Feeling it or not, good job Jane.
I'm still getting used to my Rippetoe-esque bar placement & trapping/holding the bar, much less working back up on my weights. I don't think I could walk out 175 - so props to you for the 1/4 squats.
I'll tell you, Lisa, for me....it's damn scary walking out with 175 on my back. And, even going 1/4, I fear not being able to get back up. There was one where I went a little below 1/4 and I saw stars and was *this* close to just dumping the bar. If I ever can actually squat 175, remember this post so I can look back on it! LOL!
Funny thing.....since we were talking about people saying they squat 180 for reps (uh huh...hmmm). Well, there's a guy squatting in the Smith machine next to me. He keeps upping the weights after every set. Who knows how much he had on there....you know me and math. Well, let's just say that my 1/4 squats at 175 were deeper than ANY of his squats. It was such a sad sight. Have no idea what he could possibly be thinking. And, to top it off, he was squatting with the tampon....not so cool for anyone, much less a guy!
ETA: Once I really GOT Rippetoe's form down, it became much easier for me, but that bar placement was tough for me, too, at first. Now, it seems old hat. There are two girls who are having me help them through NROL4W. I got them off the Smith machine, turned them onto Rippetoe, and their squats look soooo pretty now! They had trouble with bar placement, hand placement, the whole trapping the bar thing on the back. They are starting with just the bar, but they are getting proper depth and now realize how important proper form is. Makes me smile.
when I didn't understand where to put the bar I used the pad because it hurt like the dickens to have it riding on the bone of my c-spine (I know - but that's where it was)
For me I think quarter squatting would be scarier because 1/4 of the way down isn't a natural stopping point to dump the bar. When I'm at the bottom of a squat and I can't get back up it's totally easy to dump it because it's near the ground (and I'm using bumper plates and it's out front). If I was doing 1/4 back squats I think I would be sorta freaked out if I couldn't handle the load.
It sorta does freak me out. BUT, I can see Cosgrove's reasoning for them (as well as the rack deadlifts). It really does make the normal loads seem much lighter after I do the quarters and racks and has pushed me to PR's in both my squats and DL's. But, yeah, scary for sure.
Funny thing.....since we were talking about people saying they squat 180 for reps (uh huh...hmmm). Well, there's a guy squatting in the Smith machine next to me. He keeps upping the weights after every set. Who knows how much he had on there....you know me and math. Well, let's just say that my 1/4 squats at 175 were deeper than ANY of his squats. It was such a sad sight. Have no idea what he could possibly be thinking. And, to top it off, he was squatting with the tampon....not so cool for anyone, much less a guy!
ETA: Once I really GOT Rippetoe's form down, it became much easier for me, but that bar placement was tough for me, too, at first. Now, it seems old hat. There are two girls who are having me help them through NROL4W. I got them off the Smith machine, turned them onto Rippetoe, and their squats look soooo pretty now! They had trouble with bar placement, hand placement, the whole trapping the bar thing on the back. They are starting with just the bar, but they are getting proper depth and now realize how important proper form is. Makes me smile.
I did my first Rippetoe squat session yesterday, and yes, the bar placement was weird at first. But after a few sets with it at the proper place I realized how much better it is. Lisa, I agree about using the pad before; when the bar is too high, you need something to ease the pain! I found getting the bar right there under the spine of the scapula, lifting the elbows up and putting my wrists correctly, not bent with bar weight on them, it really does trap the bar.
Way to go Jane, with those 175's! I did 5 x 110 and I was thinking I might have to dump; you are definitely an inspiration.
P.S. What are rack deadlifts? And what do you mean, squatting with the tampon?
A rack pull is when you pull from right below the knee instead of the floor.
The pad on the bar is referred to as a tampon by some. Especially if a guy sees another guy using it.
Aha! Thanks. Confession: I almost picked up that tampon yesterday to do the squats, and then said, wait, if the bar is right it shouldn't hurt. . .just try it, and I did, and it didn't! But, I do know now why he recommends a t-shirt, not a tank top!
I have only used the pad once and hated it. The only time the bar has hurt my back was when I lift at home and the bar is a smaller non Oly bar. Otherwise I feel like my balance it off, too.
Jane, I am so in awe of your progress and PR's lately. You totally inspire me. I can't say that enough.
gosh dog it, jane, you got me thinkin about UD2 after marathon season.
Har, I was having the same thought! UD2 sounds like the cure for the over-cardioed "fluffys".
Congrats on your amazing progress, Jane - enjoy the couple of weeks "off".
__________________ "My yoga class had me trembling and sweating and I feel MUCH better." - Fang
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tenacious Training and Tweaking (the A lotta Alitteration thread)
I'll tell you, Lisa, for me....it's damn scary walking out with 175 on my back. And, even going 1/4, I fear not being able to get back up. There was one where I went a little below 1/4 and I saw stars and was *this* close to just dumping the bar. If I ever can actually squat 175, remember this post so I can look back on it! LOL!
