What is the farthest anyone has ever taken linear gains?

[OptimusSubprime]

Assume a completely detrained, sedentary adult male with no previous weight lifting experience. After 3-4 months of following SS, what are the absolute best 1RM numbers possible? I understand that this is heavily dependent on genetics, but I'm still curious...

[hamburgerfan]

Check out Thefinalsql's log. If I'm not mistaken, he took his squat to 500+ for sets on linear progression.

[FKYT]

Check out Thefinalsql's log. If I'm not mistaken, he took his squat to 500+ for sets on linear progression.

Holy crap. And here I thought someone taking their squat to 405 on a LP was doing well.

[The Emancipated Freak]

Thefinsql and John2336 both got their squat up to five hundred on linear progression. Can't think of anyone else, though.

[Eric K]

It takes serious dedication and hardwork (and, probably, some favorable genetics) to do it, though.

[manisstrong]

And what were their starting numbers? More than 135, surely?

[thefinalsql]

On squats I started empty bar, 95lbs, 110lbs and 5lb increments after that. I been going on linear progression for 22 months. Taking breaks here and of course.

I would say at 6'4", big frame, 350ish lbs that I have favorable genetics to lifting weights.

600 3x3 is only 35lbs away.

[Carlos Daniel]

I would say at 6'4", big frame, 350ish lbs that I have favorable genetics to lifting weigh

John is also a big boy, so this seems to be the thing in common. Guys that start SS from the bottom (145 and below) will probably not get this far unless they are freaks. Justin from 70's big went all the way to 450 or something, and he's not huge or anything. But he had previous lifting experience.

[Aslin]

your boy here went from 90kg to 150kg 3x5... started at 6'0 195lbs, finished at 235lbs. Started 'cutting' when i got to TM. my squat is now 165kg 5x5 and i'm at 210lbs.

[Rusi]

I'm not an authority and you are all stronger than me but please don't let anybody think that SS will lead to 500 squat. It won't and most of the guys who reach this are definetely not your 140/6' kid. They probably have experience and are already muscular.

When I was starting out I heard about that guy Justin who got to 435 ot so. And I though that I will reach that. I didn't since I started with 95 squat and later I found out that he was squatting 315+ before doing LP.

Also the clarification article says it all - except to add 200 pounds to your squat and that's it.

[thefinalsql]

I'm not an authority and you are all stronger than me but please don't let anybody think that SS will lead to 500 squat. It won't and most of the guys who reach this are definetely not your 140/6' kid. They probably have experience and are already muscular.

When I was starting out I heard about that guy Justin who got to 435 ot so. And I though that I will reach that. I didn't since I started with 95 squat and later I found out that he was squatting 315+ before doing LP.

Also the clarification article says it all - except to add 200 pounds to your squat and that's it.

To those that say it cannot be done stay out of the way of the person doing it.

[Rusi]

To those that say it cannot be done stay out of the way of the person doing it.

I don't want to stop anybody from achieving anything. If anybody felt that way I'm sorry.

[thefinalsql]

I don't want to stop anybody from achieving anything. If anybody felt that way I'm sorry.

No worries mate, I already did it.

When I started strength training they said 1.5BW squats for sets/reps is a good goal if you weight 80kg or less. Glad I did not listen to that advice.

[DanO_123]

I'm not an authority and you are all stronger than me but please don't let anybody think that SS will lead to 500 squat. It won't and most of the guys who reach this are definetely not your 140/6' kid. They probably have experience and are already muscular.

When I was starting out I heard about that guy Justin who got to 435 ot so. And I though that I will reach that. I didn't since I started with 95 squat and later I found out that he was squatting 315+ before doing LP.

Also the clarification article says it all - except to add 200 pounds to your squat and that's it.


Why does it matter that he could squat 315 before starting linear progression? Having prior workout experience doesn't make you able to take Linear progression farther than others. He just has good genetics. Whether you start at 95lbs or 300lbs your genetics aren't changing. Linear gains will be exhausted at the same end point no matter where you start.

