Lifting Support Thread 3

[Proteinpud]

Continuing from @Work2live 's original thread, with the following intro post

"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! 💪🏼"

@everycowandagain YAY!! Well done! That's awesome, and yes so good to look back on what you've achieved! I'm sure squats will be just as good when you get to them again. That's a great mantra too! No pressure and YOU ARE STRONG!

@MsMartini yeah i used to train 5-6 times a week and it was great mentally but I don't think progress was as quick week to week, but probably the same over 2months if that makes any sense?!

I do 4 sessions now and the recovery is much better and I find I am less stressed with everything so that helps me. However my sessions are often into 1.5-2hr territory...!

Everything is feeling decidedly heavy at the moment however. Been away a lot with work which hasn't helped. Squats tonight, box squats as I have a sore hip we are protecting, but still 3 x 6 @ 95kg programmed tonight (meh).

@2andadog yes about progress. I think going so often only works for me because I do a variety of things, not such a focussed programme as some. Sometimes I do 35 minutes on the cross-trainer and then an intense core session (hanging leg raises, dragon flags, L sit drills etc), another day is just legs, other days are split between skills and strength....There are lots of factors aren't there but I find the same as you that it is great regularly so I mix things up to make that possible.

Good luck with the squats!!

Ooomph! Did early barely awake chest session today starting with bench - got 50kg for 3 clean, and 2 more with a spot. That’s a pb since I tidied up form (only started bench in May so needed to get used to the weight and the control, with assist).

bench reminds me of pull ups - progress is so slow but done consistently do inch forwards…..

Nice one @MsMartini!!

I am doing a very easy deload week, life is nuts so it's been good to have some easier sessions although I miss my heavy SBD!! My body needs a break though.

Congrats @MsMartini thats amazing. I don’t train bench much, but my PB is 40 for 3 so 50 is quite something. I can move 35 quite smoothly for about 10 reps but the jump to 40 humbles me.

Well done @MsMartini ! That’s awesome! And yes so true with bench, really shows your consistency is paying off.

I’m really struggling with bench at the moment so need to get some 1-1 focus on it I think, though am in a deficit and keep being told the push is the first to suffer so maybe it is that. Heavy deadlifts for me tomorrow, 3x 5 @ 115-120kg. Training at a gym which doesn’t allow chalk which makes life more difficult when it gets heavy…!!

Oo yes, no chalk. I was training away from home and didn’t have chalk and I was surprised at the difference it made. But my PT regularly challenges my grip strength, so I coped.

@YellowAsteroid it makes a huge difference doesn’t it! I’m fine of sets upto 110kg, and managed 1 set of 5 @ 120kg banded (urgh) before I had to get the straps out. Not ideal but we make do.

Ooomp that's massive @2andadog good luck! Or have you done them?

@YellowAsteroid I started in May with a spotter and went that heavy but with limited range and less good form, to see where I was and get used to the weight and the set up, then went back down and practised them properly, then inched up from 40-45 using very small plates, then yesterday jumped up to 50 as had got 5 smooth on 45 and had a spotter available. I'm 71kg.

I use loads of chalk for flag training and get it everywhere but luckily that's outside!

Thank you, Yeah did them this morning. 3x 5 @ 120kg banded conventional, and then 3 x 5 sumo. My bum feels it today!

Bench is so tough so huge well done @MsMartini for that, bodyweight bench in the future!

I’m strong but just cannot get the progress with it at the moment. Do loads of accessory work and really going to focus on it the next few weeks as it’s so far behind my squat and dead.

@2andadog once you're past the newbie gains, progress isn't linear. I have to tell myself this.

Every time just before I get a new 1RM, I hit a plateau, and I have to remember this. Lifting is a grind for a couple of months and then - wow! I get a new PB.

It's slow for me because I'm old ... I wish I had discovered proper weght lifting at the age of 40, not almost 60.

I also don't progress on everything at once...

I've mixed it up with bench a bit - do one main chest session a week (plus a bit in cali) - but sometimes use the machine (if no bench free or no spotter) and that's happened a couple of times recently so I wonder if that has helped build strength (I can go heavier on the machine).

@2andadog wow, no wonder you are sore!!

