis....Dr says the stronger my leg muscles the less work my knees need to do thus stronglifts is strongly encouraged
getting older sucks..... becoming a badazz ***** with a barbell is making me feel hella sexy0 -
good news/bad news
saw ortho today.....nothing is wrong with the knee except I have arthritis....Dr says the stronger my leg muscles the less work my knees need to do thus stronglifts is strongly encouraged
getting older sucks..... becoming a badazz ***** with a barbell is making me feel hella sexy
Well it is good news that SL is encouraged!!! If it weren't, now that would really suck!! Go girl!0 -
auddii, I've switched to a mixed grip for my work sets in deadlifts--starting around 120 pounds. Also, you can do farmer walks or just hanging from a bar.
This is definately step one. And reminds me to add a "grip strength" item to the FAQ. Not that I've updated it with actual answers yet.0 -
Yes, but you've thought about it...that's like 80% of the work!0
-
Vegas, that's awesome that you got rows down. Was there a video or description that was particularly helpful? I just really think that my form is ****e on those.
I actually came across an article on the SL website in Mehdi's archive that links to a video of Glen Pendlay explaining proper form and that is what really triggered it for me. Up until yesterday I had also pulled from the lowest setting on my rack, rather than the floor and yesterday I stacked plates and went from the floor. Another thing that I think helped is that he explains how to arch your back and that made a HUGE difference!
I weeded through the archives and found the link! YAY ME! Honestly though, he has some GREAT information in there...I highly recommend everyone to take a poke around. I just wish that he continued on with it!
http://stronglifts.com/how-to-perform-the-pendlay-row-with-correct-technique/0 -
Happy V-day guys! Stuffed my face with delicious French toast this morning, now can roll around to classes on tummy. :laugh:
I hear you on the grip strength--did my (hopefully) last set of squats with dumbbells today, hands definitely getting tired much faster than legs/back. :sad:
Also, it's so important to eat a little pre-workout snack. Skipped mine today as I had to get up an hour early and omg, had no energy when trying to lift.
To make myself feel better, poked around the weight machines. I am really liking the leg presses (110 lbs)! No upper body holding me back. :flowerforyou:0 -
woot woot!
Squat 5x5 120 b!tches!!!! bamf! Hard as hell though....
OHP 3x5 60 finally broke the 55!!!!
DL 1x5 160 woot woot!
Feeling pretty awesome on VD!!! Nothing says love like saying feel my guns, baby.0 -
woot woot!
Squat 5x5 120 b!tches!!!! bamf! Hard as hell though....
OHP 3x5 60 finally broke the 55!!!!
DL 1x5 160 woot woot!
Feeling pretty awesome on VD!!! Nothing says love like saying feel my guns, baby.
Awesome!!! Complete BAMF!! (and deserving of all caps)
On a sad note, I was experimenting today during my OHP, and I realized that I have not been engaging my core for any of my lifting. A) Holy hell my abs hurt.
I have seriously missed out on 6 weeks of core work. ****. Oh well. It's on like donkey kong! 0 -
woot woot!
Squat 5x5 120 b!tches!!!! bamf! Hard as hell though....
OHP 3x5 60 finally broke the 55!!!!
DL 1x5 160 woot woot!
Feeling pretty awesome on VD!!! Nothing says love like saying feel my guns, baby.
Dayum!!! that is awesome!0 -
@Fisher....of course we don't have to be enemies....I was just being a silly :bigsmile:
@Jay....where are you from? I have given some thought to 3x5 as well. I haven't started to stall yet though so I think I'm going to continue on 5x5 until I start to have problems and then adjust from there.
And where the hell were all my fellow Canadians when the ladies were giving me a hard time about bloody back bacon??!!! :laugh:
I'm from "Friendly Manitoba!" *gag* I mean, "Spirited Energy -Manitoba" (dear Lord that's worse and it doesn't even make sense. We need much better PR people in our province.)
Sorry I missed the back bacon convo, my spidey-sense must have been out of whack that day. Although I have to say, I'm not a big back bacon fan. I prefer side bacon. And I usually call the other stuff ham.
And yeah, I think you'll know when it's time to switch to 3x5. For me I was getting really frustrated and it was a relief to switch. But there's no rush if you're still happy and also seeing progress.0 -
@Fisher....of course we don't have to be enemies....I was just being a silly :bigsmile:
@Jay....where are you from? I have given some thought to 3x5 as well. I haven't started to stall yet though so I think I'm going to continue on 5x5 until I start to have problems and then adjust from there.
And where the hell were all my fellow Canadians when the ladies were giving me a hard time about bloody back bacon??!!! :laugh:
I'm from "Friendly Manitoba!" *gag* I mean, "Spirited Energy -Manitoba" (dear Lord that's worse and it doesn't even make sense. We need much better PR people in our province.)
Sorry I missed the back bacon convo, my spidey-sense must have been out of whack that day. Although I have to say, I'm not a big back bacon fan. I prefer side bacon. And I usually call the other stuff ham.
And yeah, I think you'll know when it's time to switch to 3x5. For me I was getting really frustrated and it was a relief to switch. But there's no rush if you're still happy and also seeing progress.
Oh another prairie girl! Awesome!
Yeah, I agree with you as far as knowing when it's time to switch. I actually just switched up my warm-up sets (I didn't do them proper...too many....to begin with) and now I'm doing it as per Mehdi's guidelines and I haven even found that little change to help. I'm thinking that I will fine until maybe 1/4 or 1/2 way through cycle 2 but we'll see how it goes!0 -
135 deadlifts!!
Oh and 56 OHP0