Funny thing.....since we were talking about people saying they squat 180 for reps (uh huh...hmmm). Well, there's a guy squatting in the Smith machine next to me. He keeps upping the weights after every set. Who knows how much he had on there....you know me and math. Well, let's just say that my 1/4 squats at 175 were deeper than ANY of his squats. It was such a sad sight. Have no idea what he could possibly be thinking. And, to top it off, he was squatting with the tampon....not so cool for anyone, much less a guy!
ETA: Once I really GOT Rippetoe's form down, it became much easier for me, but that bar placement was tough for me, too, at first. Now, it seems old hat. There are two girls who are having me help them through NROL4W. I got them off the Smith machine, turned them onto Rippetoe, and their squats look soooo pretty now! They had trouble with bar placement, hand placement, the whole trapping the bar thing on the back. They are starting with just the bar, but they are getting proper depth and now realize how important proper form is. Makes me smile.
LOL at the tampon.
Congrats on all the PRs, and hats off to you in guiding others to proper form!
__________________
They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
If you place the bar correctly, it stays. Yeah, kinda takes getting used to, and I can't say I'm a huge fan of the calluses I'm forming on my shoulders and posterior neck, but in my quest for superass, totally worth it.
Also, I'm with Jill on the 1/4 squat thing. I don't trust 'em.
Jane, I can't wait to hear about your 175 ATG squat.
I recently gave up 1/4 squats for bench squats for the very reason that it is less scary. I know on the bench I can just drop the weight and it would be more natural. Interestingly I find that I can do bench squats with about the same weight as 1/4 squats btw. It just feels safer for me if I have a place to sit it down if I have to. I think Jill's way is ultimately right but my head isn't wrapped around that one yet.
__________________
The BIGGER I get the smaller you look
Well, not saying Alwyn is God or anything, but I'm just following his Strength program right now and that's what's called for (1/4 squats and rack DL's).
I totally understand this and actually find that they do me a lot of good from a mental percpective (just wrapping the head around that sort of load) but recently have moved from doing the 1/4 squats (see stars and get scared thing) to the bench squats because of the fear the other seems to cause. The bench squats do the same thing physically only take away the fear for me. I don't actually sit on the bench. As soon as the touch happens with my shorts, I shoot up. I think that gives me the 1/4 squat range but it is less scary as I know the bench is back there is I need it.
Not saying that this is right or wrong... just that I have the same problem with the 1/4 squats and being a sissy. (still don't use the tampon though) LOL!
__________________
The BIGGER I get the smaller you look
I absolutely love when someone calls the pad a tampon. It makes me giggle.
Another sweet assed workout, Jane! I bow to you.
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Originally Posted by stingo
Good work as always GI Jane - keep it up.
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Originally Posted by realcdn
Great lifting as usual Jane.
Thanks, everyone....I've been feeling pretty good in the gym these days. It's a hard balance -- the nutrition and the workouts -- as I continue to fine-tune. Decisions, decisions.
Well, we found an assisted living place for my mom. It's beautiful. I love it. I want to live there. I am truly so happy and at peace with our decision. I think today is the day we tell my mom. I think. My sister and I are dreading this, even though we know once she's there, it will be for the best. Here are the good things about the place:
1. Her room looks like a little apartment. Beautiful, carpeted, you bring your own furniture and decorate as you choose. Bedroom, mini kitchen, bathroom with sit-in shower.
2. Exercise every day at 10am
3. All homecooked meals. Only about 5% of anything they use is pre-packaged. Food looks REALLY good. Food is served in dining room on CHINA and linens. No hospital trays!! Three balance meals a day and two snacks. With my mom down to 75 lbs, this is KEY.
4. Lots of activities. Example of last week: went to see Fiddler on the Roof, went on a Pontoon boat ride, went out to lunch at a local popular restaurant...nice, right?
5. A TUB room! My mom can take an assisted bath every night! They have it set up like a little spa...candles, potpourrie, fluffy towels. So nice!
6. Happy hour every Friday evening! They let all the residents and guest of the residents in assisted living have one drink and appetizers. Woo hoo! Apparently, this is a very popular event.
7. She is free to come and go as she pleases, so my dad can still pick her up and take her to breakfast. We can take her anywhere.....it's quite independent.
8. If/when her dementia progresses, there is a locked down memory care unit that she can step down to. It's also very nice, but having met the patients, I now can see that she is nowhere near needing that level of care yet (good news).
9. AND, it's $3,000 LESS per month than the crappy nursing home (with tons of violations and rated one out of five stars recently) that my dad was going to put her into. It was TERRIBLE. This place is LOVELY.
Now, my sister and I need to convince my mom of the above. We have my dad on our team now, so it's just my mom.......this is going to be so hard.
Which place is it Jane? Sounds very nice... My parents looked at some assisted living places, and were going to put down a deposit on one, but then they changed their minds... they don't need it yet, but their vision is faltering (both of 'em) and that's going to be the big issue even if nothing else changes...
That sounds great Jane! Good luck with telling her...it sounds wonderful though. I hope it all works out as it will be a huge relief for you I am sure.
Oh...and how awesome that you are feeling good in the gym
But I like using that tampon sometimes when I squat, 'cuz I'm delicate, LOL. 
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