February Q and A thread

SideSteel
SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
edited November 15 in Social Groups
Got any questions? Don't want to make your own thread?

Drop them in here.

I'll be doing a mix of text and video replies.

«1345

Replies

  • _benjammin
    _benjammin Posts: 1,224 Member
    edited February 2017
    How's Sara? She competing this year?
  • docdrd
    docdrd Posts: 174 Member
    Have you tried any of the Kinesio tapes? Is one brand better or are they all the same? My Dr. is recommending I wear some on my wrist until tendonitis heals. Thanks!!!!
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    _benjammin wrote: »
    How's Sara? She competing this year?

    She's busy AF with work. Not lifting at all but I'm trying to influence her back into it =)
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    docdrd wrote: »
    Have you tried any of the Kinesio tapes? Is one brand better or are they all the same? My Dr. is recommending I wear some on my wrist until tendonitis heals. Thanks!!!!

    I've never tried them at all.

    Here's what SBM has to say:
    https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/olympic-pseudoscience/
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    edited February 2017
    And recommendations on lifting shoes. I am noticing with my squat, that I am getting a lot of compression in my heals and I feel that if I wait too long, it will cause some instability.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    And recommendations on lifting shoes. I am noticing with my squat, that I am getting a lot of compression in my heals and I feel that if I wait too long, it will cause some instability.

    I like SABO powerlifts, you can get them at MaxBarbell.com
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    And recommendations on lifting shoes. I am noticing with my squat, that I am getting a lot of compression in my heals and I feel that if I wait too long, it will cause some instability.

    I like SABO powerlifts, you can get them at MaxBarbell.com

    Good call, their deadlift shoe is also the best in the business and it's what I use for every lift.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    SideSteel wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    And recommendations on lifting shoes. I am noticing with my squat, that I am getting a lot of compression in my heals and I feel that if I wait too long, it will cause some instability.

    I like SABO powerlifts, you can get them at MaxBarbell.com

    Good call, their deadlift shoe is also the best in the business and it's what I use for every lift.

    Which deadlift shoe? Apparently they have a few different models.

    I'm using their cheaper one for deads and I love it--recently switched to them for bench too
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Would these shoes be ok to use for dl and squat? I was initially looking at these.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LBMUNIE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Y-NKybNMSTC7G
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    Would these shoes be ok to use for dl and squat? I was initially looking at these.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LBMUNIE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Y-NKybNMSTC7G

    Don't know the specs on the shoes but it looks like it has a heel on it which is great for squatting and horrible for dead lifting.

    either get a flat shoe for both, or use separate shoes for squats and deads.

  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    SideSteel wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    And recommendations on lifting shoes. I am noticing with my squat, that I am getting a lot of compression in my heals and I feel that if I wait too long, it will cause some instability.

    I like SABO powerlifts, you can get them at MaxBarbell.com

    Good call, their deadlift shoe is also the best in the business and it's what I use for every lift.

    Which deadlift shoe? Apparently they have a few different models.

    I'm using their cheaper one for deads and I love it--recently switched to them for bench too

    Huh I didn't know that. Whatever one Maxbarbell has, I think it's just different colors of the same version. I just buy whatever's the cheapest color, this time it was blue. :D
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    SideSteel wrote: »
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    SideSteel wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    And recommendations on lifting shoes. I am noticing with my squat, that I am getting a lot of compression in my heals and I feel that if I wait too long, it will cause some instability.

    I like SABO powerlifts, you can get them at MaxBarbell.com

    Good call, their deadlift shoe is also the best in the business and it's what I use for every lift.

    Which deadlift shoe? Apparently they have a few different models.

    I'm using their cheaper one for deads and I love it--recently switched to them for bench too

    Huh I didn't know that. Whatever one Maxbarbell has, I think it's just different colors of the same version. I just buy whatever's the cheapest color, this time it was blue. :D

    Likely the same ones I have then.