[msingh]

Why does it matter that he could squat 315 before starting linear progression? Having prior workout experience doesn't make you able to take Linear progression farther than others. He just has good genetics. Whether you start at 95lbs or 300lbs your genetics aren't changing. Linear gains will be exhausted at the same end point no matter where you start.

Ofcourse it matters. Justin was lucky that he didn't start as a complete novice under rip. IF he had, he'd have a 200-240 pound squat at a bodyweight of 200 like every other unfortunate fucker to listen to him, and to get to 400+ he'd have to become stupidly obese. Otherwise he'd have hit perhaps 350-360 BS at his top end bodyweight. The guy STARTED at 300 at a lean bodyweight, which meant he could add a lot of weight both to the bar and his body while doing the program.

It's not just Justin, similarly a lot of guys who do really well start out quite lean, strong* and FIT and go a long away on the program, especially if they dont get carried away overeating in the first half of their time doing SS. The crossfitter who was orthoexic with his Paleo and Fran will also sometimes fit this mould. Too many guys here, i've observed quickly get to a bw of 200 and only have perhaps 200-240 squats to show for it, and just as they need the calories/growth/muscle the most, they've already bulked themselves to an overfat bw in the easy half of the program, ultimately stagger to a top end weight of 200-240 BW with 300-350 squats and call it a day, bulked to a fault.

I admit some people might only ever be able to reach a 300 squat, and i'm not talking about them, but I do think the average person who currently reaches the 300 milestone on SS at his heaviest bodyweight could have reached it lighter had he not overbulked the beginning half of SS. Does everyone need to weight 200 to squat 200-240? I don't think so. Then why is almost every novice here in that situation? Save the GOMAD for when the weights get heavy, not the initial interval to 220. For a drastically underweight kid who couldn't squat 220 without gaining a fair bit of weight, that's fine, gain weight quickly til you reach a normal (in the real world not SS normal which is abnormal) bodyweight but once you get there take it easy on the GOMAD for the rest of the program.

* strong - I define this as a 2+ plate squat for worksets either from natural talent or more likely, previous training experience.

[Tom Campitelli]

How about those Phillies?

[the dio]

This thread is now about dogs and music.

http://iruntheinternet.com/lulzdump/images/dog-comes-puppies-two-subwoofers-1275567122b.jpg

[FKYT]

I'm game.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jg7hazVhQ2I/SR1nTMOpsfI/AAAAAAAAAl8/JC3hO1ClvBU/s320/41kgSNjdq0L__SL500_AA280_.jpg

[veryhrm]

Other than this forum for the past month or two i'm not a big forum guy... (i usually lurk)... so where the heck do you people get all these gifs ? Do you maintain a library of them to whip out as the situation arises or what ?

[250orBust]

Ofcourse it matters. Justin was lucky that he didn't start as a complete novice under rip. IF he had, he'd have a 200-240 pound squat at a bodyweight of 200 like every other unfortunate fucker to listen to him, and to get to 400+ he'd have to become stupidly obese. Otherwise he'd have hit perhaps 350-360 BS at his top end bodyweight. The guy STARTED at 300 at a lean bodyweight, which meant he could add a lot of weight both to the bar and his body while doing the program.

It's not just Justin, similarly a lot of guys who do really well start out quite lean, strong* and FIT and go a long away on the program, especially if they dont get carried away overeating in the first half of their time doing SS. The crossfitter who was orthoexic with his Paleo and Fran will also sometimes fit this mould. Too many guys here, i've observed quickly get to a bw of 200 and only have perhaps 200-240 squats to show for it, and just as they need the calories/growth/muscle the most, they've already bulked themselves to an overfat bw in the easy half of the program, ultimately stagger to a top end weight of 200-240 BW with 300-350 squats and call it a day, bulked to a fault.

