Why I train

[fstr03svtcobra]

I need to get back to why I train. Lately I've gotten caught up in breaking a 181 lb pling record in the SPF, but to do so I have lowered my squat strength significantly trying to hit ridiculous depth. By ridiculous I mean almost olympic depth. I did this by narrowing my stance which has brought some back pain. I have also been trying to not gain weight so that I can stay close to 181.

Then it hit me. The reason I got into training in the first place was to be the biggest strongest mofo I could possibly be and if the record I wanted was at 195 or 220 instead of 181 I wouldn't care about weight. My point is that I was letting something arbitrary drive my training. Sure I may make it to 181, but the reason I train is to be big, lean, and most important very strong.

So I'm going to widen my stance back and try to get my squat to my goal of 600 and I'll worry if it will pass in a meet when I get there. But I'm going to have fun on the way. Oh and btw Jim Wendler's depth is what I'm shooting for now. I don't mean pussy half squats. I literally was going about 10 inches off the ground before though. Here's a video of Jim Squatting: Jim Wendler - Squat - YouTube

If you saw this in a gym would you think that's high? BC if you didn't know, most federations would!

 

[mcgaret]

In the overall picture it will probably be good for you that you switched it up. You body will probably react
better to you old workouts. There is always a good side to everything if you look hard enough.
My reason for working out is still the same. Old broads are easily impressed. lol

 

[fstr03svtcobra]

In the overall picture it will probably be good for you that you switched it up. You body will probably react
better to you old workouts. There is always a good side to everything if you look hard enough.
My reason for working out is still the same. Old broads are easily impressed. lol

What is it with the older ladies loving muscles? I swear most young girls like the skinny jean beta male look, but the older ladies man they love muscle.

 

[BigZ]

It's the generational difference. Back then real men were regarded as big and rugged like the old Charles Atlas ads. Today's younger males have been almost completely feminized. I think it's one of the reasons we are looked at so strangely sometimes because we literally buck the trend.

To your original post, it's always good to go back to the origin of why you started in the first place, looking at your original goal. I've lost my focus a few times, and I always seem to do much better when I rediscover my passion for why I decided to be the same as you put it, "to be the biggest strongest mofo I could possibly be."

 

[sosasghost]

Absolutly, society has feminized males on TV to a point to where its not cool to be a man anymore.

Sometimes I in my quest for perfection I step back and go back to basics for a while as far as training is concerned. I for the most part follow Dorian Yates style lifting. I change it up every now and again but I always come back and when I do, my body responds. Its like my muscles are screaming for a change knowing that I will come back home and they will reward me for it..

Nothing like being safisfied with never being satisfied... Fucking Awesome...

 

[fstr03svtcobra]

It's the generational difference. Back then real men were regarded as big and rugged like the old Charles Atlas ads. Today's younger males have been almost completely feminized. I think it's one of the reasons we are looked at so strangely sometimes because we literally buck the trend.

To your original post, it's always good to go back to the origin of why you started in the first place, looking at your original goal. I've lost my focus a few times, and I always seem to do much better when I rediscover my passion for why I decided to be the same as you put it, "to be the biggest strongest mofo I could possibly be."

I completely agree.

I found an interesting article on legal squat height and how one federation judges it. They want what they call "convincingly deep." Here's the article... USA Powerlifting Online Newsletter

 

[DefMetalLifter]

I need to get back to why I train. Lately I've gotten caught up in breaking a 181 lb pling record in the SPF, but to do so I have lowered my squat strength significantly trying to hit ridiculous depth. By ridiculous I mean almost olympic depth. I did this by narrowing my stance which has brought some back pain. I have also been trying to not gain weight so that I can stay close to 181.

Then it hit me. The reason I got into training in the first place was to be the biggest strongest mofo I could possibly be and if the record I wanted was at 195 or 220 instead of 181 I wouldn't care about weight. My point is that I was letting something arbitrary drive my training. Sure I may make it to 181, but the reason I train is to be big, lean, and most important very strong.