    Pretty sure Kyle @LolBroScience has a different model of SABO deadlift shoes but I could be wrong.
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 11,689 Member
    I've been amazed at the difference going from sneakers to Chuck Taylor's has been for my squats. Sounds like you guys are saying these are better. Would it be worth the expense to change now, or are my CT's good enough?
  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    I just switched from Stronglifts to 5/3/1 and I'm just about to start my second cycle. The book says to add five pounds to your upper body maxes and ten pounds to your lower body maxes, and then recalculate.

    I did that and now I'm a bit intimidated by the numbers.

    Mind you, they're not super big for an experienced lifter, but they're pretty big for me.

    For example, my training max for deadlifts is 205lbs. I've pulled it before but never more than one or two reps.

    My question is...should I have gotten a belt a while ago? I know that in week 3, it's 5/3/1 and it's 1+ at 95%. I'm a bit scared, to tell you the truth. I don't want to hurt myself.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I just switched from Stronglifts to 5/3/1 and I'm just about to start my second cycle. The book says to add five pounds to your upper body maxes and ten pounds to your lower body maxes, and then recalculate.

    I did that and now I'm a bit intimidated by the numbers.

    Mind you, they're not super big for an experienced lifter, but they're pretty big for me.

    For example, my training max for deadlifts is 205lbs. I've pulled it before but never more than one or two reps.

    My question is...should I have gotten a belt a while ago? I know that in week 3, it's 5/3/1 and it's 1+ at 95%. I'm a bit scared, to tell you the truth. I don't want to hurt myself.

    A belt is a great tool to use if you have the disposable income to purchase one, and you have a goal of getting stronger, and you aren't using it in place of proper technique =)

    Having said that, hopefully when you started 5/3/1 you took 90% of your actual 1RMs when you started the program. Most people don't do this step, but it's pretty important.

    For what it's worth, even with my competitive powerlifting clients, when I use % based programs I always make a slight reduction to their actual 1RM's when I run the calculations.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    nossmf wrote: »
    I've been amazed at the difference going from sneakers to Chuck Taylor's has been for my squats. Sounds like you guys are saying these are better. Would it be worth the expense to change now, or are my CT's good enough?

    I like SABO deadlift shoes more than chucks. However, I couldn't tell you that they are somehow superior. I just like the feel of them and they also seem to grip the floor a tad better.
  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    I just switched from Stronglifts to 5/3/1 and I'm just about to start my second cycle. The book says to add five pounds to your upper body maxes and ten pounds to your lower body maxes, and then recalculate.

    I did that and now I'm a bit intimidated by the numbers.

    Mind you, they're not super big for an experienced lifter, but they're pretty big for me.

    For example, my training max for deadlifts is 205lbs. I've pulled it before but never more than one or two reps.

    My question is...should I have gotten a belt a while ago? I know that in week 3, it's 5/3/1 and it's 1+ at 95%. I'm a bit scared, to tell you the truth. I don't want to hurt myself.

    A belt is a great tool to use if you have the disposable income to purchase one, and you have a goal of getting stronger, and you aren't using it in place of proper technique =)

    Having said that, hopefully when you started 5/3/1 you took 90% of your actual 1RMs when you started the program. Most people don't do this step, but it's pretty important.

    For what it's worth, even with my competitive powerlifting clients, when I use % based programs I always make a slight reduction to their actual 1RM's when I run the calculations.

    Oh yes, I definitely used 90% of my actual 1RM to make my calculations.

    I'm looking at the Inzer 10mm lever belt. I have a friend who uses it so I'm waiting for his review. Nice to know someone personally who uses it.

    My goal is to get stronger, for sure. That's my #1 goal.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    I just switched from Stronglifts to 5/3/1 and I'm just about to start my second cycle. The book says to add five pounds to your upper body maxes and ten pounds to your lower body maxes, and then recalculate.

    I did that and now I'm a bit intimidated by the numbers.

    Mind you, they're not super big for an experienced lifter, but they're pretty big for me.

