Beginning Stage 2...

[Bytsi]

Originally Posted by TessTN

I do my first Stage 2 workout tomorrow, and those darn squat push-presses are scaring me to death, too. I tried the move just with a pole and no weight yesterday, and could just see myself clocking my chin with a loaded Oly bar!

Too, I can't see how my arms can be parallel to the floor at the beginning, without having the bar right up against my throat. Hmmm... maybe it'll all work itself out in the gym tomorrow.

The rest of the stuff looks tough, but fun. These squats, though-- gah, nightmare fuel for me!

I hated them the first time I tried - the bar was against my throat and my wrists hurt. I adjusted my form a little (worried less about elbows up since my weight wasn't super high) and ended up loving them!

And yeah, I did hit my chin once during warmup cuz I was rushing a bit - but I lived through it. Now I kinda like the darn things!

[Lisa~]

Originally Posted by TessTN

I do my first Stage 2 workout tomorrow, and those darn squat push-presses are scaring me to death, too. I tried the move just with a pole and no weight yesterday, and could just see myself clocking my chin with a loaded Oly bar!

Too, I can't see how my arms can be parallel to the floor at the beginning, without having the bar right up against my throat. Hmmm... maybe it'll all work itself out in the gym tomorrow.

The rest of the stuff looks tough, but fun. These squats, though-- gah, nightmare fuel for me!

Tess

Originally Posted by Shell81

Tess- I have three more stage 1 workouts and am also feeling anxious for the front squat push presses! I'm wondering how much weight I should start off with....

Here are a couple of discussions about the front squat to push press that might answer some of your questions:

Front Squat Push/Press

Push/Press question.

[TessTN]

Originally Posted by Bytsi

I hated them the first time I tried - the bar was against my throat and my wrists hurt. I adjusted my form a little (worried less about elbows up since my weight wasn't super high) and ended up loving them!

And yeah, I did hit my chin once during warmup cuz I was rushing a bit - but I lived through it. Now I kinda like the darn things!

Thanks, Bytsi! This is very reassuring to hear-- especially knowing that you clipped your chin and didn't actually wind up on the floor from it.

I think I've been stressing too much about keeping my elbows up, too. Guess I'll find out in the morning if I'm going to join you in the push/press admiration society.

Tess

[TessTN]

Originally Posted by Lisa~

Here are a couple of discussions about the front squat to push press that might answer some of your questions:

Front Squat Push/Press

Push/Press question.

Thank you so much for these links, Lisa! I've gotten to watch a few of the videos today in those threads today (have to go to the library for anything bigger than a bit of Flash.) and I'm finding them both helpful and reassuring. Probably I was building this move up into a bigger boogieman than it really will turn out to be.

I appreciate you taking the time to post them for me!

Tess

[jessie]

I love the squat push presses! To gage how much weight you need, do a warm up set with a lighter bar just to see how the exercise feels and what the flow is like.