So I'm going to widen my stance back and try to get my squat to my goal of 600 and I'll worry if it will pass in a meet when I get there. But I'm going to have fun on the way. Oh and btw Jim Wendler's depth is what I'm shooting for now. I don't mean pussy half squats. I literally was going about 10 inches off the ground before though. Here's a video of Jim Squatting: Jim Wendler - Squat - YouTube

If you saw this in a gym would you think that's high? BC if you didn't know, most federations would!

That squat technique is almost an exact replica of mine, its not even funny. I do like you sometimes too. Get my stance close together with focus on toes pointing straight and go deep. Doing this once every while I think helps me squat more on heavy days, plus it is such good focus on quads.

Way too many guys in the gym doing half squats, makes them look like an idiot. Thinking that they are putting up heavy weight. Then you got the guys that could easily put of 400 plus pounds for reps and they do like 15 reps with light weights. I say..GO HEAVY!

 

[The Dude]

I need to get back to why I train. Lately I've gotten caught up in breaking a 181 lb pling record in the SPF, but to do so I have lowered my squat strength significantly trying to hit ridiculous depth. By ridiculous I mean almost olympic depth. I did this by narrowing my stance which has brought some back pain. I have also been trying to not gain weight so that I can stay close to 181.

Then it hit me. The reason I got into training in the first place was to be the biggest strongest mofo I could possibly be and if the record I wanted was at 195 or 220 instead of 181 I wouldn't care about weight. My point is that I was letting something arbitrary drive my training. Sure I may make it to 181, but the reason I train is to be big, lean, and most important very strong.

So I'm going to widen my stance back and try to get my squat to my goal of 600 and I'll worry if it will pass in a meet when I get there. But I'm going to have fun on the way. Oh and btw Jim Wendler's depth is what I'm shooting for now. I don't mean pussy half squats. I literally was going about 10 inches off the ground before though. Here's a video of Jim Squatting: Jim Wendler - Squat - YouTube

If you saw this in a gym would you think that's high? BC if you didn't know, most federations would!

I consider that good depth for training. That's exactly to where I squat most times when I go heavy, but I wouldn't doubt that such depth wouldn't be deep enough for Powerlifting.
I can't wait to squat again..

 

[fstr03svtcobra]

I consider that good depth for training. That's exactly to where I squat most times when I go heavy, but I wouldn't doubt that such depth wouldn't be deep enough for Powerlifting.
I can't wait to squat again..

For some federations it's enough. And I do squat a little lower than in the video. But I literally was squatting 10 inches above the floor which is way below parallel for me.

 

[fstr03svtcobra]

That squat technique is almost an exact replica of mine, its not even funny. I do like you sometimes too. Get my stance close together with focus on toes pointing straight and go deep. Doing this once every while I think helps me squat more on heavy days, plus it is such good focus on quads.

Way too many guys in the gym doing half squats, makes them look like an idiot. Thinking that they are putting up heavy weight. Then you got the guys that could easily put of 400 plus pounds for reps and they do like 15 reps with light weights. I say..GO HEAVY!

Yeah I think I'm so ocd about not being a half squatter that I go too deep.

I just don't think that tendon flexibility should be a major determining factor for how much someone can squat. Tendon flexibility is not an indicator of strength. Toddlers have better tendon flexibility than anyone, but they can't squat 3x their bodyweight.

 

[The Dude]

For some federations it's enough. And I do squat a little lower than in the video. But I literally was squatting 10 inches above the floor which is way below parallel for me.

Ya Bro, I've tried going lower at times as some people say its good to try to go as low as possible, but it wasn't good for me. I agree with the tendon flexibility statement. Different people have different biomechanics. Some people just can't squat crazy deep like me. You've got a crazy good build bro. I wouldn't risk injury on powerlifting personally. Some injuries are for life

 

[fstr03svtcobra]

Ya Bro, I've tried going lower at times as some people say its good to try to go as low as possible, but it wasn't good for me. I agree with the tendon flexibility statement. Different people have different biomechanics. Some people just can't squat crazy deep like me. You've got a crazy good build bro. I wouldn't risk injury on powerlifting personally. Some injuries are for life

I appreciate it brother - really means a lot! I'm going to just get back to enjoying lifting and training. I love squatting, but doing olympic style squats wasn't for me and I don't care what people think. If I can put 3x bw on my back and squat it to parallel whether it would pass in a meet or not I'm still strong.