    For example, my training max for deadlifts is 205lbs. I've pulled it before but never more than one or two reps.

    My question is...should I have gotten a belt a while ago? I know that in week 3, it's 5/3/1 and it's 1+ at 95%. I'm a bit scared, to tell you the truth. I don't want to hurt myself.

    A belt is a great tool to use if you have the disposable income to purchase one, and you have a goal of getting stronger, and you aren't using it in place of proper technique =)

    Having said that, hopefully when you started 5/3/1 you took 90% of your actual 1RMs when you started the program. Most people don't do this step, but it's pretty important.

    For what it's worth, even with my competitive powerlifting clients, when I use % based programs I always make a slight reduction to their actual 1RM's when I run the calculations.

    Oh yes, I definitely used 90% of my actual 1RM to make my calculations.

    I'm looking at the Inzer 10mm lever belt. I have a friend who uses it so I'm waiting for his review. Nice to know someone personally who uses it.

    My goal is to get stronger, for sure. That's my #1 goal.

    If you can afford the belt I would purchase one and Inzer makes great belts
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    How do i get my bro stats up so i can start giving solid advice? And do you recommend vitamin S?
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    How do i get my bro stats up so i can start giving solid advice? And do you recommend vitamin S?

    Aware and lol
  • _benjammin
    _benjammin Posts: 1,224 Member
    nossmf wrote: »
    I've been amazed at the difference going from sneakers to Chuck Taylor's has been for my squats. Sounds like you guys are saying these are better. Would it be worth the expense to change now, or are my CT's good enough?

    I went from squatting barefoot at home and Chucks in gyms. I got Wei-Rui Warriors (also from MaxBarbell) and was shocked at the difference. Depth is much easier and I felt stronger. Unfortunately I got injured before testing them on the platform.
    If you are considering competing, I would get squat shoes, if not...depends how much disposable income you have.
  • Desterknee
    Desterknee Posts: 1,056 Member
    I stopped lifting for about 4 months. I started again recently. Noticed buttwink on my squats. I went on to check my form and noticed I have butt wink even with body weight squats.

    I've read several articles, including Dean Somerset's, so I have a good enough idea of what to do to begin the process of remedying this.

    I have very tight hip flexors, hamstrings and calves, particularly on the left side, and I also and trying to correct my anterior pelvic tilt.

    My question is, since I have buttwink even with body weight squats, will goblet squats help at this stage? Should I hold them off until the above issues are addressed?

  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Desterknee wrote: »
    I stopped lifting for about 4 months. I started again recently. Noticed buttwink on my squats. I went on to check my form and noticed I have butt wink even with body weight squats.

    I've read several articles, including Dean Somerset's, so I have a good enough idea of what to do to begin the process of remedying this.

    I have very tight hip flexors, hamstrings and calves, particularly on the left side, and I also and trying to correct my anterior pelvic tilt.

    My question is, since I have buttwink even with body weight squats, will goblet squats help at this stage? Should I hold them off until the above issues are addressed?

    I don't think I could advise on this unless I see the squat and how severe the buttwink is.
  • Desterknee
    Desterknee Posts: 1,056 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    Desterknee wrote: »
    I stopped lifting for about 4 months. I started again recently. Noticed buttwink on my squats. I went on to check my form and noticed I have butt wink even with body weight squats.

    I've read several articles, including Dean Somerset's, so I have a good enough idea of what to do to begin the process of remedying this.

    I have very tight hip flexors, hamstrings and calves, particularly on the left side, and I also and trying to correct my anterior pelvic tilt.

    My question is, since I have buttwink even with body weight squats, will goblet squats help at this stage? Should I hold them off until the above issues are addressed?

    I don't think I could advise on this unless I see the squat and how severe the buttwink is.

    Very well! I will acquire video over the weekend, hopefully.
  • Fittreelol
    Fittreelol Posts: 2,535 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    nossmf wrote: »
    I've been amazed at the difference going from sneakers to Chuck Taylor's has been for my squats. Sounds like you guys are saying these are better. Would it be worth the expense to change now, or are my CT's good enough?