I admit some people might only ever be able to reach a 300 squat, and i'm not talking about them, but I do think the average person who currently reaches the 300 milestone on SS at his heaviest bodyweight could have reached it lighter had he not overbulked the beginning half of SS. Does everyone need to weight 200 to squat 200-240? I don't think so. Then why is almost every novice here in that situation? Save the GOMAD for when the weights get heavy, not the initial interval to 220. For a drastically underweight kid who couldn't squat 220 without gaining a fair bit of weight, that's fine, gain weight quickly til you reach a normal (in the real world not SS normal which is abnormal) bodyweight but once you get there take it easy on the GOMAD for the rest of the program.

* strong - I define this as a 2+ plate squat for worksets either from natural talent or more likely, previous training experience.

Why do you assume everyone wants to be light? Not everyone cares about relative strength.

[DanO_123]

Ofcourse it matters. Justin was lucky that he didn't start as a complete novice under rip. IF he had, he'd have a 200-240 pound squat at a bodyweight of 200 like every other unfortunate fucker to listen to him, and to get to 400+ he'd have to become stupidly obese. Otherwise he'd have hit perhaps 350-360 BS at his top end bodyweight. The guy STARTED at 300 at a lean bodyweight, which meant he could add a lot of weight both to the bar and his body while doing the program.

It's not just Justin, similarly a lot of guys who do really well start out quite lean, strong* and FIT and go a long away on the program, especially if they dont get carried away overeating in the first half of their time doing SS. The crossfitter who was orthoexic with his Paleo and Fran will also sometimes fit this mould. Too many guys here, i've observed quickly get to a bw of 200 and only have perhaps 200-240 squats to show for it, and just as they need the calories/growth/muscle the most, they've already bulked themselves to an overfat bw in the easy half of the program, ultimately stagger to a top end weight of 200-240 BW with 300-350 squats and call it a day, bulked to a fault.

I admit some people might only ever be able to reach a 300 squat, and i'm not talking about them, but I do think the average person who currently reaches the 300 milestone on SS at his heaviest bodyweight could have reached it lighter had he not overbulked the beginning half of SS. Does everyone need to weight 200 to squat 200-240? I don't think so. Then why is almost every novice here in that situation? Save the GOMAD for when the weights get heavy, not the initial interval to 220. For a drastically underweight kid who couldn't squat 220 without gaining a fair bit of weight, that's fine, gain weight quickly til you reach a normal (in the real world not SS normal which is abnormal) bodyweight but once you get there take it easy on the GOMAD for the rest of the program.

* strong - I define this as a 2+ plate squat for worksets either from natural talent or more likely, previous training experience.

The fastest progression happens at the beginning when the weights you are lifting go up the fastest. Not in the end when each 5lb increase requires a substantial mental and physical effort. If you get fat its because you eat too much at the end. I took some time off from lifting and jumped back onto SS. Eating about 3000 cals a day currently and still gaining strength. You just have to play with your intake to see what works.

[the dio]

You guys fucking fail.

Also,

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_r_rtt8KUl7Y/S_NofnSx-aI/AAAAAAAAANw/kCI9sjjpptQ/s1600/cute-dog.jpg

[The Emancipated Freak]

Ofcourse it matters. Justin was lucky that he didn't start as a complete novice under rip. IF he had, he'd have a 200-240 pound squat at a bodyweight of 200 like every other unfortunate fucker to listen to him, and to get to 400+ he'd have to become stupidly obese. Otherwise he'd have hit perhaps 350-360 BS at his top end bodyweight. The guy STARTED at 300 at a lean bodyweight, which meant he could add a lot of weight both to the bar and his body while doing the program.

It's not just Justin, similarly a lot of guys who do really well start out quite lean, strong* and FIT and go a long away on the program, especially if they dont get carried away overeating in the first half of their time doing SS. The crossfitter who was orthoexic with his Paleo and Fran will also sometimes fit this mould. Too many guys here, i've observed quickly get to a bw of 200 and only have perhaps 200-240 squats to show for it, and just as they need the calories/growth/muscle the most, they've already bulked themselves to an overfat bw in the easy half of the program, ultimately stagger to a top end weight of 200-240 BW with 300-350 squats and call it a day, bulked to a fault.