@YellowAsteroid hell yes. I did my first burpee the week before I turned 51 and that was in a small group (so cd go a bit heavier than the standard class) circuit class - that's where I started with weights. Then gradually switched to proper weightlifting and then cali. So, so wish I had started sooner and that more women had the chance/encouragement to.

How is everyone doing? I'm plodding on, last week before deload over christmas (yay!) then back into a 6 week block before next competition.

My deadlift died a bit of a death last week, though sumos feeling good! Just working on lots of accessory work to try to stop niggly hip. Back to pause squats tonight as part of leg day. Just been advised to take taurine as well to help prevent muscle pump too quickly in sets, does anyone else take it? Be interested to know results if so!

I’m flaked after my comp last week. I only just now a week later feel like I am returning to the land of the living. I have a fun holiday-themed session at my gym tonight with silly games. I will try to have a word with my coach but based on how I am feeling I will not start training properly until the New Year. I have got a busy Christmas so will likely just do a bit of mobility work in the next couple of weeks.

Is anybody getting any fun strength training related Christmas gifts? Last year my siblings clubbed together and got me a voucher for some knee sleeves, a useful addition to my kit 🦵🏼

@erinaceus it’s amazing how much it batters you isn’t it? Have fun tonight though! What knee sleeves did you go for? I’m in the market for some new ones at the moment…

my session last night demonstrated how tired I am. Everything felt HEAVY and didn’t manage all my sets on accessories. Deload, I am ready for you!!

@2andadog I’ve got the SBD powerlifting knee sleeves. I found them good - but I didn’t do any comparing. I think relative to other options they are more stiff.

Gosh @erinaceus sounds like you are ready for a break. How did the comp go? (apologies if I've missed something - been a bit hectic here).

I had a very focussed session today when I put all the hectic-ness out of mind and did some weighted pull ups with a slightly wide grip which I find harder and am training a lot at the moment. Got 2 on 10kg on 4th set, was 1.5 last week and 1 the week before, so forward I crawl 😀.

Must say my strength training and running is keeping me going at the moment! Random bloke at the gym commented on my pull ups and asked if I was a gymnast - I was so taken aback I had to ask him to repeat himself as anything less gymnastic you could not imagine!

@MsMartini Comp write up is on the other thread -> here

Glad your training is giving you space to put the hectic-ness out of your mind plus a random gym complement 😎 Well done on your weighted pull ups, looking strong 💪🏼

Ha! The other thread had dropped off my radar (not being a powerlifter). Well done, twice bw is brilliant on deads! The bench must have been frustrating but guess it highlights again how much more there is to all this than just the obvious....

Sounds like you do indeed deserve a good rest now 😀

@MsMartini wow on the pullups! That's incredible, huge well done, I know how much dedication they take!

Congrats @MsMartini that's brilliant!

I haven't had anything to post for a while as have been knocked out with illness once again, but FINALLY managed to do a workout today. Only a few exercises, SBTD and skipped the last two as I didn't have the kit and wasn't really that bothered about them (preacher curls and seated row)

Pleased though because I feel like I've turned into a hibernating sloth. I know I've been ill but being totally sedentary is hard to break out of!

I managed 35kg bench, which I was happy with given I hadn't trained it for a while previously due to my shoulder injury.

Got a quiet Christmas ahead, so with my home gym I'm hoping I can get back up to speed pretty quick

Aargh no @proteinpud, you have had a run of bad luck. Well done on bench, that's great. Hope you can have a bit of a run at it now.

I agree about a quiet Xmas - I'm hoping for some peaceful daytime sessions in my usually busy gym.

Thanks @MsMartini and yes it's a nice feeling, getting a headstart on the January crowd!
There will be jiu jitsu classes on over Christmas too so I'm hoping to get back to that

Great to hear all the progress!

We've been doing a block leading to pre Xmas 1RMs and I've managed to PB again despite no comp environment, taper, proper kit etc. Hit some milestones I wanted to so now properly looking to British masters next year which feels very big and exciting (plus scary).

When I first started on this thread I was working towards just being able to squat the heaviest dumbbell in my then gym (25kg I think and man I was proud when I did it!) so it blows my mind what I can now do.

@RayKray eek that's hugely exciting! I'm sure you will smash the quals and get to the champs, do you know when your qualifier will be? Amazing progress too, what timeframe is that over?