In Search of Strength

10/14
Front squat: 405x1, 435x1, 455x1 (0.37m/s)

Still a bit fatigued, but not sure my overall condition for these.

10/15
Front squat: 405x1, 435x1 (0.45m/s)

Definitely too soon for this session, haha. I might take a lightish week, felt rough and unmotivated today.

10/17
Beltless low bar (5-5-5 tempo): 135 for 3x5
Overhead press: 225x2,2, 230x2



Will do some stripped down training for a bit until I feel good again, but still some decent work in there.

Decided to slowly phase back in low bar after all. My plan is to do tempo stuff up until around 495lbs, then try for a solid 500x12 set. I'm hoping if I start low weight tempo and add weight slowly I'll have less risk of injury (esp. hip).

Not sure what to do with my main front squat goal. After adding like 50lbs to my high bar since hitting 465x1 front squat, I expected stronger sets than this right out of the gate. I'll have to see how the next bunch of sessions develop, hopefully I'm just fatigued and out of practice for now.

Next session should be front squat singles + back work on 10/19.

Good grief... 230x2 OHP? Standing? That is absolutely insane.

10/19
Front squat: 405x1, 435x1, 455x1 (0.44m/s)
... few hours break ...
Front squat: 405x1, 445x1 (0.46m/s)

So there's a lot going on here with my front squat. The actual squat speed feels good and I'm hitting new speed PRs, but I'm having a lot of set up/technical issues with the front rack and keeping it together on near max weights.

I took that break because I actually decided to load up and try different cues later because I was so frustrated.

Anyway, in the evening I ended up unracking 475 a few times but I just kept blacking out. Eventually I hit the right set up and unracked it comfortably and felt strong, but I was overall too tilted (and like 20min+ out from my last actual squat) to try the single. I can't hit the comfortable set up consistently yet though. It seems like tiny changes make a huge difference, like how early I start "pre-loading" the weight during set up and how exactly I breath before unracking. It doesn't matter as much with like 405, but 475+ it seems like I have to be 100% on point to keep it together.

What I think I did on the good 475 unrack:
- step under
- don't load at all yet (this seems the most important, before I was already preloading a bit and I think this causes problems)
- shimmy bar behind delts
- chest up
- elbows up "as much as possible" (but not really, lol)
~ around this part I'm not sure if I should start loading before breathing in, or only after, and this actually seems like a pretty important difference... I played with just the bar later and it actually seems like elbows up kinda naturally loads me anyway
~ also not sure but it seemed to help to be pretty quick about the 3-part shimmy-chest-elbows set up part, but I'm not sure about this as long as it's not loaded

[QUOTE=EliKoehn;1669637593]Good grief... 230x2 OHP? Standing? That is absolutely insane.[/QUOTE]

Haha, thank you! I've started to really like OHP in the past few years and I think it's started to pay off.

To be honest I think I'll strip down training even more for a little while.

I'm super tilted with this front squat inconsistency and burning out mentally trying stuff out every time I pass the rack at my place and just overall upper back fatigue (even my upper arm bones ache somehow).

I'm sure with a bit of time things will even out a bit and hopefully my training will normalize. I can't help but devoting like 100% to this issue for now though. It's eating me. I can feel I've got potential for more and I have to figure out this positioning stuff.

edit w/ a bit more practice, unracked 500 a few times successfully:
- step under
- don't load
- shimmy behind delts (not sure elbows down or forward)
- chest up
- elbows up (seems possibly rotation matters too)
- pre-load
- breathe out and in, unrack
~ pace doesn't seem to matter much

I've been practicing more with just the bar and I think I've refined the rack position quite a bit more, but I haven't tried loading it, so that's the true test. Sometimes stuff feels good with the bar but falls apart at working weight. If the 23rd goes well I'll mark down the cues/set up. I might still be too fatigued/sore to actually put up good numbers, but hopefully I can gauge form quality still.

Either way I'm starting to suspect there's a few factors at play here. I thought increasing leg strength would give me more mileage than it did. I think my bottleneck for now is: (1) technique/confidence, (2) not being used to heavy work anymore, (3) and trunk strength.

