Am I even getting stronger?

[StylesOfBeyond]

Granted, the weight on my squats has gone up, but I'm honestly not sure if I've actually gotten any stronger. After a cut for several months, I was down to a 72KG/ 158.4lb 5x5 squat, and as of Monday will have moved up to 82KG/ 180.4lbs. While it's definitely encouraging to see such an increase over the course of about a month, I really don't know if I've gotten much stronger, or how long it'll be before I have to deload again.

Although it applies to some of my other lifts, I feel this predominantly in squats. Each new weight is even more of a struggle than the last, and whilst this is obvious since the numbers are increasing, a nagging part of my mind has me thinking that this is because I'm simply not getting stronger, rather than it being progressive overload.

Any advice or just general chit chat about not feeling strength progression would be appreciated. Cheers

[mobikwa]

Of course you're getting stronger. You're lifting more weight now than you have ever been able to in your life.

It feels difficult because its more weight, that's the point. Remember how hard it was to lift 72kg? Go try that weight next time you squat, you'll find it much easier to do.

I remember when I first hit 225 on the deadlift, it was so hard to do and took everything out of me. Now I warmup with 225 and its a walk in the park.

Don't deload until you start stalling, until then keep adding weight to the bar and pushing yourself.

[GottaBeatCrohns]

I have had the exact same thought. I feel and look better, maybe a tad stronger, but it doesn't seem to show on paper. My maxes haven't improved much in awhile, I can't do more reps... but then I remember how weak I was when I first started working out in the gym. Helps put it all back in perspective.

[beltshumeltz]

I have similar stats to you although I'm a bit taller and fatter (5'8" 180 when I started starting strength). I'm also 11 years older so it should be easier for you to progress.

With that said, you will soon know for a fact that you are getting stronger.

Yes, heavier weights feel different even if you get stronger. But you started low and probably were unable to make your BRAIN use your existing muscle, so for the first few weeks, part of it is getting stronger physically, but another large part is just your brain learning to lift with intensity.

So this is why it may still feel harder - you are learning to actually USE your existing strength. But put it this way - if you can lift 180 now and couldn't lift 150 three weeks, even if it feels harder, it's still stronger! I mean if it was a strength contest, people wouldn't look at your face turning red during a lift and tell you "well, it seemed hard for him, so he must be weak!". No, they just look at the weight you lift

Now that you have learned to lift with intensity, it won't actually get much harder. You still have some intensity to develop... but hear my experience.

I started at 160. At 180, I felt I was about to fail my set because it was SO DIFFICULT. I was in the same situation as you where I had needed to use intensity to finish a lift.

I lifted 255 this Friday and it's the first time it got as hard as the 180, because I hadn't slept enough.

Now, 180 barely registers as a warmup for me! It's so light! And this 180 was on April 23rd I believe, so barely 5 weeks ago!

You'll soon experience this as well, so keep up the hard work. Bookmark this thread so you can laugh at it once you squat 300 in 3-4 months