Askeered

[partyb]

Dear geezoid/OP, I am 44.5, and I have been squatting since HS, currently 5-8 205lbs, LBBS 1RM at 450. I'm not saying this is strong, many are stronger...but just keep with the program and I believe you will build trust in your body and conquer heavier weights then you ever have. I have more experience then you, but still 450 is my lifetime PR and was hit just last month. Keep up the good work, follow the program, and check out the elderly section for more testimonials/inspiration.

[DPMuller]

[QUOTE=The Emancipated Freak;455735]Belts are in the top three things that you need if you want to lift heavy. Get one right away. Specifically a Best Belt. [QUOTE]

Best Belts... the best 88 USD I ever spent. My belt will outlast me and will be passed down to my girls.

And listen to rumblefish - failing a squat in a power rack with the safety rails set at the right height is just embarassing because nobody likes failing and annoying because you might have to reset, but nothing to be really concerned about. To paraphrase Rip, if you don't ever fail a squat, you're not lifting heavy enough - just make sure you can fail safely.

[slipshod77]

I I can't really point to one specific incident but there were a few milestones coupled with increased experience that the fear just kinda faded a bit.
1. I failed a rep and didn't die, or even get hurt in any way.
2. I got a nice sturdy belt.

+1 on this. The first time a had to dump the bar on the safeties during a squat I felt relieved. It wasn't the big deal I had worked it up to be in my head. The belt will help too.

[rao00010]

I'm 41 and it definitely gets me anxious under the bar at high weights. I totally agree with practicing dumping the bar with lower weights so that you know how it feels and how to do it. Another thing that has helped me is to do a 1 RM occasionally so that I can convince myself that I can do it (of course, I have gotten these maxes up).

Sunil

[t0rment]

I totally agree with practicing dumping the bar with lower weights so that you know how it feels and how to do it.

The flip side to this is you can get too used to dumping the bar when things get hard. Sometimes a little fear is good.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I tend to side with t0rment on the squat-dumping issue. Don't learn to dump squats -- get spotters, learn to pick your work weights correctly, and learn to finish what you start.

[rumblefish]

Now my pride hurts.
I swear it was only one time!

[wal]

Ehh! Don't worry about it. "Success is not final. Failure is not fatal(unless the bar falls on your neck) The courage to continue is what counts" Winston Churchill.

[Singlestone]

I've ordered a belt and am awaiting it eagerly. Thanks, everyone.

[DenghisCon]

Geezling here. I failed my first rep ever (about a year in now) on Thursday, and lived to tell the tale.