Squats, Back Angle Changes, and Such

[Mark Rippetoe]

Looks like your 3rd rep might be a bit high, but I can't tell through the douchebag. The extra bodyweight looks good. You're beginning to resemble an adult male.

[Gary Gibson]

Ar shucks!

I've analyzed the vid frame by frame on my camera phone (something one can't do on YouTube) and can say with great certainty that I hit depth on that rep. I will confess, however, that I most likely didn't on the third rep of the third set. A lot of good morning in that very last rep, too. You know the sort when you try to get one more squat rep that you're really not strong enough to do.

I can't believe that I ever thought it was natural or wise for me to stay under 200. Recall that I spent most of my adult life around 150 lbs and then thought that 170 was the end of my road! I feel much better now and am starting to look like I lift even in regular clothing.

[tnumrych]

Gary: Just a question, is it me or are you not keeping your head down? Is that deliberate?

[Gary Gibson]

Gary: Just a question, is it me or are you not keeping your head down? Is that deliberate?

Yes. I've discussed this before. I find that as I go heavier my squat gets segmented when I keep my head neutral. That is to say my butt shoots up a bit too much, my back goes nearly flat and then then I do a good morning. The movement is smoother and the back angle maintained better when I fix my eyes on a point about six feet above the floor.

Rip manages to lift heavy just fine with the head position he recommends and it's a great cue to turn standing leg presses into proper squats. At limit weights, however, I find myself looking up like other powerlifters do. It's something I've experimented with because I was unhappy with how flat my back tended to go with the head down position.

[TPrewittMD]

Reason, Liberty, and some new books. It'd be worth another visit just to take a shit here, Tom.

Compelling invitation. I'll plan a trip to WF for an SS seminar.

And the barbecue is on me.

[Mark Rippetoe]

We'd love to have you.

[Gary Gibson]

Hell, may as well submit the last training day of this cycle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icPnp...layer_embedded

I'm very happy with the warm ups with 315 and 365, but I obviously had a little knee wobble going on with the 405 and then a lot more trouble than I anticipated with the 430. Upsetting because 405 for triples felt pretty damn good a few days ago. I lost a few pounds in a few days when I reduced the GOMAD. I now understand why you want to weigh as much as possible for as long as possible as you approach meet day. Really shouldn't have let my weight drop as I was tapering volume and increasing intensity. I was supposed to get two doubles with that 430 and instead I had to fight for that single.

Had a few hamburgers and most of a gallon of milk today and I feel better already. Back over 182 a little, but I want to stay here and eat and rest and recover this week. Think I'll be able to make weight by limiting food Friday.

I'm a little unhappy with the loss of back angle on the 430, but "if it was pretty, then it wasn't your max."