Lifting support thread 2

[RayKray]

Just noticed I was the last to post on the lifting support thread as it went to 1k so here's another.

Original thread intro post here from
@Work2live

"Thought I’d start this thread as a few people thought it’d be a good idea.

"It might be a nice place to support each other and talk about lifting in general, ask for tips and advice on workouts, how to get enough protein etc.

"All levels very much welcome, from complete newbies to those who’ve been weightlifting for years! 💪🏼"

Thanks @everycowandagain I hope you get somewhere with the lifting straps, trial and error with them I think.

@RayKray totally agree! I would have always said my upper body lifts were my worst (like most women I guess) but actually over time I've got better at those and less so with legs, I think in part because I find upping the weights for squats a bit daunting... I'm enjoying having a programme and numbers to target so I don't inadvertently limit myself.

Did another session this morning, wouldn't usually do two in a row though it is a split of sorts (SBTD on three days is lower body/upper body/full body). I'm still not used to having lots of accessories after big lifts, I was dying by the end! I have a date with a massage gun shortly!

I'm on three in a row. I'm knackered. One rest day then two in a row. It's not deliberate as such just how my sessions are falling.

@Proteinpud , great you are back in it.

I go back down after illness or injury and then build up - for me, I get less re-entry DOMS that way - so try do a week of more frequent but shorter, less intense sessions to recondition and then hit strength the following week IWSWIM.

When I started I learned squats before deadlifts - found DLs mentally so much easier (OK I had a bit of experience) as bailing safely so straightforward.

I probably should have eased back into it, but I was so excited to be back lifting (after a previous failed attempt about a week ago)
Did the final session of the week today so three in a row, probably not ideal but I've balanced it with lots a rest, stretching and massage gun and feel pretty good! Managed a 40kg front squat which is sort of a PB because I've not tried adding weight to front squats before (used to use it as a warm up and hadn't gone higher than 30kg) Also managed a set of deadlifts at 72kg x6 so feel optimistic I've not lost too much strength.

I'm tracking my food at the moment, had started it in January with the aim of doing a very gentle cut/body recomp. It's been a bit muddled due to illness and being very sedentary, will be interesting to see how things go now that I'm back exercising!

@Proteinpud brilliant! Sounds like your strength is pouring back in 😀.

Hi everyone, hope you are all good. I am doing ok, just starting a new training block and working towards testing one rep maxes in a few months.

Reps are dropping and weighs are creeping up!!

My old bench one rep max is 31.5kg and I did 31kg for 3 reps quite comfortably last week so some PRs are coming!!

That's great @everycowandagain ! So strong 💪 looking forward to hearing your PBs.

I'm good and getting ever closer to comp. I've been repping my comp PBs and we're about to drop the reps down too so I'll have a better idea soon what I can do.

I remember mentioning on here before that the biggest powerlifting competition in the world happened in Sheffield and it was this weekend just gone. I was awesome. Saw the first woman ever to get over 300kg in a squat. Loads of world records beaten. The atmosphere was amazing. Tickets are out already for next year (and I've got mine)

Ow wow @RayKray that sounds amazing!! How inspiring. Comp prep sounds like it is going well too 👏.

And yayyy @everycowandagain , that's exciting! I like it when I switch focus.

Which I am a little....gonna do fewer gym cali classes for a month or two (skip all the handstand ones) and focus on strength. I've had endless interruptions in the last three months - colds, covid, Xmas, terrible weather/crowded January gym.....so I want time to practice the fundamentals. I need to get kick ups for handstands but just not feeling it right now so I might as well focus on the things that I get excited about.

@RayKray I have caught snippets from Sheffield via a few powerlifting accounts I follow on Insta, there was some epic lifting!! The atmosphere must be electric live.

@MsMartini focus on the fundamentals sounds good, after periods of disruption I do think it's helpful to take a step back and regroup. I was listening to a meditation while I was walking at the weekend with a similar theme, about seasons of rest and recovery. The meditation was about flowers blooming and then dying off until they are ready to bloom again... or something like that!!

Some great lifting going on at the masters European championships at the moment too, I love seeing strong women in the masters categories. Inspiring!!

Oooh I'm gonna start following some of this on insta!!

@everycowandagain yes exactly. The skills classes are really fun but I'm getting nowhere with handstands and that's time I could be repping......

@MsMartini a good starting point is kingofthelifts on Instagram as he posts/reposts lots that's going on in the powerlifting world. He commentated at Sheffield too (and has a great podcast if you want to listen to hours upon hours of powerlifting content 😂 his are notoriously long but awesome if you're obsessed). Most powerlifters are on Instagram so you can then also follow individuals.