(1) I'm working hard on this one and I think I'm making strides. The most annoying part for this one is form breakdown and sensitivity increases near max but it's super fatiguing to get up there, so I can't work on this as much as I'd like. Even 405lbs I can get away with pretty bad racking. It seems like things get ugly for me ~475lbs+.

(2) This one should naturally work out just by keeping up with it. So far every session has been better than the last one, though that's not saying much just a few sessions deep. Either way, I'll just keep at it and then reevaluate.

(3) Similar to (2). I am pretty sure I used to have much more upper back strength than I do now (I used to rack hold mid-600s for 30s and now I feel crushed unracking 500) so I'm hoping it'll come back up to speed naturally with direct work. But I'm also wondering if I should do more reps (tricky because weight is more of an issue than time) or direct rack work (like weighted holds at 90-120% of max) to try to target it more. Leaning towards either no extra work or adding the weighted holds, but then my actual front squats will definitely suffer from the added upper back fatigue. Sometimes that "cost" is way worth the benefit though.

Anyway, today's work:

10/21
Beltless low bar (5-5-5 tempo): 185 for 3x5

I think my rack cues ended up decent but the fatigue was too high as I kinda expected, especially upper back/shoulder stuff. Elbows started dropping ~405ish which is early. I'm getting some kind of pain in the back of my shoulder too, too much work too soon.

10/23
Front squat: 405x1, 435x1 (0.49m/s)

edit:

Snatch-grip round-upper-back rack pull: 315x1, 365x1, 405x1, 455x1, 495x1,1,1 + 10s hold

Playing around with ways to build thoracic strength without loading my collarbone. Not sure if this helps, just wanted to try. I also tried doing like an upper back hyper from the bench but it was too awkward to load and a lot of pressure on the ribs/stomach.

Good to see you in full swing Charles! Keep going!
I responded to your question in my thread - yep, keeping at it and competing in two weeks! Thanks for the encouragement!

Tried to do weighted pull ups and the same front squat pain came up. Looks like I have some minor lat injury. Will take a bit of time off and decide how to handle it with fresh eyes.

I've been looking for ways to train my upper back in a FS context without bothering my shoulder/whatever (I'm not 100% sure which muscle I bothered, might have been something like the supraspinatus for all I know, lat seems likely though), and after a ton of experimenting/searching, I found the absolutely perfect one:

10/25

Seated snatch grip deadlift hold: 365x30s, 455x12s,12s,15s

I think the hold position is a similar back angle to a tough front squat lean. An obvious goal here is something like 500lbs for 3x30s. Then I have the feeling that my torso can handle the "lean" of my goal single. I don't know if there's much more to a front squat rack like shoulder flexion strength or other upper-arm specific strength (one example is elevating shoulders into the bar, but I think this variation indirectly works that too, similar to a shrug).

If I can round this out with good quad work then I can work around this "injury" in a better position than I started.

Best wishes for working around and rehabbing!

10/26
Beltless low bar (5-5-3 tempo): 225 for 3x5

[QUOTE=HomeGymChains;1670081453]Best wishes for working around and rehabbing![/QUOTE]

Thank you! Wouldn't be training for me without some kind of injury to work around, so I feel a comfy kinda despair :D.

Technically things are kinda messy lately, but I feel fairly optimistic.

I had an idea to compare my recent front squat speeds to high bar, and I found when I was doing the speeds I'm hitting on front squat I made 505x2 high bar. This reinforces my idea that my leg/hip strength is there I just need to clean up technique/trunk strength/confidence or whatever else.

My knee is a bit bothered but doesn't seem super bad. I can do low bar fine but I'll stay away from front squats a bit longer.

My shoulder/back is doing much better. I found an external rotation exercise the seems to help a lot.

If my knee and shoulder keep tracking well I might try to front squat on Monday. I'll probably do more paused low bar tomorrow (Saturday) and rest Sunday.