    I like SABO deadlift shoes more than chucks. However, I couldn't tell you that they are somehow superior. I just like the feel of them and they also seem to grip the floor a tad better.

    If you prefer a flat shoe for squats I think SABO deadlift is superior. They are arguably better than chucks on deadlift because you're losing a whole 1/2" of ROM, but for practical purposes that probably doesn't really matter much. Women's chucks are too narrow for me, and men's chucks didn't SEEM too wide, but when I would wear them squatting my feet would slide a smidge laterally, and they soles would compress a bit when I got close to 300. I also love my Wei-Rui (I have the powermax) for competition bench to ensure my whole foot stays down. I usually bench in SABO until a few weeks before competition then switch.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    I just switched from Stronglifts to 5/3/1 and I'm just about to start my second cycle. The book says to add five pounds to your upper body maxes and ten pounds to your lower body maxes, and then recalculate.

    I did that and now I'm a bit intimidated by the numbers.

    Mind you, they're not super big for an experienced lifter, but they're pretty big for me.

    For example, my training max for deadlifts is 205lbs. I've pulled it before but never more than one or two reps.

    My question is...should I have gotten a belt a while ago? I know that in week 3, it's 5/3/1 and it's 1+ at 95%. I'm a bit scared, to tell you the truth. I don't want to hurt myself.

    A belt is a great tool to use if you have the disposable income to purchase one, and you have a goal of getting stronger, and you aren't using it in place of proper technique =)

    Having said that, hopefully when you started 5/3/1 you took 90% of your actual 1RMs when you started the program. Most people don't do this step, but it's pretty important.

    For what it's worth, even with my competitive powerlifting clients, when I use % based programs I always make a slight reduction to their actual 1RM's when I run the calculations.

    Oh yes, I definitely used 90% of my actual 1RM to make my calculations.

    I'm looking at the Inzer 10mm lever belt. I have a friend who uses it so I'm waiting for his review. Nice to know someone personally who uses it.

    My goal is to get stronger, for sure. That's my #1 goal.

    If you read 5/3/1 thoroughly, Wendler advocates for the slowest increases possible. If you can get your hands on some 1.25 cookies, going up 5 lbs. on lower and 2.5 upper is perfectly acceptable as well.
  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    I just switched from Stronglifts to 5/3/1 and I'm just about to start my second cycle. The book says to add five pounds to your upper body maxes and ten pounds to your lower body maxes, and then recalculate.

    I did that and now I'm a bit intimidated by the numbers.

    Mind you, they're not super big for an experienced lifter, but they're pretty big for me.

    For example, my training max for deadlifts is 205lbs. I've pulled it before but never more than one or two reps.

    My question is...should I have gotten a belt a while ago? I know that in week 3, it's 5/3/1 and it's 1+ at 95%. I'm a bit scared, to tell you the truth. I don't want to hurt myself.

    A belt is a great tool to use if you have the disposable income to purchase one, and you have a goal of getting stronger, and you aren't using it in place of proper technique =)

    Having said that, hopefully when you started 5/3/1 you took 90% of your actual 1RMs when you started the program. Most people don't do this step, but it's pretty important.

    For what it's worth, even with my competitive powerlifting clients, when I use % based programs I always make a slight reduction to their actual 1RM's when I run the calculations.

    Oh yes, I definitely used 90% of my actual 1RM to make my calculations.

    I'm looking at the Inzer 10mm lever belt. I have a friend who uses it so I'm waiting for his review. Nice to know someone personally who uses it.

    My goal is to get stronger, for sure. That's my #1 goal.

    If you read 5/3/1 thoroughly, Wendler advocates for the slowest increases possible. If you can get your hands on some 1.25 cookies, going up 5 lbs. on lower and 2.5 upper is perfectly acceptable as well.

