[quote]Ramo wrote:
2/17/09 Deadlift
Deadlift
135x5
225x5
315x5
405x3
505x1
555x1
[/quote]
Really nice, congrats!
Thanks Matt
Have you picked your openers yet? How are you feeling?
[quote]Ramo wrote:
Thanks Matt
Have you picked your openers yet? How are you feeling?[/quote]
340, 205, 420. I’ll go extremely conservative. Of course if my warm-ups go horribly wrong those would be subject to change but I don’t foresee that happening. I’m feeling pretty darn good about everything, and think I’ll be strong on meet day.
Couple questions:
Is a lever belt significantly better than a pronged belt?
Do you recommend the same belt tightness for squats and deads? How tight? I’ve used a slightly looser setting on squats so I could stick my stomach further out.
What should I be thinking before a big squat attempt (I realize I should be thinking the same thing on every attempt)? Mental cues? Physical cues? Remain as calm as possible until a couple minutes before, then get amped?
2/19/09 Bench
Bench
to 275x6
Incline DB Press (slow cadence w/ pause)
60x8
80x8,8,7,7
DB Row
80x8
90x8,8,8,8
Shoulder Horn
2 sets
[quote]mrodock wrote:
Couple questions:
Is a lever belt significantly better than a pronged belt?
Do you recommend the same belt tightness for squats and deads? How tight? I’ve used a slightly looser setting on squats so I could stick my stomach further out.
What should I be thinking before a big squat attempt (I realize I should be thinking the same thing on every attempt)? Mental cues? Physical cues? Remain as calm as possible until a couple minutes before, then get amped?[/quote]
- Absolutely not…it’s entirely a matter of personal preference. The advantage of a lever obviously is that you can get it tighter by yourself (i.e. without another person anchoring against you and pulling.)
However, I have a 10mm buckle belt that I can get as tight as I need to by myself. I also have a lever belt…I don’t really have a preference, they both do the same thing.
-
Actually I do the opposite. I like it a notch looser for pulling because with the belt really tight I cannot stay as tight as I go down to get the bar. For squatting I like it tighter. I also like it a little higher up for pulling. You have to play around with this to see what you prefer for different lifts. No single right answer.
-
What should you be thinking? Very individual question. I just think about having a clean walkout and setting up the way I want and staying tight. The actual lift I’ve practiced so many times it needs to just be automatic. Different people I’m sure take different approaches.
Whether you psyche and if so how is also individual. Some guys yell and scream and act like idiots, but it works for them. Some look like hindu cows but have a storm raging inside. I usually do best to pace around, back and forth. It kind of builds up my intensity. I probably look fairly calm while I’m doing it.
These things are part of the fun of the sport, developing your own style of doing things. Rest assured you will not get any of this nailed down for your first meet, it will take years to develop. I still consider myself very much in the beginning stages as a lifter and I’ve got a few years on you.
Hey Ramo,
How has your Forever lever belt been workin out for you?
[quote]BlackLabel wrote:
Hey Ramo,
How has your Forever lever belt been workin out for you?
[/quote]
It’s great. Two years now and it’s the same as the day I got it, except a little less stiff. No fraying, no folding, lever is still in good shape, etc. I’ve used it in two meets and in training on a weekly basis. Quality belt.
[quote]Ramo wrote:
BlackLabel wrote:
Hey Ramo,
How has your Forever lever belt been workin out for you?
It’s great. Two years now and it’s the same as the day I got it, except a little less stiff. No fraying, no folding, lever is still in good shape, etc. I’ve used it in two meets and in training on a weekly basis. Quality belt.[/quote]
Nice, Im lookin to buy one.
Your puttin up some crazy weight btw.
So do you have the belt as tight as you can get it for squatting? For awhile now I’ve had it pretty loose and doing some experimentation at home I can tell I am not getting anywhere near as much out of my belt as I could be.
I read in an article by Dave Tate you should stick your stomach out when squatting and I think I misinterpreted this as meaning not to tighten the belt all that tight.
[quote]BlackLabel wrote:
Ramo wrote:
BlackLabel wrote:
Hey Ramo,
How has your Forever lever belt been workin out for you?