@RayKray thank you, perfect! I want a flavour really (insta feed full of cali types already) - so he will do nicely 😀

I like gbpowerfed too, they are the national governing body and they repost a lot of great GB lifters

I was chatting to the gym manager today who asked what I was training for, I mentioned I am testing 1RM late April and he said 'oh great I was thinking of doing a max out event in the gym, I will speak to your coach and we can combine them'.

Should have kept my mouth shut!!

No! A gym max out is great, milk the whooping and cheering! 💪🏼

Yeah I guess it would be fun @erinaceus!

@everycowandagain that would be great 1RM are always higher with you people to cheer you on. It's the best bit! I would never have got my deadlift comp lift up without the crowd. If you can get someone to record it do, I still replay that crowd in my head for heavy lifts now

Hello! How's everyone doing?

I'm enjoying myself. Cut back on classes, no handstands - just strength and fitness. Making progress on flags which I do with my PT, and rebuilding pushups and dips after lots of little interruptions!!

Glad to hear you are enjoying your training @MsMartini!

I am doing ok, my new training block is INTENSE as I build towards testing maxes in a couple of months - weight going up and reps dropping - the fatigue is real. Trying to get lots of sleep and eat a lot!! Weight is moving well though. I am excited to see how it goes!!

Belated hi to @MsMartini ! Love to hear that you're working on flags, how far have you got with them? They are such an awesome strength feat, even the progressions.

@everycowandagain hope you're still doing ok with your block, sounds tough but I'm sure it'll be worth it when you see the results.

I'm struggling to get back into my groove after another period of illness, building work on our house (couple of weeks in a hotel and no washing machine so gym wasn't practical). Work a bit crazy too , some missed lunches and late finishes.
I have managed one class last week though, and a gym session today. Surprised myself with just about managing 4 reps of 80kg deadlift (last one was a struggle but form was ok though I wouldn't have done any more)
I'm still on the SBTD programme but it's more hypertrophy/accessories focused which has put me off a bit, not least because the workouts are very long. But then, obvious point id missed - I can skip exercises. As long as I'm getting my main lifts in I'm not going to worry about whether the app told me I should do two types of dumbbell curls. Today subbed in some negative chin ups and will keep doing that as I really want to get my chin up/pull up strength back!

@everycowandagain it does sound tough but exciting!

@Proteinpudding , the interruptions are SO frustrating - but awesome deadlifts😀! I think you are spot on abt eg negative CHs instead of at least some curls. You might as well work core etc at the same time, you are drilling the motion, and doing negs (or holds or using bands) means you can get the volume in. I do bodyweight bicep curls too, like inverted rows but underhand grip and to use mostly biceps not back, raise feet if needed. What classes are you doing?

Flags - well after a year and a half, we are now working on reps. So my PT lifts me up, I keep one leg high and lower the other (so sort of splits), as top foot comes off the top bar, he raises it back up to start position, I repeat, max three negatives today with the final one getting me down to the ground. then the other side. Oooomph! Love training it and great use of PT time.

@Proteinpud hope you are finding your training groove again.

@MsMartini the flags sound challenging!

My training is going well but I have got myself into a bit of a funk this week. I think I am following too many powerlifters on Insta and now I am fed up because I lift so much less!! Except that most of them are 20 yrs younger/don't have busy jobs or kids/have been doing it far longer/weigh more than me and are therefore naturally stronger. I think I need to keep my eyes on my own training and stop comparing myself to what completely different people are achieving! I am training with my coach tomorrow, I think I need a pep talk!!

I should compare myself to my own achievements, after all I am benching double what I was lifting 2 years ago and squatting/deadlifting numbers I could have only dreamed of.

Long story short, Instagram BAD!!

@everycowandagain absolutely absolutely absolutely.

I've decided any sort of standards or comparison are only helpful if they boost me 😀- I'm already way ahead of where I used to be and of people who don't train at all. I do occasionally look at the strength standards just to get a reality check on the difference being a middle aged woman makes - but again with the proviso that it is only including people who are actually reasonably committed! I think it is perhaps a bit easier with cali as progress isn't so easily countable....but it is one reason I have paused handstands as just made so little progress and there are other things I AM progressing on, and enjoying. I film myself occasionally just to have a record of my progress - which will look different from anyone else's.

Insta can be inspiring but in small quantities perhaps?