Just Started! Do I need to squat more?

Angellaree

Hey all. I have been following the group for about a month but just started SL on Thursday and finished workout B for the first time this morning. OHP was tough for me ( empty Olympic bar) but I finished it. I am wondering though, I squatted 50 lbs but it was really pretty easy, should I add more weight next time or just follow the program? And in workout A the barbell rows were tough for me; form was off for sure and I could only do the bar. Anyone else run into stuff like this?
I am looking for some more SL peeps too so anyone feel free to add me.

xidia

If you complete the sets with good form, go up. You'll eventually find you can go up, just not 5lbs, at which point it's time to get some fractional weights or rolls of tape from the hardware store to allow smaller increments.

So I'd say go up on squats and take advantage of the fact they're easy, because they won't be in a few weeks! I'd stay put on the rows until you have the form down. Collectively, we seem to find this the hardest lift to get right technically, so there are a bunch of videos and hints scattered around if you use the search function.

RunDoozer

Follow the program and add the 5 pounds as you get through the squat sets. It will get really heavy really fast and you want to make sure that you have the proper form. If you follow the program to the t then you are adding 15 pounds per week as is on the squat.

As for the overhead press if your gym has fixed bars than you can actually use to go lower than the 45 lb bar. Failing the first week on OHP may hurt you in the long run as it doesnt allow your muscles to strengthen up before pushing to failure. So just if you can start lighter do so. You will see more gains in the long run.

Amazing1985RSD

I hated barbell rows when the weight started getting heavy. I stopped doing them because I started reading starting strength which replaces them with power cleans. In the book it says that rows are just an assistance exercise for the deadlift. Personally I like to jerk the bar after the clean.

If you don't think squats are challenging enough, I'd say that you CAN go up in ten pound increments if you want. But when it starts getting heavy you're going to want to only go up in five pound increments.

-Vince.