starting strength gym
Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread: midway thru Novice SS... how am I doing? q's about lifting shoes, cleans, DL stalls..

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    48

    Default midway thru Novice SS... how am I doing? q's about lifting shoes, cleans, DL stalls..

    • starting strength seminar april 2024
    • starting strength seminar jume 2024
    • starting strength seminar august 2024
    First post. Reading these forums have been as invaluable as the book.

    Started doing the program Dec 16, it's now Jan 30.. stuck to it close as I can

    Watched Rippetoe's youtube form vids a hundred times, been anal on form

    Male, Age: 32
    Height: 5'11
    Weight: 96 kg (210lbs)--> 99kg (218 lbs)..
    higher bodyfat to begin... body composition has improved some

    Squat: 45kg (99lbs) --> 97.5kg (215lbs)
    Bench: 35kg (77lbs) --> 52.5kg (115lbs)
    Press: 25kg (55lbs) --> 41kg (90lbs)
    Deadlift: 50kg (110lbs) --> 115kg (253lbs)

    My goals are 500lb DL, 400lb squat, 275lb bench, 175lb OH press...

    I'm happy with the progress, the program really works if you do it.

    Couple of questions about sticking points:

    1) Squatting in my tennis shoes is holding me back. I need proper shoes.
    I live in the middle east, all we have are shitty narrow Adidas that don't fit my fat wide foot... any tips on getting custom made shoes? What are the specs on that, anybody try it before? Any other solutions or creative ideas? It'll be a few months before I travel to Europe again...

    2) Should I be power cleaning now? Today I think the 10lb gains are over. At 115kg (~250lbs) I got 4 reps up and the fifth rep wouldn't come past halfway, even after 3 tries... first time I've missed on DL. tho I traveled for 24 hours on a plane and had the stomach flu the day before yesterday so didn't eat for 48 hours.. still, am I now pulling enough weight to move to the Phase 2, where I alternate DL & cleans... or should I keep DLing every session?

    3) started microloading 1kg (2lbs) OH press at 35 kg (77lbs).. is that too soon or normal? I'm still doing LP on it.. bench is still moving at 2.5kg (5lb) jumps... again this is in the book I assume this is normal..

    4) many sessions I feel I could do bench AND oh press... my recovery is great... any reason not to do both? I know: YNDTP.. patience? maybe I'm lifting too light...

    5) is it ever advisable to repeat a squat weight? Since microloading squat & DL are sort of redundant due to plate inaccuracies. I feel my squats are starting to get heavy enough I need a break from LP sometimes.. for example, today was 97.5kg. I got all my reps in, but I felt it was a grind pushing the last couple up.. I feel like next time I should repeat the weight.. does this make sense? I just feel safer knowing I hit the weight twice before I move up to the 100kg mark.. however, if I had hit 97.5kg today and it had been easy or medium feeling, then I'd do 100kg next time.. see what I mean? Like, what's the rush? It's gonna take a year or two to get up to baseline strength anyways, why risk injury pushing too fast.. I'm only training for health reasons.. I've done this a few times out of necessity (lack of small plates & proper equipment while traveling, so had to repeat weight) and the second time I do a new PR the weight is ALWAYS easier than the first time I do a PR weight..

    6) Should I be doing curls for biceps? Rippetoe says it won't hurt to do it once a week but I get the impression it's fine to skip biceps iso-work.. which is fine with me.

    7) I've read other places SS can 'neglect' the rear delts.. is this broscience or do rear delt assistance exercises complement the program? I'm considering adding some in...

    8) What's the ideal path for me at this time in general? Keep doing what I'm doing?? When will I know I'm at Phase 3 and can start chin ups?

    I'm eager to make bicep & upper back gains without curling or rowing haha

    I probably have more questions but I'll refrain for now. Thanks for your input.

  2. #2
    Brent Carter's Avatar
    Brent Carter is offline Owner, Starting Strength Dallas
    Starting Strength Coach
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Dallas, TX
    Posts
    544

    Default

    Question 1. Get shoes. Whatever it takes get the damn shoes. There are no creative solutions. Just get the damn shoes.

    Question 2. If your deadlift form is fine the start powercleaning.

    Question 3. If the bar speed dictates 2.5lb jumps then it is not too soon.

    Question 4.Do the program. There are good reasons to not bench and press on same workout.

    Question 5. No. Once you squat a weight and have recovered from it and thus adapted to it what benefit is there to doing it again?

    Question 6. Do your curls if you want just make sure you are not taking up a squat rack.

    Question 7. This is BS. Do your presses and your delts (all three of em) will be just fine.

    Question 8. Do some chins now if you want. Keep on going with Novice LP.

    ...

    Question 1,065. Less is more with these posts.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    48

    Default

    Thanks so much for your replies Brent!

    Brevity is a virtue haha

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •