ExRx.net

I've been lifting 5 years, and I pretty much maxed my bench and press in the first year and have had no sustained progress since. A few good days, maybe a few good weeks, then back to baseline. 215-220 1RM with a wind blowing up from the floor. Some of my legit excuses are very long arms and thin ch...

Squat 275 for 8 then 10 minutes later 300 for 5 Two in one day! I may have cut depth a teeny bit on that last rep :) I'm thinking I've got my best shot ever of making my everlasting goal of a 5 plate deadlift. Saturday I will attempt to repeat my lifetime best of 465, and have been seeing steady pro...

These forums used to be far more active. Compared to 4 years ago, they are dead. I don't think it has anything to do with the people, or the site. I think it has to do with mobile phones. We just don't spend as much time on the desktop or laptop like we used to. If that is true, where are the conver...

2015 was the year that I could never plan anything. I never knew on any workout if I'd be back for the next one. Some of the reasons this year were very good, like more responsibility at work. Once I gave in to the reality of irregular attendance, my goal became getting the best out of each session ...

I think I had a light bulb go off. Has to do with my long arms. I've always been told on a row to bend at about 45 degrees and pull the bar all the way to my belly. This produces extreme shoulder flexion, exactly what they tell us not to do in benching. So I tried something more like a bent over shr...

Squat: 305 x 3

First squat PR in a looooong time.

Yes. I've tried a few things at low weight and this is what I know. 1. Bench press at up to 60% makes it feel better (i'm staying away from higher weights right now) 2. Rowing at 60% makes it feel worse 3. Face pulls provide relief during the workout 4. A single pullup spikes the pain. I've done one...

Now that I've got my back at 100% and am squatting and deadlifting, I've gone and done something to my shoulder again. I have never seen this particular problem described, which is that I cannot do a pullup. Zero strength in the left shoulder from the bottom position. Two weeks ago I went to start a...

Some time ago I seem to remember a debate about how deadlift actually works. If memory serves, Kenny Croxdale was saying research has proven actual firing sequence is: - Lower back extends slightly to break off the floor - Legs extend to clear the knees - Hips follow through to complete The other si...

Update. I've been able to return to all upper body moves, and all the better for having taken a two week break, except I have been avoiding barbell rows for obvious reasons. Going week-to-week on those. This week I decided not to do them this week, and next week will see how I feel. Baseline for pas...

The main problem with exercising is it mimics the sensations of a panic attack. While the coping techniques do work it takes a lot away from the that days workout. Can't go as hard as I normally would. 50% of my attention is on lifting while the other 50% is trying to stop the feeling of dying (I k...

A friend of mine is looking to start lifting. I gave him a routine that is basically the best of stronglifts and starting strength. His doctor advises his knees will likely need to be replaced in the coming years, he is in late 40's. His physical therapist advises that he can lift but must modify th...

Thanks Kronos, I've been doing bodyweight hip thrusts and learning to use an ab wheel (geez that's humbling). For anybody keeping score at home today is the first day where it feels actually good to stretch it around and move this way and that. I also have a bit of the "itch" as I call it in the mus...

Bench: 225# ok, this ties a previous PR of the same weight, but that was in 2013, and I never came close again, and haven't even done 220 since. I always felt that day was just luck, a peak and not even a plateau. Today I did 220 and it went up so smooth I tried the 225 and made it. Changes made? Wi...

Thanks Phil for the feedback. While your stories are different, there are enough similarities to offer some encouragement. I'm really thinking glute activation is my main priority, as even if that is not the entire problem it has to be a part of it, so burning in some improvements there can only be ...