How much do you squat?
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I don't really go that heavy for squats. The lower back generally will go out before the quads, and limit how much you can squat, thus lessening how much stress you can put on the quads. So I do a lot of front squats and one-legged squats instead. You can't go as heavy with them, but you will see better results. Also my balance is s***, so the one-legged version helps me out a lot. Front squats also help more with your posture.0
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not meaning to be too picky.. but the true answer to your question "how much does an Olympic bar weigh" would be:
15 kilo's (33lbs) for a womens bar
20 Kilo's (44lbs) for a mens bar.
this is true for Olympic weightlifting where the only two measured lifts are the clean&jerk and the snatch. this is not to be confused with powerlifting, which is not an Olympic sport. (and can use different bar specs)
in the typical box gym in anytown usa, you will probably find an American standard bar at 45lbs. this is the same size in terms of bar thickness (50mm aka 2 inches for outer edges, and 28mm aka 1.1 inches for grip) as an Olympic standard bar. Nice Olympic standard bars are a bit pricey for a gym where its used for bench press and the occasional squat. you can get a generic "American standard" bar for about $100 but a decent Olympic standard bar can start at $500 and go north of $1,000 depending on the manufacturer.0 -
Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of squatting.
The olympic bar is usually around 45 lbs, at least in my gym it is.
I started out with just bar, got the perfect form then added on 10 lb plates on each side every couple of workouts.
I am 106lbs and I do an unassisted squat of 45lb bar + 60lb in plates = 105 (i squat my body weight).
Now with that said, it's not about the weight more than it is about your form. Don't compromise form for weight. No one is going to care how much you squat, your back and body will care if you do it wrong.
It also depends on your goals. If you are looking to gain muscle, like me, then I go for heavier weight/less reps. I do 4 sets of 6 reps. If I drop the weight to a 85lb squat I go for 4 sets of about 10 reps.
You will also want to vary your stance; wide, sumo, close, etc. Works different areas of the lower body.
You will also want to try various holds: for instance my classic squat I do 105lbs but if I do front squat I do around 65 since it requires my arms to work as well.
GOOD LUCK!
I was guessing the bar was 35lbs or more. I was close! I've watched some video's online for form and info. I'm just so new to it and doing it on my own. Looking for all the info I can get. Thanks for taking time to explain! I've been doing front loading squats too but I've only been holding 10lb plates on the shoulders (to the front) and doing reps of 10 for 3 or 4 sets.
everyone has to start somewhere, never be discouraged by starting light and working your way up. It's better than the person trying to out do the person next to them and going home to a hurt lower back. Focus on the form. If you have to, set your iphone up and video tape yourself, that's what I did! You may THINK you are doing it right but until you see yourself doing the full motion you won't know. Rome wasn't built overnight
Completely agree. Even after lifting for a year, I still have times when I feel bad about my numbers/weights compared to others. But it's not about them, it's about my progress... as long as I'm lifting more now than I was last month, I'm good with that.
So just do what you can do. Then do more next week/month.0 -
I would rather not say as legs is not really my strong point regarding weights...don't necessarily hit legs with strong lifts in mind - aim for 10-12 reps instead of 5...0
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About 3500
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Ego squats
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Yeah I don't think it's safe to squat without a rack for any real weight... try Hack Squats instead (hold the bar behind you at waist level; careful with your back and wrists) or use dumbbells at your sides.
How do dumbbells compare to the barbell? I have both, but I don't have a barbell stand to lift from. Is it worth investing in (or building) a barbell stand or would dumbbells be reasonably sufficient?
I imagine the way you hold them would be different, though.
To be honest, both do the same job in theory, however with a barbell you usually can add a lot more weight as you have more surface area along the back to support the weights... I would only see the barbell stand used for squats and chest movements but it will help you progress through the weights quicker and safer than stand alone barbells - imagine lifting a heavy barbell and having to do a variation of a shoulder press then placing it on your back nicely ... You would be tired before hitting your legs!0 -
5'3", 120 lbs and my max squat is 120 lbs.
However, I rarely squat my max. A typical squat sessions is 3 sets of 10-12 reps at 60-70 lbs, and I prefer barbell over Smith machine by far.
Unfortunately I usually get light-headed squatting, which is a little off topic, but does anyone have any tips on getting over that? I really focus on breathing but don't know what I'm doing wrong.0 -
When I started about 3 months ago I was doing 3 sets of 10 at 135 lbs. Last week I finally broke the 300 lb mark. I am now doing 3 sets of 10 at 315 lbs, I have thighs like tree trunks. My current weight is about 230 lbs0
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Managed to get 435 last night without too much struggle. Not saying it wasn't hard, and I'm sure I could have gotten 450, but it was nice to try heavy singles on top of my normal SL5x5
ETA: 25 years old, 5'10", ~215lbs0 -
Yeah I don't think it's safe to squat without a rack for any real weight... try Hack Squats instead (hold the bar behind you at waist level; careful with your back and wrists) or use dumbbells at your sides.
How do dumbbells compare to the barbell? I have both, but I don't have a barbell stand to lift from. Is it worth investing in (or building) a barbell stand or would dumbbells be reasonably sufficient?
I imagine the way you hold them would be different, though.
To be honest, both do the same job in theory, however with a barbell you usually can add a lot more weight as you have more surface area along the back to support the weights... I would only see the barbell stand used for squats and chest movements but it will help you progress through the weights quicker and safer than stand alone barbells - imagine lifting a heavy barbell and having to do a variation of a shoulder press then placing it on your back nicely ... You would be tired before hitting your legs!