10/28
Bent over row: 185x3, 225x5, 245x5, 265x5, 285x5, 295x5, 305x10

I haven't done a BOR for ages, went better than I expected. Seal rows putting in work.

Doing these with a focus on upper back positioning (for FS carry-over).

I think my back/shoulder is okay, so Monday front squats just depend on how my knee feels. If it's bad maybe I can play around with rack stuff, or just do the seated hold again to be safe.

10/29
Beltless low bar (3-3-2 tempo): 275 for 3x5

10/31/2022
Front squat: 405x1, 435x1, 455x1 (0.32m/s)
Front rack hold: 455x20s, 475x20s, 495x20s, 545x10s,12s,9s

It looks like back in the day I was doing 3x30s with 585-595 and I PR'd with 660x18s. Adds some credence to the theory that my leg strength is there but trunk strength is lacking.

Also kind of conceptually neat: lately I'm having posture issues around 455lbs. 545 is ~120% of 455. So if I want to hit 475 soon, I can aim for something like 575x20s, and later on 605x20s for the 500. (Even better if I can hit 3x30s at whatever weights.)

Probably it won't actually work out that neatly, but it seems like a decent kind of framework to give me some directions/goals.

11/03
A bunch of front squat and heavy rack holds, mostly trying stuff out. Legs were shot. I tried high bar and even a 70% single was grindy.

Surprisingly legs are still completely shot. Knee is still pretty bothered too. Even first rep of 405 (which is around 70% intensity) was a grinder.

I've still been cleaning up my front squat form, and I think it's going well, but I can't actually tell if it's good stuff until I'm actually reasonably recovered and trying 90%+. Sometimes stuff feels good but falls apart under load. Fingers crossed anyway.

I did a couple of "light" HB doubles (that felt heavy anyway) for active recovery.

11/07
Beltless highbar: 405 for 3x2
Front rack hold: 500x30s, 545x30s, 575x7s,6s,5s, 500x30s, 555x30s, 575x30s

New rack form seems much, much stronger. Went from 545x12s => 575x30s. Just need to fight blacking out and breathe well on the top end stuff. Had some trouble with 575 this time and reset down and made it the second time around. The last set was brutal, my absolute limit for now.

In terms of not blacking out, I think there's some general strength that'll come up and help if I keep practicing these.

Time to get serious about this knee thing. Loading partials. Aiming for increased ROM over time, first, but once I establish a range for the day I'm pushing for weight. I'd like 9+ total reps over 70%, but 70% is hard to gauge for partials. Anyway..

11/07
Tempo LB to pins - 2nd hole down
- 315x1, 365x1, 405x3, 425x3, 435x3

11/09
Tempo low-bar to pins - 6th hole down
- 315x1,1, 365x1, 405x2,1-slow negative,1-slow negative

Hamstring/hip bothered me, called it early and did a few very slow negatives for more knee loading

11/11
Front squat to pins - 2nd hole up
- 405x3, 455x3, 475x3, 500x5, 525x5

Last set was very tough. Good point to progress from, though I'd prefer to go deeper instead

Obviously there's no translating partials to a full ROM squat, but I wonder how much I should hope for here to feel confident for a 500x1 front squat. At some level, just reversing direction and maintaining elbows with 500+ is a good sign even for partials... on the other hand obviously 500x1 from pins would never get me 500x1 ATG. How much margin? Anyway, doesn't matter, I'll try to get as strong as I can either way.

11/13
Tempo LB 5th hole down
- 405x3, 425x3, 455x3
GM 3rd hole down
- 135x5, 225x3, 315x3, 405x5
Barbell step up @ 27cm
- 45x10, 135x10, 225x10,10,12, 245x15
Ad-hoc cable hamstring curls:
- 10x20,20, 20x15

11/16
Front squat to pins 0th hole
- 405x3, 455x3, 500x3
Split stance SLDL
- 225x5,5,8,8
Goblet squat
- 45 for 5x10
Ad-hoc cable hamstring curls:
- 25 for 3x12

Few things...

