I’m just a random stranger commenting on a video from afar on a telephone or something so… But it’s just that, you can see on last vids, feet move slightly inwards and forward, with sometimes the heel moving up from a few milimeters. So It can be dorsiflexion, not engaging the feet, weight too much on toes, or just a stranger overanalyzing good form on the internet. Also there’s a difference between reaching depth, and reaching depth with proper tension: usually the second is way more shallow, I am a good example of that.
I did nothing, but I’m happy to take full credit.
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For some reason I’m slightly irritated to find that Wendler is reusing content. Despite being fully aware that its standard practice.
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Care to expound?
The article @Voxel linked to was posted recently on Jim’s blog.
Oh I see. I read it from his blog when you mentioned it. Didn’t realize the date discrepancy.
I hate the same experience with CT reposting Pendulum Training on Thibarmy. I didn’t go over it with a fine-tooth comb to see if it had been refined, but seemingly it is the same. '04 on T-nation. '20 on Thibarmy.
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I don’t blame them in any way, it just doesn’t sit easy with me for some reason.
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@mnben87 I won’t give my money to Pioneer due to the company’s behavior. I’m pleased with my purchase from Best Belts, hoping they’re not too backed up from the holidays. But I’ve lifted so long without trying a belt even once that it’s not a huge deal either way.
@Voxel Thanks for sharing the article. I got an email about it the other day and had been meaning to read it. Maybe I need to “let go” of things like squats.
@heretolog Properly focusing on the quads now is a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of things. I spent years having fallen for the posterior chain meme for so long that I hammered RDLs and GHRs, on top of, despite also doing single leg work, never actually using my quads while squatting.
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@Voxel’s article is usually what I use when I get too far inside my own head when lifting. Going full fucknuts and lifting with reckless abandon isn’t good, but whatever level of aggression is just below that is usually where most people will do well. I would read that right before you lift every day until you internalize it and can just get in the groove and push.
I am unaware? What is going down?
8s realization
3x3 jumps
40 pull ups
Deadlift
125x5
150x3
175x1
205x1
225x1
200x5
Belt squat
+45x15,12,12
Front rack BSS
55x3x11
Standing ab wheel progression 15,8,6
5 more pull ups
75 band pull aparts
Tabata assault bike
Sorry, CWS. I shouldn’t have done this; I don’t need to be told that it’s an ugly rep. Yet at the same time I had to do it. Yesterday was my birthday, which is the darkest time of the year for me. I wanted to boost my ego after several days of despair, to show myself that I could actually pull 2 plates with a straight bar and therefore try proving to myself that I’m enough in some way. Whatever. I’m not necessarily posting this because I’m proud of it. Sure, that momentary sense of validation is nice. But ultimately I hope I can look back on this rep and laugh about it.
I promise it’s 2 plates – I don’t have another pair of 45s, and I use a women’s bar.
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Should have added the word “past” in there, but I explain my view here
Way to grind that out, awesome work!
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Sorry to hear you are having your darkest days, I think from your post history I can intuit why that is so I won’t dig into it. If you want to converse about it, then we can.
That was a good pull. proud or not. I have no idea where I first read or heard about this but it’s maybe Dan John. Now what? We won the game, now what? You did the pull, now what? You build beyond that pull. Regardless if you’ll laugh about it you have during your existence put in conscious work to improve beyond yourself and fought against what will eventually be an undefeatable foe: entropy. There’s pride to be had in that.
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I spent a decent chunk of time reflecting on myself as well as training. Clearly I’m frustrated with my strength levels more than anything. A few people here have said that maybe I keep trying the same approach yet expecting different results. Perhaps this whole time I’ve only been proving that I can grind out reps well, and this does absolutely nothing for me strength-wise. Today showed this struggle with higher intensities quite well. I could probably deadlift 180 for 15+ reps fresh, but add 10% more to the bar, and it’s a struggle. Sure, part of this might be that OG JM doesn’t have you touch heavy weights for a long time. But I don’t think it’s the program entirely. It’s always this way.
My theory has always been that I’m not strong because I don’t have much muscle. While not necessarily wrong, this also means I’ve largely avoided strictly strength programs in an effort to “base build”, mostly because I don’t care to peak for a competition or something. If I’m so bothered especially by my squat and press numbers, then, well, maybe I should attack them more directly and stop hammering the same stuff I always do.
Possible that I should just finish off the program. Though I can’t say I feel confident about the numbers I have to face in the upcoming waves, even after a deload. I’m honestly considering throwing myself into a pure strength program because it’s something I’ve not done in years. This next part will seem silly, but given that my not too irrational theories thus far haven’t worked out well for me, maybe something like Sheiko (swap bench and press) or something from Pavel would work well for me… because, well, eastern European genetics.
Okay, enough novellas from me. I haven’t really addressed the squat conversation the past few days. I’m surprised people even read this log and tolerate all my nagging about it. I dug up a year old video of 135x10 high bar good mornings. And to embarrass myself further, the shallow reps with 130 from a few days ago.
Woot! 225 beltless with an overhand grip. That is some strong shit. The rep looked great! Congratulations on the PR!
Also, I think you greatly underestimate the value of a mixed grip and a belt. I know the belt is on the way… maybe think about trying mixed grip? I know you don’t feel like your grip is failing you but I promise the weight on the bar will feel lighter and you will be able to lift more if you turn one of your hands under. 
I’m sorry your birthday sucks. I hope you feel better.
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I think there’s a different quality to the more recent squats. I do think a wider stance might benefit you, you might have to experiment with/without heels.
But sure, do a strength program. You’ll learn something, regardless of if it gives you the results you want or not.
I think that if you just kept adding weight, eventually you’d squat 130 in a way that you want to aesthetically. It might be that your programming is fine but your expectations for how it should look when your body squats is wrong. Have you worked at all with a decent strength coach?
2 plates though. Be fucking proud of that, you’ve worked for it.
I vaguely remember a post from not too long ago in which you were feeling bad about yourself for not being able to pull 2 plates. Well you can now, so why not be proud of it? Apologies if this seems like an overstep, but you seem determined to find stuff to feel bad about.
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