I would also add that barbell squats engage more of your core and stabilizing muscles since you are holding the weight on your upper back rather than in your hands between your knees and hips.0 -
I'm switching from resistance bands to free weights as we just got a set. I was at 100lb with the bands but started with the empty bar (45lb) yesterday and plan to start over. Whole world of difference having to balance that bar!0
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5'3", 120 lbs and my max squat is 120 lbs.
However, I rarely squat my max. A typical squat sessions is 3 sets of 10-12 reps at 60-70 lbs, and I prefer barbell over Smith machine by far.
Unfortunately I usually get light-headed squatting, which is a little off topic, but does anyone have any tips on getting over that? I really focus on breathing but don't know what I'm doing wrong.
i usually walk around and sip some water in between sets. the legs are the largest muscles in the body so when you are working doing heavy squats the blood flowing there is going to make you dizzy. this is why i usually want to vomit after a hard leg day. i do get dizzy as well so i have to walk it off.
i also am a big advocate of drinking aminos while working out.0 -
I've been heavy lifting since about December 2012. My progess is kind of slow, I think, but I started just squatting a 35-pound women's bar, gradually adding a little weight as I worked on my form. I just did 115 pounds yesterday for 3 sets (10 reps, 8 reps, 6 reps). My 1RM the last time I checked a month or so ago was 135 pounds.0
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5'3", 120 lbs and my max squat is 120 lbs.
However, I rarely squat my max. A typical squat sessions is 3 sets of 10-12 reps at 60-70 lbs, and I prefer barbell over Smith machine by far.
Unfortunately I usually get light-headed squatting, which is a little off topic, but does anyone have any tips on getting over that? I really focus on breathing but don't know what I'm doing wrong.
i usually walk around and sip some water in between sets. the legs are the largest muscles in the body so when you are working doing heavy squats the blood flowing there is going to make you dizzy. this is why i usually want to vomit after a hard leg day. i do get dizzy as well so i have to walk it off.
i also am a big advocate of drinking aminos while working out.
Awesome - makes sense. Thank you for the reply! I'll try some aminos next time, and walking more between sets.0 -
5'3", 120 lbs and my max squat is 120 lbs.
However, I rarely squat my max. A typical squat sessions is 3 sets of 10-12 reps at 60-70 lbs, and I prefer barbell over Smith machine by far.
Unfortunately I usually get light-headed squatting, which is a little off topic, but does anyone have any tips on getting over that? I really focus on breathing but don't know what I'm doing wrong.
i usually walk around and sip some water in between sets. the legs are the largest muscles in the body so when you are working doing heavy squats the blood flowing there is going to make you dizzy. this is why i usually want to vomit after a hard leg day. i do get dizzy as well so i have to walk it off.
i also am a big advocate of drinking aminos while working out.
Awesome - makes sense. Thank you for the reply! I'll try some aminos next time, and walking more between sets.
Aminos are amazing. They really help with muscle recovery, and if you're eating at a deficit they help to preserve LBM.
Vtamin Shoppe has good ones that are less expensive and on sale this month. Also Xtend tastes really good.0 -
Yeah I don't think it's safe to squat without a rack for any real weight... try Hack Squats instead (hold the bar behind you at waist level; careful with your back and wrists) or use dumbbells at your sides.
How do dumbbells compare to the barbell? I have both, but I don't have a barbell stand to lift from. Is it worth investing in (or building) a barbell stand or would dumbbells be reasonably sufficient?
I imagine the way you hold them would be different, though.
To be honest, both do the same job in theory, however with a barbell you usually can add a lot more weight as you have more surface area along the back to support the weights... I would only see the barbell stand used for squats and chest movements but it will help you progress through the weights quicker and safer than stand alone barbells - imagine lifting a heavy barbell and having to do a variation of a shoulder press then placing it on your back nicely ... You would be tired before hitting your legs!
I would also add that barbell squats engage more of your core and stabilizing muscles since you are holding the weight on your upper back rather than in your hands between your knees and hips.
I use two dumbbells and hold them in a 90degree angle hoisted by my shoulder... Sort of the same concept but not as forgiving on the arms0 -
To be honest, both do the same job in theory, however with a barbell you usually can add a lot more weight as you have more surface area along the back to support the weights... I would only see the barbell stand used for squats and chest movements but it will help you progress through the weights quicker and safer than stand alone barbells - imagine lifting a heavy barbell and having to do a variation of a shoulder press then placing it on your back nicely ... You would be tired before hitting your legs!
I would also add that barbell squats engage more of your core and stabilizing muscles since you are holding the weight on your upper back rather than in your hands between your knees and hips.
I use two dumbbells and hold them in a 90degree angle hoisted by my shoulder... Sort of the same concept but not as forgiving on the arms
Thanks for the suggestions! I'll give my dumbbells a shot and see how I fare with them. I've got pretty weak shoulders, but maybe that's all the more reason to take this route0 -
Yeah I don't think it's safe to squat without a rack for any real weight... try Hack Squats instead (hold the bar behind you at waist level; careful with your back and wrists) or use dumbbells at your sides.
How do dumbbells compare to the barbell? I have both, but I don't have a barbell stand to lift from. Is it worth investing in (or building) a barbell stand or would dumbbells be reasonably sufficient?
I imagine the way you hold them would be different, though.
You would hold the dumbbells at your sides or between your legs as you squat. You probably won't be able to do as much weight as you would with a barbell (since you'll be limited by grip strength) but if you don't have a rack, it's much safer and managable.0 -
Ego squats
Oh dang. That is my fear! LOL! Falling flat on butt or face!0
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