Think I figured out my knee is some kind of tightness/trigger point around the medial quad. Was able to squat today without pain by rolling it hard.

Also from the low bar work my hip is acting up again. This is the same classic hip issue that puts me out of action 3-12 months and just ruins me. It's not super bad right now and hopefully I can avoid it by cutting low bar and managing it for now. Hopefully. If not I'm totally screwed.

Anyway:

11/19
High bar: 405 for 3x3 -- 64% of best speed
Split stance SLDL: 135x5, 185 for 3x10

Best wishes for getting through the hip issues.

I've been trying to squat (light/rehab) about every other day. Overall:

- strength is still mysteriously extremely low, like 80% of my recent max or even less

- knee is like 90%, I think I solved just need to keep at it + some time

- hip is kinda bad but not terrible... when I'm screwed I can't even body weight squat or walk without pain... for now it seems like it's load sensitive (like I don't feel body weight, get a hint at 225, and feel a pain at 405)... I'm still fairly optimistic at weathering this without serious issues

In terms of squatting I've tried like tempo singles at borderline weights (trying to control just below the point of pain) and also like fast smooth volume at very light weights (like 3x12 at 135 today) and the light stuff seems best to me

I'd also like to keep doing split stance SLDLs and front rack holds/partials work, but I just felt really tired and weak today, both upper back and core, so I'll rest for now and add it when it seems appropriate.

[QUOTE=HomeGymChains;1671615823]Best wishes for getting through the hip issues.[/QUOTE]

Thank you!

11/25
More experimental rehab squatting... seems elevating heels helps. e.g.:
High bar (looking down + initiate hips): 45x10, 95x10, 135x10, 185x8
Front rack hold: 405, 495, 545, 565, 585, 605x4s,6s,4s,5s,5s,4s,4s -- fighting blacking out rather than postural strength, though partial theory is core fatigue contributes to blacking out

edit: seems like goblet is great (best feeling squat so far) but I can't load it much without my arms getting tired (lol)... I tried landmine squats and it wasn't the same effect somehow

edit: I also tonight I accidentally figured out the kind of squat movement that bothers me.. if I do like the last half of a kang squat (basically bottom of ATG into good morning) then it feels fine, which is basically just knee extension, but if I try to squat upright w/ hips & knees extending together it twinges. The problem is it's awkward as hell to load kang squats but I'll have to think how I can use this info in my home gym.

11/27
Front squat unrack/partials: 605x3,5
Kang squat: 225x5, 245x5,5, 265 for 3x5

Strong rack position work (I have a new cue related to setting my head back that keeps me from blacking out as much), and I managed to load hip decently via kang (went better with load than I expected).

I've just been rehabbing the classic hip issue. Not much point in logging. Finally got a bit of weight today though.

12/20
High bar: 315x3, 335x3, 355x3, 375x5
Front rack hold: 405, 495, 605x5s,5s, 495x30s

12/23
High bar: 405x5
Front rack hold: 545x14s, 495x40s

Not sure how my hip is doing, still a bit sore and the top set felt a bit iffy, did some back up reps with 225 just to get a bit more movement without much loading.

Slow and steady. I'm moving out of country end of January and I pushed to hit my front squat goal before then, and that's what kind of killed me with a whole bunch of injuries.

Not sure what I'll do now, moving will definitely be a hitch, but that's alright. I'm still gonna get it one day or another. Took me like four years longer than I expected to hit my deadlift goal, but I did hit it. I'll die trying to get this one if it comes to it.

12/30
High bar squat: 435x5
Front rack hold: 545x40s

[QUOTE=CharlesSwann;1673836993]Slow and steady. I'm moving out of country end of January and I pushed to hit my front squat goal before then, and that's what kind of killed me with a whole bunch of injuries.

Not sure what I'll do now, moving will definitely be a hitch, but that's alright. I'm still gonna get it one day or another. Took me like four years longer than I expected to hit my deadlift goal, but I did hit it. I'll die trying to get this one if it comes to it.

