What is a 'respectable' amount to squat?

[Stroke of Luck]

Hey all,

I am "new" to squatting - as in, I've just recently started taking the exercise seriously and doing it once a week.

My normal routine is 5 sets of 6-8 reps.

Yesterday I was able to put 70 pounds on the bar - and since the bar is 45 pounds (right?), I guess that means I was squatting 115.

Is that good for a beginner's squat? Let me know! Thx.

[trem0lo]

as long as you're doing it with good form, I don't care how much you squat.

[Stroke of Luck]

I am doing it with impeccable form!

[pryme]

Yeah, dont even worry what others squat. it does not mean squat...pun intended lol.
Just work on increasing regularly, and you will be happy.
The only thing i can say is dont use one of those soft pads on the bar, get used to not using that so you can actually "feel" the weight.

Good luck.

[Tyrbolift]

If you can eventually work up to bodyweight(including the bar), that is a worthy and respectable goal.

[Quark79]

270.5 lbs and no less is a respectable weight to squat.

[little_big_man]

you cant post a certain number

heavy weight is relative to the person lifting it.

as long as you feel that your giving it all you got and lifting a challanging weight than your doing good

[jmusclehead]

I'm new to squatting too. I'm doing about what you are doing too. I have a few questions for the experts. 1) How often should you squat and for how many reps. I've heard do 20 reps squats at a time for awesome results. 2) Which method is best? Barbell behind the head or in front or hack squats? 3) the last thing is I'm doing them at home in my basement, when getting into the higher weights I would be afraid to get stuck with the weight and have to drop it. Would one method be safer than another so that doesn't happen?

Thanks.

[Stroke of Luck]

Thanks for the advice! I like the idea of setting out to squat your body weight. Sounds like a good goal to me.

[iladelph]

Bodyweight and some

(Some people will say 1.5x's BW, some will say 2x's BW, I say whatever you can do properly is key)

We are all at different points in our weightlifting progress. Everyone differs, so therefore the amount of weight on the bar differs.

You'll know if your going to lightly and cheating your self.

Also, make sure you go all the way down when squating. Squatting 100 lbs properly is better then squatting 400 lbs improperly.

[Jneves]

A respectable squat = an amount greater then the last workout

I also believe anyone who is putting some effort into squating can easily surpass 1.5-2 times bodyweight in a years time. If your relativly light/lean 2x's should be easy and 1.5 for the bigger guys (i.e. 150lb'er squating 225, 250lb'er squating 375)

I won't be content until I squat 2xBW for 5 reps with a respectable body weight. I have allready done it at a lighter weight. Just set a goal and get after it, for physique purposes I think setting a goal of X amount of weight for Y number of reps is better then chasing a one rep max.

[DCDave]

What's respectable? I'd say respectable is going past parallel with a 45 on either side. But that's a loaded question because we all have different stats (height, weight, frame). I was doing 245 but not quite to parallel. I felt more respectable in the gym because I had some weight on the bar, but that's not why we go to the gym. A better question is "what's benneficial at the gym?" The answer to that is Ass To Grass and hard work. Now I do 145 ATG and I feel as respectable as ever.

[jpars]

A respectable squat = an amount greater then the last workout

I also believe anyone who is putting some effort into squating can easily surpass 1.5-2 times bodyweight in a years time. If your relativly light/lean 2x's should be easy and 1.5 for the bigger guys (i.e. 150lb'er squating 225, 250lb'er squating 375)

I won't be content until I squat 2xBW for 5 reps with a respectable body weight. I have allready done it at a lighter weight. Just set a goal and get after it, for physique purposes I think setting a goal of X amount of weight for Y number of reps is better then chasing a one rep max.

Amen.

i had never squatted before- but played football all my life. 135x8 and i was sore for a week.

now, 10 months later, ive put up 405x3.

no i didnt go up 305 pounds in 10 months. one thing i noticed is that as you get more used to squats, the weight doesnt feel nearly as heavy as it does when you start. once you get accustomed to the load, then you can actually feel how much your legs can handle. i was repping 225x10 no problemo within 2 months, then upped it to 295. at the end of my huge bulk i pumped out 315 11 times and 405 3 times.

now that im desperately trying to drop fat, my strength has gone down due to dieting and running every day, and i can only do 315 about 6 times.


let me put it this way
i have 20x more respect for someone squatting 135 with good form and busting ass then someone quarter squatting 295 and yelling thinking theyre badass and the shiz

keep it up

[Canadian Iron]

See the attached chart, it says exactly what is respectable based on your weight and experience level.

