I have managed to maintain a low bar squat 4x4 at 1.5x my bodyweight for the last five sessions! This is the longest I’ve held this weight without dropping off or getting hurt.
This time, I’m doing everything right:
- good sleep
- lots of healthy food (caloric surplus)
- enough protein
- squatting 1-2x a week (I need a longer recovery)
I have a goal for the rest of the year. Right now, my squat+bench+deadlift working weight total is 650. I really want to get my working weight total to over 750 by December!
I’ll keep posting here with updates!
Right now I weigh in at 150lb, up from about 145lb when I started lifting heavy again this time last year. All the veggies, fiber, and protein has really gotten me stronger with more visible muscles, and only a small increase to my waist.
4 reps at 150% is fantastic! How did you get hurt squatting? Low bar/high bar makes my lower back feel in danger when I’m in the bottom of the squat, so I’ve switched to zerchers… Initially the lower weights were humbling but it’s perfect for my back
My gym just installed a belt squat which I’m pumped to try out, supposedly the back strain is non-existent! We already have a hack which feels great on my back and absolutely messes up my quads, too. Getting hard to program regular old barbell squats lol
Back squats are a young person’s game hah, I’m curious to hear what you think about the belt squat machine. I’ve never tried one but bells of steel sells a residential belt squat that looks pretty sweet…
I’ll report back when I try it! I was in the middle of a ten week program when they delivered it, definitely gonna use it in the next one.
I think what I’m excited to try it with is moving some heavy leg compounds to the middle of the workout after hinges. Like Bulgarians, then RDLs, then heavy belt squats. Normally once my low back is cooked from the deadlifts I can’t really do anything productive with a heavy barbell on my back. Would be a great option to have if it works well