12/30
High bar squat: 435x5
Front rack hold: 545x40s[/QUOTE]

Best wishes with your weightlifting goals and your upcoming travel! Keep us posted.

01/03
High bar squat: 455x3
Front rack hold: 565x7s,30s

[QUOTE=HomeGymChains;1673916033]Best wishes with your weightlifting goals and your upcoming travel! Keep us posted.[/QUOTE]

Much appreciated as always!

Forgot to post...

01/06
High bar squat: 475x3
Front rack hold: 575x30s

01/10
High bar squat: 500x1

It must be difficult for her two older sisters.

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I can’t afford it.

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[youtube]DzEavV_Q29U[/youtube]

01/14
Beltless highbar: 500x1 (0.41m/s) -- fast

+ some front rack unracks and dips with 500, trying for minimal fatigue just some exposure

Might try a heavy front squat next week, might be my last session in Canada. Don't think I have good odds for a PR but I did what I could under the circumstances.

01/18
Front squat: 405x1, 435x1, 455x1

01/20
Beltless highbar: 405x12

Not sure when I can train/update next, but I'm still 100% determined on my last few goals.

Already down like 20lbs since moving, lmao.

[b]I Can't Access a Gym Right Now - Workout #1 - Feb 19, 2023[/b]

Single leg squat: BWx5,8,8,8,10 -- not super strict tbh
One arm pushup: BWx5,5,5 -- wide stance, off-arm foot flat, hand close to/under chest

I don't like planks (especially if I can't weight them, I don't want to sit there three minutes per set) and can't do pull ups so brainstorming some other ideas meantime. Just getting the ball rolling as jet lag and stuff wears off and I settle into some kind of daily routine.

Definitely looking at some kind of glute bridge work, hand stand push ups, maybe nordic curls/etc., bw knee extensions, and some more kinds of direct core work.

Good news! I got a stable office job in the new country and I'll be moving downtown around May. I'll finally have access to legit gyms again.

Weight is down to around 100kg. I obviously have been slipping on the calisthenics but I'll freely admit I hate doing them, haha. I'll try to be a bit better though.

Bad news!

I moved and have a seemingly awesome gym nearby. Unfortunately, my retina detached and I just finished a two+ weeks hospital stay.

Lifting is obviously a no-go for a little while. I have another visit to the hospital next week and we can see how it's sticking and I'll ask when I can start lifting again.

Also lost a bunch more weight in the hospital. I think I moved out of Canada around 113kg and I'm around 93kg now... without any lifting. RIP my lifts eh? But let's see.

So sorry to hear about the medical troubles! Rooting for you to have a smooth recovery.

I'm back! I ended up needing surgery on my other eye (lmao), but all clear to lift now.

Work is tough, most hours I've ever worked, different culture compared to home. But still hoping to hit something like 3x/week once I get over the soreness.

I lost a ton of strength (and weight) obviously. I was around 245lbs leaving Canada and around 195lbs now. Hospital was pretty bed ridden so I probably lost a lot of muscle too.

Main goal right now is still 500lbs/227kg front squat, but that'll obviously take some doing for now.

07/23 -- weights in kg
Beltless high bar squat: 140x5,5, 145x5
Front squat hold: 140x20 count, 180x30 count
Bench: 100x4,3,5

Squat rack settings: 25x11, 11 maybe too high try 10
Bench settings: 6x3, maybe 3 too high try 2

07/30 - weights in kg
Beltless high bar: 140x5, 145x5, 150x3 -- speed okay but some back twinge on 3rd and stopped
FS hold: 150x20c,30c -- bothered back too so stopped
Pull ups: bwx8,8,5
Bench: 100x6,4,3

Too much too quickly? Don't think I hurt my back badly but was hoping for 5+ on 150kg for sure. Hopefully good in a few days/one week? Not sure how soreness this time around will be either.

Rougher comeback than I expected though haha. Still happy to be hitting squats and all though.

