[quote]dianab wrote:
I started out my o-lift program doing a TON of drop squats. That’s when the bar starts on your shoulders, and you jump into a full squat while pressing the bar overhead. Then another ton of technical snatches, where you start with the bar at your knees or on blocks, jump and press overhead while dropping into a full squat.
[/quote]
Oh wow, those sound pretty cool. I think I might try the drop squats; they don’t sound too technical like most of the O-lifting stuff.
No, not too technical. Just use a wide grip, wide stance, chest and neck out at the finish. At the bottom you need to have your butt at your ankles.
First session I started with the bar overhead and doing full ATTG squats. If you haven’t done overhead lifting, it’s surprising how tight the fascia in your back may be. Doesn’t take long to loosen up, but if it is tight, there is a tendency to fall forward.
Have fun
db
Your machine squat is actually a leg press. There’s nothing wrong with doing them, but they certainly don’t train your whole body like back or front squats do. They are good for isolating hammies or quads with varied foot positions.
[quote]sic wrote:
Your machine squat is actually a leg press. There’s nothing wrong with doing them, but they certainly don’t train your whole body like back or front squats do. They are good for isolating hammies or quads with varied foot positions.[/quote]
Which is exactly why I am doing both the back squats and the leg press (thanks for the name, I wasn’t sure), though I think I would like to get away from using most machines if I can. For now it works out well though 
[quote]dianab wrote:
rondastarr wrote:
Was there a reason why your coach didn’t want you squatting before?
Well, actually I was doing a lot of squats, just not the kind that I’m used too. I started out my o-lift program doing a TON of drop squats. That’s when the bar starts on your shoulders, and you jump into a full squat while pressing the bar overhead. Then another ton of technical snatches, where you start with the bar at your knees or on blocks, jump and press overhead while dropping into a full squat.
So I was squatting, but with light weight in oder to get the form correct. Pulling even the bar overhead while dropping has to be very fast or that bar just won’t go up. And it hurts.
Now I get to do real ones and it’s much easier to handle heavier weight without throwing it over your head! I’m aiming for BW (130) squats in the next 5 or 6 weeks, I’m hoping I can make it happen.
db
[/quote]
I’m sure you’ll reach 130 soon!
Hey Ronda, If you want to get better at those dang squats, you just have to…squat.
The more you do them, the easier they will get and things will just fall into place. You’re already strong enough, now you just need to…squat?
c.
[quote]c. wrote:
Hey Ronda, If you want to get better at those dang squats, you just have to…squat.
The more you do them, the easier they will get and things will just fall into place. You’re already strong enough, now you just need to…squat?
c.[/quote]
Exactly.
Which is why I have been squating.
All I need to do now is get comfortable with increasing the weight and see where I can go from there.
[quote]dianab wrote:
No, not too technical. Just use a wide grip, wide stance, chest and neck out at the finish. At the bottom you need to have your butt at your ankles.
First session I started with the bar overhead and doing full ATTG squats. If you haven’t done overhead lifting, it’s surprising how tight the fascia in your back may be. Doesn’t take long to loosen up, but if it is tight, there is a tendency to fall forward.
Have fun
db[/quote]
Thanks for the tips. I’ve actually done a ton of overhead squats the past few months so it shouldn’t be too much of a leap. I tried the Sots Press last week too, it’s kind of like a slow-motion version of your drop squat–there’s a video of it in this article:
http://www.T-Nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1874788&cr=performanceTraining
Ronda, sorry for the thread hijack. 
I haven’t read all ten pages of your thread but have you tried goblet squats or front squats? You might find them more comfortable than back squats and they’re nice for a little variety.
[quote]rondastarr wrote:
All I need to do now is get comfortable with increasing the weight and see where I can go from there.[/quote]
Well I was told you should never be comfortable with the weight.
Judging from your other lifts and accessories, you’re a lot stronger than you think you are
The weight should scare the crap outa you. That’s when you dig deep into your soul and brain, and use every ounce of strength to get that lift, like your life depended on it, like the weight is going to crush you and kill you. It’s both a scary and exilerating feeling. And you’ll know when you’ve reached that point.
