OHP I use what I think my lean body mass should be and the range for women in the advanced catagory for OHP is between 65-125lbs the top weight being 199+
I think I should be at 130 ish so my max should be about 85lbs --- and OHP are hard!
for squats its 168 the range is 129- 242. I don't know if this table is for your best max 1 rep or for multi-reps/sets. I recall Mehdi saying that you're in the novice catagory until you've been lifting for like 2 yrs. I'm looking at advanced because I'm looking at ultimate goals. No desire to be an elite lifter.
http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.html

Managed to squeeze a workout in. It'll probably be the only one I get to do for the rest of the week other than walking back and forth from the show barn a million times.

Squat - 85
OHP - 60 stalled 2x5, 1x4, 1x3, 1x2
DL - 85

I hated OHP's from the start. I knew I had a weak upper body and felt like they just magnified it. However, it's gotten to the point that I kind of like the days that I up the weight and fail. The last few times it's happened I've noticed it's then that I can really feel my core engage with this corseting wraparound effect. Not to mention my CNS goes wonky, so I must be doing something right, right?

Well Boo...I had a funky workout today. I did 155 on squats today and it felt like crap. It's like I had nothing left to give after that.
I had to get to the Gym when I would normally be eating lunch so that could be part of it? I don't know I think the barbell might have broke me....haha!

So squats 155 5x5 I think I'm going to deload anyway
Row -75 stalled 3rd time
Bench 70 stalled 3rd time

I thinkthose are really good numbers actually? For how long you have been working out and how relatively light you already are.

Have you picked up fractional plates yet? You might need them to get past your row and bench press - a deload at 155 for squats seems more than good. I wouldn't think at those numbers that you're necessarily stalling due to undereating although if you think that might be the case you could always try eating at mainteannce or sliiightly above (50 cals a day above? or 100 on workout days?) and see if you feel like it helps.

I'm going to go ahead and deload my squat weight and look at buying some fractional plates. I think the stall from bench and row is because the squat weight is so much work. I'm eating around 2300 calories so I'm eating plenty...maybe caffeine right before workout?!

I might go another route to try and cut some fat. Drop my squat/dead weight and work on moving up but in a deficit.

hmm..decisions
Night ladies

Hello ladies!! I started 5x5 near the beginning of April and got an invite to join the group around that time but have not posted much here. Anyway...I started May at:

Squats - 85#
OHP - 60# (fail - only 4 reps in 2nd set)
Deadlift - 125#

Will be lifting again tonight and going for:

Squats - 90#
Bench - 70#
Row - 65#

I will be sure to report back!!

As of right now, I am only lifting twice per week, with a random 3rd day thrown in when my schedule allows, but it is the exception rather than the rule. My lift days are Tues and Thurs right now and, as I said, I will sometimes do Saturday but it means I miss out on the bootcamp class that I love.

I increased my calories about a month ago (1700 plus exercise calories) and after watching the number on the scale go up and up finally decided yesterday to put the bloody thing in the closet. I don't intend to look at it again for at least another month and will be relying on my clothes to tell me if I'm making any progress. Fingers crossed.

You all are doing so excellent!

Has anyone taken any videos of themselves doing pendlay rows? I can't seem to find videos of people doing them at a lower weight. I'm having this issue where stacking up plates is really obnoxious (they don't stack nicely on one another and move around when I put the bar down, and I don't have anything else to set the bar on since I do this at home), and it seems like either my long torso or short arms (or both) is getting in the way of having good form (along with having the bar not raised off the ground enough it seems). So I try to keep my back flat and chest/head up, but then to get a hold of the bar, I have to bend my knees to get low enough, almost like a deadlift. So then when I try to do rows, my knees are sticking out too much and the bar hits them. So then if I don't bend my knees as much, I end up with my butt too high, and I feel it in my lower back, rather than my upper back and triceps (which I think is where I should be feeling this, but not sure because I don't think I have been doing them right since I started).

Also, how wide should the grip be for these?

You all are doing so excellent!

Has anyone taken any videos of themselves doing pendlay rows? I can't seem to find videos of people doing them at a lower weight. I'm having this issue where stacking up plates is really obnoxious (they don't stack nicely on one another and move around when I put the bar down, and I don't have anything else to set the bar on since I do this at home), and it seems like either my long torso or short arms (or both) is getting in the way of having good form (along with having the bar not raised off the ground enough it seems). So I try to keep my back flat and chest/head up, but then to get a hold of the bar, I have to bend my knees to get low enough, almost like a deadlift. So then when I try to do rows, my knees are sticking out too much and the bar hits them. So then if I don't bend my knees as much, I end up with my butt too high, and I feel it in my lower back, rather than my upper back and triceps (which I think is where I should be feeling this, but not sure because I don't think I have been doing them right since I started).

Also, how wide should the grip be for these?

My knees are bent when I do mine, but I've never hit them. I'd offer to take a video but I have bumper plates.

Also, how wide should the grip be for these?

I "hook" grip. I only started stacking plates under my bar, so I don't have anything to offer you. I just got myself into a low deadlift start position, which was really taxing on my quads.

I am new at this. What do you mean by stacking plates under the bar?? what is hook grip?
Also if anyone can help, does anyone have trouble with pain on the upper back where the bar sits during squats?? i am only squating 65 pounds now and its already getting uncomfortable....
Also how do you know if your form is off doing overhead press?? I feel like towards the last set, I am leaning my head back some and my belly pushes out a little. Does this mean my form is bad? should I not increase my weight next time??? Today was only my third day doing SL so i am still trying to figure things out!

Thanks!

We have training plates at my gym and I'm really grateful for that.

I've had a ****ay day today. I was inexplicably floored by MCA's death and I my lifting this morning was underwhelming. I think it's a matter of unrealistic expectations which is also a bummer since it isn't a matter of "tighten your glutes and everything will fall into place". I want to lift a combined squat/bench/deads 500 at this July meet and that may simply not be able to happen. I have to wrap my brain around that being okay. Wah wah wah.

I spent some time looking at Westside Barbell's program for powerlifting minded lifters and I was sort of meh about all the assistance exercise. I like that Stronglifts is all barbell all the time. Sooo, I think I need to just get over myself and whatever I lift in July, I lift. I've only really been doing this real-deal style since October. Maybe I can put that on my shirt at the competition.

Yesterday I went just to stay with it since I'm still trying to gear up for my first 5K on Saturday and felt great! I'm so slow so trying to increase my speed. I stayed with the same numbers: Squat 100, Bench 60, and Barbell Row 75. I really can't imagine increasing more on the bench, but I didn't fail so that was a plus! Awesome seeing everyone keeping with it! Whoot Whoot! :drinker:

Hello all,
Started SL on April 19th

Currently
145 squats
65 bench press
55 overhead press
65 pendlay rows
145 deadlift

I'm also a runner. Anyone else doing SL and distance running?