[Big_G1986]

Its impossible to judge your intial weight as a start point as squats take alot of getting used to by your CNS.


My general stance on lifts is 1.5x bw on bench 2x bw on squats and 2.5x bw on deads is strong and quite good.

And 2x bw on bench 2.5x bw on squats and 3x bw on deadlifts is excellent and the most anyone should ever really hope for.

[jked4life]

A respectable weight to squat using good form is 5 pounds more than you squatted in your last session, then 10 pounds heavier in the preceeding session, ect.

[jked4life]

See the attached chart, it says exactly what is respectable based on your weight and experience level.

Nice, my deads and bench are "advanced". My squats are "intermediate"

[Keith Wassung]

A respectable squat number is a number that is just a little bit better than you did the last time. When I started training, I was 14 and could squat 65lbs for 8 reps and it was hard and heavy. I strived to add weight and add reps whenever I could, while perfecting my technique and using "near perfect" form. Ten years later, I was squatting 600lbs for 7-8 reps and it was just as hard and heavy.

Keith

[W8isGR8]

A respectable squat number is a number that is just a little bit better than you did the last time. When I started training, I was 14 and could squat 65lbs for 8 reps and it was hard and heavy. I strived to add weight and add reps whenever I could, while perfecting my technique and using "near perfect" form. Ten years later, I was squatting 600lbs for 7-8 reps and it was just as hard and heavy.

Keith

Wow, strong tube socks

[captainnoobalot]

wow where did you get a 45lb bar?? mines like 2.5lb :|

[little_big_man]

im 7 pounds above novice for bench press

Intermediate here i come

LOL

[Thewhite9t]

As people have said it's kind of dumb to put a number on it, but generally once you start squatting over 315 you are squatting "respectably". This is only at my gym though, I'm sure some gyms would think you are a noob squatting only that much, so it's all relative really.

[blinKme431]

It depends on the lifter's age, gender weight and type of squat, of course.
For my own group - high school guys - 135 ATG is respectable, 225 to parallel. Both lifts are of course nothing astonishing or extraordinary, but IMHO reflect a level of effort/work to get to that point.

[darklight79]

Thanks for the advice! I like the idea of setting out to squat your body weight. Sounds like a good goal to me.

A bench of bw is good. A squat of 1.5 bodyweight is pretty respectable but there're too many factors involved to get a definite answer. But yeah, good goal nonetheless. The key word is progression, not just chasing numbers.

[MidnightSun]

hey guys, are those indicators in the pdf file higher in the thread are for one rep only ?

[Canadian Iron]

hey guys, are those indicators in the pdf file higher in the thread are for one rep only ?

Yes.

[ZAR2754]

a respectable weight would be... any weight you are comfortable lifting. Its not all about the weight. form overshadows weight 10 fold IMO.

[Megan00]

A respectable squat = an amount greater then the last workout

I also believe anyone who is putting some effort into squating can easily surpass 1.5-2 times bodyweight in a years time.

this.
you'd be surprised how often you can increase your squats. i started out 2 months ago on 45 pounds and now squat 110 pounds (i weigh 99 pounds). and yes, my form's great too
just aim to better yourself. first aim - bodyweight. it's a great feeling reaching that. personally, when i can do 10 good reps, i increase by 5kg (about 11 pounds), do 8 until i can work that up to 10 as well.
personally, it doesn't take too long for me to be able to increase the weight. just do it gradually - even a 5 pound increase whenever you can will help you improve.

[HeavyMetalLover]

this.
you'd be surprised how often you can increase your squats. i started out 2 months ago on 45 pounds and now squat 110 pounds (i weigh 99 pounds). and yes, my form's great too
just aim to better yourself. first aim - bodyweight. it's a great feeling reaching that. personally, when i can do 10 good reps, i increase by 5kg (about 11 pounds), do 8 until i can work that up to 10 as well.
personally, it doesn't take too long for me to be able to increase the weight. just do it gradually - even a 5 pound increase whenever you can will help you improve.

Why did you bump this.

[Megan00]

Why did you bump this.

i stumbled on it through elsewhere =S didn't realise how old it was..damn o.0