    Thanks! I do have fractional half pound weights which I got while doing Stronglifts and I do use them for 5/3/1 as some of my percentages are not in multiples of five and I don't want to round my numbers up and struggle. I am going to give these current numbers a try and if it is a struggle (ie. can't hit 3x3 for 90%) then I will scale back and do the smaller increases.

  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    I just switched from Stronglifts to 5/3/1 and I'm just about to start my second cycle. The book says to add five pounds to your upper body maxes and ten pounds to your lower body maxes, and then recalculate.

    I did that and now I'm a bit intimidated by the numbers.

    Mind you, they're not super big for an experienced lifter, but they're pretty big for me.

    For example, my training max for deadlifts is 205lbs. I've pulled it before but never more than one or two reps.

    My question is...should I have gotten a belt a while ago? I know that in week 3, it's 5/3/1 and it's 1+ at 95%. I'm a bit scared, to tell you the truth. I don't want to hurt myself.

    A belt is a great tool to use if you have the disposable income to purchase one, and you have a goal of getting stronger, and you aren't using it in place of proper technique =)

    Having said that, hopefully when you started 5/3/1 you took 90% of your actual 1RMs when you started the program. Most people don't do this step, but it's pretty important.

    For what it's worth, even with my competitive powerlifting clients, when I use % based programs I always make a slight reduction to their actual 1RM's when I run the calculations.

    Oh yes, I definitely used 90% of my actual 1RM to make my calculations.

    I'm looking at the Inzer 10mm lever belt. I have a friend who uses it so I'm waiting for his review. Nice to know someone personally who uses it.

    My goal is to get stronger, for sure. That's my #1 goal.

    If you read 5/3/1 thoroughly, Wendler advocates for the slowest increases possible. If you can get your hands on some 1.25 cookies, going up 5 lbs. on lower and 2.5 upper is perfectly acceptable as well.

    Thanks! I do have fractional half pound weights which I got while doing Stronglifts and I do use them for 5/3/1 as some of my percentages are not in multiples of five and I don't want to round my numbers up and struggle. I am going to give these current numbers a try and if it is a struggle (ie. can't hit 3x3 for 90%) then I will scale back and do the smaller increases.

    Greg Nuckols from strongerbyscience.com (formerly strengtheory.com) has been known to say something(s) to the effect of: getting stronger is about putting in the work, not seeing how much you can endure.

    As such, instead of "true" rounding, you could always go down to the nearest 5-lb increment - it's the "floor" function in Excel. For example, if you plug in your numbers and some weight comes out to 138 - instead of rounding up to 140, you'd use 135. That's what Greg has on the spreadsheets that come with his 28-Programs.
  • MagneticGanymede
    MagneticGanymede Posts: 180 Member
    I have a question about calorie deficit and strength training.
    I did 6 months of strength training last year at a normal diet and saw lots of strength progress. The past month I've been eating at a calorie deficit and have continued strength training. Today I couldn't lift my overhead press max that I did last week.
    Could I be losing weight too quickly and it's affecting my strength/ muscle mass? Should I increase my calories? I've lost 8 pounds in the last 30 days.
    Another possibility is meal timing- last week I lifted about an hour after breakfast and today was 4 hours after lunch and I spent those 4 hours playing with my kid at the park... so maybe I was tired?
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I have a question about calorie deficit and strength training.
    I did 6 months of strength training last year at a normal diet and saw lots of strength progress. The past month I've been eating at a calorie deficit and have continued strength training. Today I couldn't lift my overhead press max that I did last week.
    Could I be losing weight too quickly and it's affecting my strength/ muscle mass? Should I increase my calories? I've lost 8 pounds in the last 30 days.
    Another possibility is meal timing- last week I lifted about an hour after breakfast and today was 4 hours after lunch and I spent those 4 hours playing with my kid at the park... so maybe I was tired?

    I think it's too early to tell.

    Additionally, what's more important to you if you had to choose? Overhead press strength, or weight loss?

    These are not mutually exclusive by the way, but I do think it's a valid question.
This discussion has been closed.