Edit: While I’m here, could I ask something. Is this method good for a 15 years old kid? Because I heard that lifting big squat could screw up my growth and I could end up being even shorter than I would. Is it a myth, or is it appropriated to do all this lifting?
Other question, what is the rest time? Do we choose our own?[/quote]
It’s a myth if you use proper form. If you let your squats get sloppy to add weight, then yes, you could theoretically injury your growth plates and stunt your growth.
However, you’re more likely to injury yourself playing football, so it’s not exactly a high risk. This is probably the best time for you to start heavy lifting, since your body is primed to grow anyways. Eat like a horse and lift away. For rest time, start with about 90secs and add time as needed. I wouldn’t go over about 2.5 minutes.
When do I know when it is needed? I mean, as I add weight, it will become harder, but I am going nowhere if I only rest longer to compensate for a higher weight. Do I add rest time when I can’t add any more weight?
There is NEVER anything wrong with asking too many questions. EVER.
It’s better to ask questions and seem the fool than it is to not and get hurt.
Your body will adapt with it but if you feel it’s harder take an extra minute break or so. If you’re really struggling then take off some weight.
That’s my 2 cents anyway.
OK, thanks a bunch, fellow Quebecer. (Yep, I’m from Quebec too)
I understand, but on the website posted on the Rippetoe thread it says to take as much time as you need to rest. I mean, if every time I put more weight, I rest longer, I will go nowhere, because my muscles won’t work harder than before, because they rest more. Or am I wrong? That’s what I need to know.
[quote]ninjaboy wrote:
It’s a myth if you use proper form. If you let your squats get sloppy to add weight, then yes, you could theoretically injury your growth plates and stunt your growth.[/quote]
I’m not 100% sure on this but I’ve heard that even if you do lift with terrible form that you won’t really stop growing. You just get hurt. That would take a little more research though because what you said does make sense. I’m not ready to write off what you said as false.
^What he said. Except, I personally used longer rest periods, at least for the squat. I used more like 3 minutes. I read a CT article that said the benefits of it and just went with it and it has seemed to work. I think Rip sometimes suggests even more rest than that.
If you were squatting and just barely squeaked out that 5th rep, don’t hop in there when you feel like your legs haven’t recovered because the chances are that you won’t get all 5 reps. After form, probably the most important thing for this program is to get all your reps in and keep increasing the weight.
[quote]Eielson wrote:
I’m not 100% sure on this but I’ve heard that even if you do lift with terrible form that you won’t really stop growing. You just get hurt. That would take a little more research though because what you said does make sense. I’m not ready to write off what you said as false.
[/quote]
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll stop growing if you use terrible form, as you noted you’ll probably just get hurt or pull something. However, the whole damaged growth plate thing is a possibility. My father’s left leg is a 1/2 inch shorter then his right because he broke his leg near the hip when he was about 15. The right leg kept growing, the left leg didn’t. As I said, it’s really rare, but it is a possible consequence of bone injury in teens and children.
[quote]
^What he said. Except, I personally used longer rest periods, at least for the squat. I used more like 3 minutes. I read a CT article that said the benefits of it and just went with it and it has seemed to work. I think Rip sometimes suggests even more rest than that.
If you were squatting and just barely squeaked out that 5th rep, don’t hop in there when you feel like your legs haven’t recovered because the chances are that you won’t get all 5 reps. After form, probably the most important thing for this program is to get all your reps in and keep increasing the weight.[/quote]
Yeah, I was gearing my advice towards someone just beginning. As you start going heavier and get some feeling for how your body responds, you’ll be able to tweak your rest times to work for you.
[quote]ninjaboy wrote:
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll stop growing if you use terrible form, as you noted you’ll probably just get hurt or pull something. However, the whole damaged growth plate thing is a possibility.
My father’s left leg is a 1/2 inch shorter then his right because he broke his leg near the hip when he was about 15. The right leg kept growing, the left leg didn’t. As I said, it’s really rare, but it is a possible consequence of bone injury in teens and children.
[/quote]
Sounds like that is probably right.
Also, my father had one leg that was shorter than the other and a chiropractor noticed it and was able to correct it. Then I had a friend who mentioned having that same thing happen. Maybe this happened to your father?
No, it’s not a hip mis-alignment, its a bone length difference. My dad is actually a surgeon, and I know he’s had it checked by a couple of people. It’s not crippling or anything like that, he just wears a lift in his left shoe. Theoretically he could have the bone broken and stretched, but its not worth it.
Damage to the growth plates isn’t exactly an easy task, lol. I don’t know how anyone could possibly manage to break it doing squats…well, unless you’re doing like 1000lbs =p
Speaking of squats, I just started doing full ones and instead of feeling it in my quads, I mostly just feel it right in my inner thigh. Does that just mean my legs are weaker there, or is that a sign that I’m doing something wrong?
[quote]Ryshu wrote:
Speaking of squats, I just started doing full ones and instead of feeling it in my quads, I mostly just feel it right in my inner thigh. Does that just mean my legs are weaker there, or is that a sign that I’m doing something wrong?[/quote]
Are you keeping your knees out? I can’t imagine what might be stressing your adductors, except pointing your knees in on the way up.
[quote]Ryshu wrote:
Speaking of squats, I just started doing full ones and instead of feeling it in my quads, I mostly just feel it right in my inner thigh. Does that just mean my legs are weaker there, or is that a sign that I’m doing something wrong?[/quote]
Thats interesting because today on my squats I felt the same thing in my left inner thigh, does that happen when my knee tracks inward?
I just keep my knees in line with my toe, which is pointed just slightly outwards for balance. And my feet are about shoulder width apart.
Edit: Tried a wider stance today and I don’t really feel it that much now, just a little but that’s probably just due to weakness in that area. Thanks anyway.