What are the best Olympic plates, and why?

[AttyGuy]

How did you develop this routine?

[cturcott]

Trial and error from lifting solo in a gym in Alaska starting 16 years ago, not knowing any powerlifters to ask about this stuff. I used to shoot for 10 reps on any of my sets as a cardinal rule for myself, and just go up in poundage until I had to stop. This seemed to work better for deadlifts and squats, than bench. When injury had me back off of legs for a while, I took that time to focus on my bench which had always been lacking compared to my other lifts. I had good days, and bad on bench and it was really frustrating to miss a lift as I felt that it set me back for the next bench day. I noticed that I felt a bit tired by the time I got to the last couple of sets, so I decided to experiment with fewer reps. I started by doing a warmup or two, then going up in the same jumps that I did when doing 10 reps. This felt really hard on the body, like I was activating more of the muscle as I had to push harder, and I was only partly warm. It felt harsh. So, I started going up in smaller jumps as the weight increased, but keeps the reps low. I tried 1 rep sets with this, but felt like it messed with my form to do that. By doing this, I was able to hit a personal best for my bench. This approach seems ok for legs too, but I haven't used it to reach any personal bests yet.

This new home gym should let me apply this approach more consistently though, which is why I'm doing it.

[Northernmoris]

Sounds like a great routine. I think the guys in the powerlifting section would appreciate you outlining your routine for them. This might be the next smolov...

[AttyGuy]

Ah, yes. Smolov. But even he doesn't have this level of volume. And I don't see anything on period of time between sets. 30 seconds? One minute? Two? I agree that the Powerlifting section would find this routine illuminating.

[Cleveland33]

Ah, yes. Smolov. But even he doesn't have this level of volume. And I don't see anything on period of time between sets. 30 seconds? One minute? Two? I agree that the Powerlifting section would find this routine illuminating.

Much like him toying with the idea of a world record.

[Vermonter]

Die, stupid thread, DIIIIIEEEEE!

[cturcott]

Not much of a routine but:

Stretch
2x10 reps easy weight
1x5 reps easy weight
Ux2 reps (U meaning unlimited)

This might look like
Bench the bar just for the stretch and to let muscles warm up
Toss on 25s, bench them 10 times
Toss on 25s, bench them 10 times
Toss on 25s, bench them 5 times
Toss on 25s, bench them 2 times
(keep adding 25s for sets of 2 until it feels like work to lift it)
Then
Toss on 10s, bench them 2 times
Toss on 10s, bench them 2 times
Repeat until you approach your personal best, if you're feeling strong that day

This approach can be adjusted based on your needed poundage.

Quoted to add:

This is a powerlifting oriented routine. The amount of rest needed may vary, but my rule of thumb is to wait until I am comfortably breathing through my nose before doing the next set. If you are huffing and puffing, wait. While you are waiting, get a sip of water, and rub some on your head, face, and neck especially before your heavy sets. This keeps you alert and ready to lift your hardest.

I would not consider this a high volume routine. The early sets with 5 to 10 reps should be easy, like stretching almost. The sets to follow will probably be anywhere from 4-8 more sets but only 2 reps each which isn't that many total reps overall.

[AttyGuy]

[ProtienandIron]

Bump.

[AttyGuy]

Bump.

Bump me, no bump you!

[Cleveland33]

what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[cturcott]

what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

While it's unclear who this is directed towards, or why you think this is a "Room" (or even who this god person is, what a soul is, and why you think someone wants mercy on it), I at least can say that I'm here to get stronger-not to get smarter. We're getting smarter my goal, I don't think I'd have much to look forward to by wishing and hoping the likes of you would be the vehicle to get me there. As for getting stronger, well, I'm sure there are some strong guys, even a few friendly ones who sent PM apologizing for the jerks out there who just like to stir people up. There, I'm thusly stirred. Get your narcissistic fix out of that?

Seriously though, this seems like a bunch of elitist kids who don't lift very heavy and want to out-nerd people about lifting. Me, personally, I just want to finish my gym and get stronger than I ever have in my life. While you're laughing, I'll be lifting. One of us will be stronger at the end. Easy guess which of us that will be.