And about the biomechanics statement, I agree! I don't get why federations don't see that. I realize there has to be a baseline to measure against and it's true that some of the squats that have passed have been too high, but I've seen way more squats that I'd consider perfect get red-lights.

So we clarify what I'm talking about:
slightly too high ---> 565 lbs RAW! Phil Squatzilla Harrington - YouTube
perfect ---> Jim Wendler - Squat 600x2 - YouTube
what I was doing before and too low IMO --->Perfect Form ATG Squat 350 lbs x 10 No Belt (2x Bodweight @ 20 yr old) - YouTube

No disrespect to the guy in the last video (Johnnie Candito). He is incredibly strong for his size and has the hip flexibility and biomechanics (ie not long legs short upper body like me) to squat to that depth. I think if you are built to squat like that there's anything wrong with it, but essentially making that the benchmark or an inch above it for a legal competition squat is nuts IMO!

And while I'm on this rant I'll add that what in my opinion should count as a legitimate lift is when the lift is pushed to its max functionality. By this I mean that there is no benefit to squatting olympic style vs. to a traditional parallel (where knee breaks hip crease - hence parallel) in terms of its carry over to other full body lifts. For example, squatting any lower than parallel has ZERO translation to the deadlift or any other lift for that matter. In fact a lot of guys do high box squats to bring up the deadlift. So why do we insist on such low squats if it doesn't actually make you stronger? I'm not sure. And again, I'm not a high squat guy! Check the videos out. I call squatzilla's squats high. And no disrespect to him either. He's definitely stronger than me but that doesn't change my opinion that he squats high.

 

[fstr03svtcobra]

And here's Phil doing a better job ---> 645 RAW SQUAT #2 ALL TIME @181 - YouTube

Still maybe a little high but it's hard to tell.

 

[HackTwat]

I thought someone might get a kick out of my original motivation....

The original BowFlex commercial had this ripped dude say, "I'm 42 years old and I'm in the best shape of my life" Kinda corny, but it kept me focused the first year. Now, I'm just addicted....I turn 41 in 9 days...So, this is the year......LMAO!!!

And, cobra That frame looks solid. Don't hurt yourself. An injury can set ya back for a really long time..my 2 cents

 

[fstr03svtcobra]

And, cobra That frame looks solid. Don't hurt yourself. An injury can set ya back for a really long time..my 2 cents

Appreciate it man. I actually feel my best with heavy weights. Joints are less achy and my body responds better. I get a harder look than I do with reps in the 10-15 range. Even if I went back to bbing style training, I don't think I'd change my rep scheme too much, I'd just stop doing so many doubles and triples.

 

[freakinthegym]

i work out because i love it,.lol

 

[DefMetalLifter]

And here's Phil doing a better job ---> 645 RAW SQUAT #2 ALL TIME @181 - YouTube

Still maybe a little high but it's hard to tell.

That is sick weight for 181lbs!

 

[DefMetalLifter]

I thought someone might get a kick out of my original motivation....

The original BowFlex commercial had this ripped dude say, "I'm 42 years old and I'm in the best shape of my life" Kinda corny, but it kept me focused the first year. Now, I'm just addicted....I turn 41 in 9 days...So, this is the year......LMAO!!!

And, cobra That frame looks solid. Don't hurt yourself. An injury can set ya back for a really long time..my 2 cents

Haha. Ya those workout infomercials are convincing. I was get stuck on them watching the girls in spandex. Then the guy comes on and starts talking about how this machine is the best thing that ever happened to him, etc. I'm like "shit I need to go to the gym". haha. Those guys are good so I can see how he sold you. Aren't you happy that he did!! Nothing more important than your body! Take care of it.

 

[HackTwat]

Yeah Bro, I didnt run out and buy a BowFlex. It just reminded me that I was jacked at one time and knew what to do to get there. So, I put myself on a 2 year action plan.....Gonna take me closer to 3, but I'm closer than I fuckin was!!!!

 

[fstr03svtcobra]

Just an update... moved my legs way out and def broke parallel (videoed it). Felt way better on the back and hit an absolutely efforless 455 paused squat. I think I'll be at 600 by May.