Burst blood vessels after 1RM Squat?

[David Abdemoulaie]

Hi Rip,

Apologies if this has been covered already, but I didn't find anything while searching.

I squatted 485 today, a 30 pound PR. After I got home and went to shower I realized that I looked like hell. My face and neck looked sunburnt and mottled. It looks to me like hundreds of blood vessels must have burst on the surface of my skin.

I'm not afraid I'm going to fall over dead or anything, but I am curious if this is a common thing and whether it will go away with time. Needless to say, I have never had this happen before on previous 1RM attempts.

Here are some pictures which don't really do it justice, the effect is much more severe and distracting in person.

- http://db.tt/WQASNHaA
- http://db.tt/OUy78JbE
- http://db.tt/Z3WatHjJ

Thanks in advance.

[Mark Rippetoe]

It's common if you don't know how to breathe correctly. Hold your breath, but don't hold it too long before you start the rep.

[Dave 321]

It's common if you don't know how to breathe correctly. Hold your breath, but don't hold it too long before you start the rep.

I didn't know that... It used to happen to me when the texas method started getting heavy on the intensity days. I always sort of assumed it was due to the rep turning into more of a good morning than a Squat.

[Subsistence]

I've had something similar happen once after deadlifting, but it was on my chest opposed to my beautiful face. It faded with time. Mine were a little more speckled though.

[David Abdemoulaie]

Thanks Mark. Once I unrack I step back, take a huge breath, hold it and squat.

That said, this was a long slow lift for me, a lot slower than my other 1RMs. There were a few seconds of what felt like me not moving at all on the way up. I felt noticeably like I was gonna run out of oxygen at one point. So, perhaps that's why?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Perhaps. You have to pay for the heavy ones.