It’s great. Two years now and it’s the same as the day I got it, except a little less stiff. No fraying, no folding, lever is still in good shape, etc. I’ve used it in two meets and in training on a weekly basis. Quality belt.
Nice, Im lookin to buy one.
Your puttin up some crazy weight btw.[/quote]
Thank you. Still a ways to go.
[quote]mrodock wrote:
So do you have the belt as tight as you can get it for squatting? For awhile now I’ve had it pretty loose and doing some experimentation at home I can tell I am not getting anywhere near as much out of my belt as I could be.
I read in an article by Dave Tate you should stick your stomach out when squatting and I think I misinterpreted this as meaning not to tighten the belt all that tight.[/quote]
I think the context of that is important. If you’re telling powerlifters who for years have worn their belts as tight as possible to loosen them a notch to get more air in, that’s one thing.
It doesn’t mean wear the belt loose. It means wear it as tight as you can get it, but don’t necessarily have two people anchoring and tugging while you suck your gut in to get it absolutely as tight as possible. It certainly shouldn’t be ‘loose’.
I’d say wear it as tight as you can while still being able to get a belly full of air. If it’s good and tight but you’re having trouble holding your air, consider pushing the belt down in front.
[quote]Ramo wrote:
mrodock wrote:
So do you have the belt as tight as you can get it for squatting? For awhile now I’ve had it pretty loose and doing some experimentation at home I can tell I am not getting anywhere near as much out of my belt as I could be.
I read in an article by Dave Tate you should stick your stomach out when squatting and I think I misinterpreted this as meaning not to tighten the belt all that tight.
I think the context of that is important. If you’re telling powerlifters who for years have worn their belts as tight as possible to loosen them a notch to get more air in, that’s one thing.
It doesn’t mean wear the belt loose. It means wear it as tight as you can get it, but don’t necessarily have two people anchoring and tugging while you suck your gut in to get it absolutely as tight as possible. It certainly shouldn’t be ‘loose’.
I’d say wear it as tight as you can while still being able to get a belly full of air. If it’s good and tight but you’re having trouble holding your air, consider pushing the belt down in front. [/quote]
great, thanks man
2/21/09 Light Squat
Squat
135x5
185x5
225x5
275x5
315x5
Back Ext
Bx20
Bx20
Bx20
Pike
Bx5
Bx5
Bx5
Neck Harness
…
2/22/09 Light Assist
Press Behind Neck
45x10
95x8
115x6
135x6
155x6
175x4
Pullup
Bx5
Bx5
Bx5
Bx5
Bx5
DB Shrug
70x20
80x20
90x20
Shoulder Horn
2x25
2/24/09 Light Deadlift
Pull Thru
160x15
160x15
160x15
160x15
Bulgarian SQ
Bx20
Bx20
Bx20
Leg Curl
100x10
110x10
120X10
Neck Harness
…
2/26/09 Bench
Bench
135x8
185x5
205x5
235x5
255x9
Incline DB Press
60x8
80x8
80x8
80x8
80x8
DB Row
80x8
100x8
100x8
100x8
100x8
Cable/Rope Thing
2x15
3/26/09 Squat
Squat
135x5
185x5
225x5
275x5
295x5
315x6
Stiff-leg GM
135x10
135x10
Hanging Pike
Bx5
Bx5
Bx5
Haven’t gone this long without touching a weight since I started lifting. In the last month, my life has basically turned on its head. Couple weeks ago I loaded up my car and drove from Seattle to Richmond, VA. I have been scrambling to ge things together out here, living in a friend’s house, looking for work.
I’m starting to get settled here and was ready to get back under the bar. The squat groove was surprisingly good, I’m sure I’ll feel like I’ve been hit by a truck tomorrow but that’s fine. Still shopping around for a gym so if anybody knows Richmond, please advise.
Holy shit Ramo’s back! Maybe I would have seemed less like a fan boy if I had waited a solid 10 minutes after you posted.
Some of my friends have gone to The Weight Room and all I’ve heard are good things. Pretty hardcore environment. It’s right off N Blvd in the downtown area. Check it out at Rivercitystrongman.com.