I admit some people might only ever be able to reach a 300 squat, and i'm not talking about them, but I do think the average person who currently reaches the 300 milestone on SS at his heaviest bodyweight could have reached it lighter had he not overbulked the beginning half of SS. Does everyone need to weight 200 to squat 200-240? I don't think so. Then why is almost every novice here in that situation? Save the GOMAD for when the weights get heavy, not the initial interval to 220. For a drastically underweight kid who couldn't squat 220 without gaining a fair bit of weight, that's fine, gain weight quickly til you reach a normal (in the real world not SS normal which is abnormal) bodyweight but once you get there take it easy on the GOMAD for the rest of the program.

* strong - I define this as a 2+ plate squat for worksets either from natural talent or more likely, previous training experience.

I went into a 200 hundred pound squat at a body weight of 140 lbs. I am still having trouble making consistent gains. I began lifting as a complete novice on starting strength. So why is it that I don't weigh 200 lbs? I was at what was considered normal weight for my age and height, if I stayed at this weight I wouldn't be squatting 300 next week. American society has the shittiest weight standards in the Western hemisphere.

[Eric K]

Other than this forum for the past month or two i'm not a big forum guy... (i usually lurk)... so where the heck do you people get all these gifs ? Do you maintain a library of them to whip out as the situation arises or what ?

I asked this question a few months ago. Google Images is your friend.

Also:

http://coolpictures1.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Picture-Of-Dogs.jpg

[Mr.City]

Ofcourse it matters. Justin was lucky that he didn't start as a complete novice under rip. IF he had, he'd have a 200-240 pound squat at a bodyweight of 200 like every other unfortunate fucker to listen to him, and to get to 400+ he'd have to become stupidly obese. Otherwise he'd have hit perhaps 350-360 BS at his top end bodyweight. The guy STARTED at 300 at a lean bodyweight, which meant he could add a lot of weight both to the bar and his body while doing the program.

It's not just Justin, similarly a lot of guys who do really well start out quite lean, strong* and FIT and go a long away on the program, especially if they dont get carried away overeating in the first half of their time doing SS. The crossfitter who was orthoexic with his Paleo and Fran will also sometimes fit this mould. Too many guys here, i've observed quickly get to a bw of 200 and only have perhaps 200-240 squats to show for it, and just as they need the calories/growth/muscle the most, they've already bulked themselves to an overfat bw in the easy half of the program, ultimately stagger to a top end weight of 200-240 BW with 300-350 squats and call it a day, bulked to a fault.

I admit some people might only ever be able to reach a 300 squat, and i'm not talking about them, but I do think the average person who currently reaches the 300 milestone on SS at his heaviest bodyweight could have reached it lighter had he not overbulked the beginning half of SS. Does everyone need to weight 200 to squat 200-240? I don't think so. Then why is almost every novice here in that situation? Save the GOMAD for when the weights get heavy, not the initial interval to 220. For a drastically underweight kid who couldn't squat 220 without gaining a fair bit of weight, that's fine, gain weight quickly til you reach a normal (in the real world not SS normal which is abnormal) bodyweight but once you get there take it easy on the GOMAD for the rest of the program.

* strong - I define this as a 2+ plate squat for worksets either from natural talent or more likely, previous training experience.

I'm challenging your data.

[mstrofbass]

And here I thought someone taking their squat to 405 on a LP was doing well.

They are.

And why the fuck is anyone even answering this question?

[the dio]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-zi-RZqH3K4/TR6fSxv6C3I/AAAAAAAADNQ/VveqnEeSOn8/s1600/dog+fort.jpg

[the dio]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/kym-assets/photos/images/original/000/089/385/x2rLU.jpg?1293003537

[Eric K]

I'm on the edge of my seat!

[william jackson]

Dio, that was sweet.

3x5x405 squats with some resets and life getting in the way.

no dog/cat pics from this guy

[kittenSmash]

A buddy of mine squatted 550 for reps and pulled 640 as a novice. Pressed around 280 too, maybe more. He was 268 and maybe 12% if not less. Genetics plus work ethic are nuts.