I can tell my bench press and squat are about to stall. Starting Strength.

[7thbrah]

Every other lift is going up great, but I had a very difficult time today doing bench press and squat. I almost failed my last rep of the last 2 sets of squats. Same thing with bench press. Current squat is at 165x5, 170x5 next time. And my bench is at 155x5, will be at 160x5 next time. Im currently on the 5th week of the program.

[Idontlikecats]

what's your caloric intake and macros?

[7thbrah]

what's your caloric intake and macros?

~4000 calories a day

I am diabetic so I cant eat a lot of carbs, so I do about 30c/50p/20f.

Probably around 200g carbs a day, 350g protein, 150g fat.

[abg]

If you are eating enough, then I doubt it. Easy answer to if you are eating enough is if you have gained weight (1-2lbs/week). That would be 5-10lbs since you started. I'm also assuming you aren't extremely overweight like me with plenty of energy reserves.

Assuming you are eating enough, then keep going. Some things that will happen before you are officially stalled:

1) You will fail at the same weight 3 times in a row.
2) After failing, you will drop back to your last successful weight, and do it. (If you can't, then recheck the diet.)
3) Start incrementing by less, probalby 2.5lbs per workout.

4) If 1-3 reoccur, then it's time to look at doing a reset.


I've found as the weight has gone up that each rep feels like there is NO way I'll get the next rep, but then I do. Then, when it's done, I feel like it was easy. I have also found that I have no clue when I will fail. I have thought I was going to stall like 3 times so far, then went in and blew out the next weight like it was nothing. Short of it is: you haven't stalled until you can't move the weight.

[7thbrah]

If you are eating enough, then I doubt it. Easy answer to if you are eating enough is if you have gained weight (1-2lbs/week). That would be 5-10lbs since you started. I'm also assuming you aren't extremely overweight like me with plenty of energy reserves.

Assuming you are eating enough, then keep going. Some things that will happen before you are officially stalled:

1) You will fail at the same weight 3 times in a row.
2) After failing, you will drop back to your last successful weight, and do it. (If you can't, then recheck the diet.)
3) Start incrementing by less, probalby 2.5lbs per workout.

4) If 1-3 reoccur, then it's time to look at doing a reset.


I've found as the weight has gone up that each rep feels like there is NO way I'll get the next rep, but then I do. Then, when it's done, I feel like it was easy. I have also found that I have no clue when I will fail. I have thought I was going to stall like 3 times so far, then went in and blew out the next weight like it was nothing. Short of it is: you haven't stalled until you can't move the weight.

This is actually very accurate lol. I have the same experience as you descirbed. I thought no way was I going to get 150x5 bench press last workout and I did. I thought the same thing today. No way was I going to get 155x5, but I did. I think im just psyching myself out.

[abg]

Yeah, as I was getting near 225 on squats I was pretty sure I'd stall any day. Just did 260x5x3 yesterday, and I'll be doing 265 tomorrow. I've had repeat days because I missed a few reps (and by missed I mean rolled out from under it in the power rack), but nothing that's needed an official reset yet. Heck, I'm still increasing by 5 each workout.

[grumble1]

Yeah, a good chunk of SS has you increasing the weight, you think it's impossible, then you end up doing it. The other chunk has you using a weight you think will be easy and failing. Just goes to show, you never know.

[romajc]

If you are truly eating that much I doubt you will stall at those low numbers.

Don't psych yourself out man!

I got stuck on 225x5 on Squats and Bench for a LOOOOONNNGGGG time especially on Bench. I was starting to think that was all my small frame could handle. I just couldn't do anymore cause it was all mental.

But once I manned up and pushed through I blasted through it. Now I squat 300x5 and bench 260x5.