08/06 - weights in kg
Pause front squat: 100x3, 120x1,1, 130x1, 140x1 -- low back blew up
Bench: 100x7,7,5
Pull ups: bwx8
Low bar: 60x10

What a terrible come back, haha. Bench is creeping back up at least. Not sure really what's going on with my low back, though I could barely walk after 140kg. Felt fine until then. Guess I'm not doing a good job easing back into it eh?

Low back is doing better, going to start loading again. Work is killing me though. I want to go during the week but I can't bring myself to do it.

09/03 - weights in kg
Paused beltless high bar: 100x10, 120x3, 140x3, 150x2, 160x1, 170x1, 180x1
OHP (bar weight unknown): 60x5, 70x5, 80x4 -- hard to balance, usually don't use WL shoes so might be that + the break
Bent-over-row: 60x5, 100x5,5,10
Fly machine: 80x8, 120x5, 140x7,5
Hypers: BWx15,15,15

Creeping back up. Maybe ~80% of peak strength, but also like 90% of peak body weight.

09/10 - weights in kg
Front squat: 100x3, 120x3, 130x3, 140x2, 130x1, 140x1,1,1
Front rack hold: 220x(10 counts)
Bench (unknown bar): 100x10,8,4
Fly machine: 170x5,5,5
Pull ups: bwx10,6,7

09/14 - weights in kg
OHP (unknown bar): 60x5, 70x5, 80x5, 82.5x4
SSB: 110x5, 130x3, 150x4
Chin ups: bwx10

09/18 - weights in kg
Beltless highbar: 160x1, 180x1, 185x3 (messy)
Pause highbar: 315x8
Bent over row (unknown bar): 100x,5,8, 120x8
Fly machine: 170x5, 190x5, 210x5,4

09/24 - weights in kg
Front squat: 140x3, 150x1, 160x1, 130x5
Front squat partial (21 showing on pins): 180x1, 200x1, 220x1, 227.5x1
OHP (unknown bar): 60x5, 70x5, 77.5x4,5,4
Pull ups: 20x5,5,5
Hypers: BWx25

Still struggling with how busy work is, but plodding along as best as I can. Up to like 84% of peak strength or so.

10/06 -- weights in kg
SSB: 110x5, 150xd5, 160x5
Bench: 100x5, 110x3, 120x3,3,3
Pull downs: 63.5x5,x10, 70.5x10

10/13
Beltless highbar: 140x1, 160x1, 180x1, 185x4
+paused: 140x8
OHP: 70x5,5, 72.5x5
Bent over row: 90x5, 100x5, 110x5

10/23
Front squat: 140x5, 150x1, 160x1, 170x1
FS to pins (at 21): 180x1, 220x3
Bench: 100x5, 110x5, 120x5
Pull ups: bwx10,8,6
Machine flyes: 210x5, 230x5,4

10/31 -- weights in kg
Beltless SSB: 170x5, 180x1
OHP: 50x5, 60x3, 70x3, 75x8, 50x10
Pull downs: 70.5x5, 77.5x8, 84.5x8

11/07
Beltless high bar: 180x1, 185x5
Paused high bar: 140x8
Bench: 100x3, 110x3, 120x1, 122.5x5, 100x12
Trap bar: 105x5,5, 120x5

I'd like to lift more often but this work is still killing me. I bet guys on here (when it was still active haha) were working physical jobs with more hours and all but I'm a big baby. Strength still climbing back up to peak levels bit by bit though. My main #1 goal is still 500lbs front squat and then 405lbs bench. Bit far at current levels, but yea, still climbing. Not going to give this one up, and even if I'm just maintaining at this point, going to keep it going as best as I can.

edit: of course also had a bunch of surgeries and health problems this year... was nervous to start lifting back in August again, but I have to say I feel pretty comfortable/safe lately (maybe stupid?), so that's all pretty good. Most of my weight came back up too actually. Probably most of my strength still missing is just from the lifting gap more than the health stuff.

11/17 -- weights in kg
Front squat: 140x1, 145x5
Front squat to pins (20 showing): 180x1, 200x1, 220x3
OHP: 80x4,5,5
Machine flyes: 230x5,5,5
Pull ups: bwx10,8,7