But I’ve been trained by a bunch of old schoolers so maybe that isn’t the way to think now a days. And if this was the “other” forum, I wouldn’t even say that. But it IS the Powerful Women place
Just add that weight.
c.
c, I know what you mean. You don’t push hard until you feel like you can’t do it and the weight is going to smash you into the floor. That’s when you realize how strong you really other. Then you feel like a total pussy being proud of a PR that was 30lbs less than what you just did.
[quote]c. wrote:
rondastarr wrote:
All I need to do now is get comfortable with increasing the weight and see where I can go from there.
Well I was told you should never be comfortable with the weight.
Judging from your other lifts and accessories, you’re a lot stronger than you think you are
The weight should scare the crap outa you. That’s when you dig deep into your soul and brain, and use every ounce of strength to get that lift, like your life depended on it, like the weight is going to crush you and kill you. It’s both a scary and exilerating feeling. And you’ll know when you’ve reached that point.
But I’ve been trained by a bunch of old schoolers so maybe that isn’t the way to think now a days. And if this was the “other” forum, I wouldn’t even say that. But it IS the Powerful Women place
Just add that weight.
c.
[/quote]
When I said ‘comfortable’ I meant that it just feels odd to hold the bar on my back, I’m just not used to it yet. My weight will go up though until at some point when I am sure I will feel like I may be crushed in to the ground
I forgot to post this yesterday…
My DL was more for endurence then for strength so I did all 5x5 at eh same weight. This is something I have not done for awhile, by the end it was getting difficult. I did the first set w/o straps but had to do the remaining 4 w/ the straps, though my grip was kinda gone by the time I got to the lat pull downs, thus the reason I split the last 2 sets into 4 shorter sets.
I 'm off to the gym today as well
Todays workout…
I wasn’t going to do SLDL at all today because the strech they cause hurt my lats across the front and back last time I could breath, but I did them anyways, I guess I’ll know I am getting better if I can breath tonight.
and to Saan-
I do goblet squats and I like them alot and as far as front squats, I am sure I will do those soon enough, my trainer has me doing other stuff for right now though Thanks for the suggestion!
[quote]rondastarr wrote:
When I said ‘comfortable’ I meant that it just feels odd to hold the bar on my back, I’m just not used to it yet. My weight will go up though until at some point when I am sure I will feel like I may be crushed in to the ground :)[/quote]
I hear ya Actually, when I first started going to my gym, they had me do squats with a dang broomstick for a good 2 weeks till I had the right form.
so yea, you definitly have to get used to that bar on your back. But again, the only way that happens, is if your always putting that bar on your back
c.
Hi Ronda… I just read a lot of you log, it’s very impressive, in one year you went from a 45 lb DL to 235! I am looking forward to that kind of progress. I pulled 110 lbs today and was very proud.
I lost some weight as well, from 210 to 135.
I can’t imagine doing it while being challenged by diabetes. Looking forward to following along and learning a lot! Thanks
Michele
[quote]aeromom wrote:
Hi Ronda… I just read a lot of you log, it’s very impressive, in one year you went from a 45 lb DL to 235! I am looking forward to that kind of progress. I pulled 110 lbs today and was very proud.
I lost some weight as well, from 210 to 135.
I can’t imagine doing it while being challenged by diabetes. Looking forward to following along and learning a lot! Thanks
Michele [/quote]
Thanks Michele!
That is a great lift, I look forward to see where you go from there. I was surprised that I was able to lift what I did and I bet you will surprise yourself soon too
All the diabetes does is require I bit more planning and sometimes I have to rest more, but as far as strength goes it doesn’t effect it that much as long as I take precautions.
Congrats on the weight loss, I hope to follow your example
I can’t remember if you mentioned this already, but what kind of grip do you typically use with your deadlifts?
Workouts look good. Keep up the good work!
[quote]buckeye girl wrote:
I can’t remember if you mentioned this already, but what kind of grip do you typically use with your deadlifts?
Workouts look good. Keep up the good work![/quote]
As of right now I am just using an over hand grip though I think it make be a little easier on my grip if I changed to one over and one under.
Thanks!
With the snow yesterday my work out didn’t happen but I will just fit my Monday work out in later this week, this is today
My regular squats went up though I’m sure I can do more. I’ll just put on more weight next week and see what happens
What’s a single leg split squat?