[daniel327]

[Northernmoris]

Easy guess which of us that will be.

What do we win?


Do you even lift?

[sherman]

Round and round the circle - jerk - jerk - jerk - jerk -

Do the moderators notice that a small group of forum participants make a practice of ambushing newcomers with insults and accusations? This forum is not a pleasant place to bring up new ideas or question the "Rack and Rippletoe" doctrine.

[AttyGuy]

Round and round the circle - jerk - jerk - jerk - jerk -

Never would have figured you to be a gazer, Sherm. An exhibitionist, sure. Gazer, no.

[sherman]

I had a Downs Syndrome son. He was the love of my life and had a great sense of humor. If you have a sense of humor, you hide it very well.

[PassinThrough]

Meant no disrespect to your son or anyone with down syndrome.

[cturcott]

Round and round the circle - jerk - jerk - jerk - jerk -

Do the moderators notice that a small group of forum participants make a practice of ambushing newcomers with insults and accusations? This forum is not a pleasant place to bring up new ideas or question the "Rack and Rippletoe" doctrine.

Do the moderators ever do anything about this? All I did was to come in and talk about what I want to do which is:

Build a serious home gym,
Get in shape like I was in during my 20s (am now 36),
Surpass my personal bests (mostly set in my 20s),
Learn more about organized powerlifting competitions,
Consider competing in organized powerlifting.

Somehow that turned into a circle jerk.

What I suspect:
Lots of people have heroes or popular opinion,
Lots of people imitate their heroes,
These people rag on anyone who doesn't imitate their role models.

Got news for the betas out there, the submissive imitators. Nobody gets to be the best out there, or even the best they can be in realizing their potential by imitating. Learn from the best. Don't imitate. I'm not going to imitate anyone, never have. I didn't have a coach in Alaska. Would have been nice in ways but it probably taught me even more to listen to my body and be independent as I learned how to make my body grow stronger, because we all have bodies that respond with subtle differences to training. I'm genetically blessed in some areas, and cursed in others. So I find what works. That's not going to work for Tom, Dick, and Harry; but Harry's program won't work for me either.

Stop imitating, start thinking for yourself. That's the BEST training program summary I can give anyone on here who is asking.

[daniel327]

- jerk - jerk - jerk - jerk -

Hey, look! Sherm has ceased hawking his products and has embarked on an act of self indulgence.

Congratulations Sherm, but sometimes personal past times are best kept private.

[AttyGuy]

Must hit daniel with chiclets on recharge. . . .

[cturcott]

Must hit daniel with chiclets on recharge. . . .

Aha! Now I see where the concept of circle jerk comes from, and why those people have so much rep. Extremely high rep is actually like bukakke. Got it! Well in that case, being low on rep isn't such a bad thing. Anyhow, I've got my plates and they are awesome so I suppose it IS time for this circle jerk to go stroke itself in the direction of someone else.

[Cleveland33]

good luck on your world record setting goals for 2012

[AttyGuy]

Aha! Now I see where the concept of circle jerk comes from, and why those people have so much rep. Extremely high rep is actually like bukakke. Got it!

Oh yeah, I'm sure you do. I'm sure you do. I'm thinking you're let down that your brilliance hasn't been recognized with repeated showers of praise raining down on you.

[Northernmoris]

Round and round the circle - jerk - jerk - jerk - jerk -

Do the moderators notice that a small group of forum participants make a practice of ambushing newcomers with insults and accusations? This forum is not a pleasant place to bring up new ideas or question the "Rack and Rippletoe" doctrine.

Would that be you I see watching through the glory hole?

[sherman]

Would that be you I see watching through the glory hole?

Nah, I just stuck my glass eye in the hole to make you studs nervous.

[Vermonter]

Yo mama has the best Olympic plates

[sherman]

Yo mama has the best Olympic plates

This would be a great post to end this unpleasant thread. Everyone can walk away with a smile.