Hi, new to the forum. Quick history: I’m 37 and started training 1 1/2 years ago. I started 5/3/1 In July and it went well until September. I haven’t made any progress since then. I know why; I got injured once, majorly sick twice, and lost a loved one.
Then earlier this week I had an accident, my first disaster (I train alone in my garage). I was squatting 235 and I was really struggling. 235 is light, even for me. I’m not that strong, but that’s about 65% or so. I went up to 285 anyway. I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I was pissed about having yet another ass session and I knew I should be able to lift this easily.
On the second rep I pitched forward hard, and I was nose diving to the cement. So I threw the weight over my head it hit my stands and caught on the tiny little safety arms that came with them and bent my good bar. I wanted to get right back to squatting , but that’s when I noticed the bent bar. So I called it a day.
I dug out my shit bar and benched the next morning, and I had a solid training session. I was happy, and then I dead lifted yesterday. That also went real well. I hit all my numbers and felt damn good. About halfway through training I noticed that cloud ,that’s been hanging over my training since September was gone. I felt like a weight was taken off my shoulders.
I guess, mentally, getting right back to lifting was enough to get me through what ever mental barrier I had developed. Now I’m all fired up again. My energy is back and I’m looking forward to making strength gains again. My question is: So this is how it goes? Sometimes we hit these slumps and keep punching the clock till we break through. I guess all lifters go through this from time to time?
man, over 18 yrs or so there have been so many training and life ups and downs- lifting was the only constant and the only thing that kept me sane alot of the times- you just keep training, even if gains slow to nil, it will pick back up. always does.
I’ll never stop training. I know people say that, but I really will never stop. Sometimes I get bummed because I’m not strong enough, and I did get pissed because I wasn’t getting strength gains for a while. But quitting never crossed my mind. I knew it had to change at some point.
Do a google search for “What Is Strong? Real World Strength Standards For Raw, Natural Lifters”
When every other dude on the internet seems to be able to squat 600+ its really easy to get discouraged, but that article helps put things into perspective.
I read the article, thanks. I was aware of numbers for weight, but it was good. So right now I can squat 365/ bench 255/ and deadlift 450. Even if I could do 300/ 400/ 500 I wouldn’t be happy till I hit 350/ 450/ 550 and so on and so on. On one hand it’s very motivating on the other hand it’s stalls me in competing. So that’s something I’m working toward now. I have to get my first meet under my belt
Not to be too much of a dick, but in what universe is a 310 bench or 480 deadlift at 220 lbs “extremely strong”?
I know these kinds of standards can never please everyone, but I do have a problem with that terminology. What does “pro” mean? I use 220 for reference because that’s around what I weigh, and while a 410 bench at 220 is a nice lift, calling this “pro elite” or whatever is ridiculous. A 595 deadlift at 220 elite?
Not posting this to be a contrarian, but to me these standards are not useful. If strength is your game you need to shoot higher than this, simple as that. And I compete in a tested fed (USAPL) so I don’t think my perspective is skewed here.
I wouldn’t get too hung up on the categories. He lists his methodology and it’s somewhat arbitrary.
That said, while a 1200 total doesn’t seem like much looking through the results of my local IPF affiliate 2/3rds of the male lifters (raw classic) totalled under 1200 and the top 220 was a hair over 1510, which is inline with his article.
Anyway, I think the point of the article is that as lifters we loose perspective. When I was closing in on 900, 1200 seemed pretty strong. Now that I’m closing in on 1200, 1500 seems pretty strong and 900 is no big deal. Some day I’ll be closing in on 1500 and 1800 will seem pretty strong while 1200 is no big deal.
All the while Dan Green is busting out 2100/2200 like it’s no big deal… motherfucker probably warms up with 1800… lol.
[quote]Ramo wrote:
Not to be too much of a dick, but in what universe is a 310 bench or 480 deadlift at 220 lbs “extremely strong”? [/quote]
In the universe where 95% of the population hasn’t been able to achieve it.
You may say, well lots of guys can do that and it’s not that difficult but the reality is it’s only accomplished by a small proportion of the population.
That shouldn’t stop or slow you from achieving your goals, becoming complacent and getting as strong as you possibly can though.
