Training consistently is a learning process, an active process of introspection. Getting stronger isn’t easy. It requires a laboring, painful work that will only be expressed in the next bout of laboring, painful work. Yet with strength training, that process is just as important as the end. Choosing to do something hard — of your own volition — puts the mind in a vulnerable state. It forces you to decide whether or not you think you’re capable. Want to complete a set, but don’t think you can? You won’t. Staring down the bar, daring it to beat you and knowing that you will crush it; that is something entirely different, my friends.
It isn’t about merely attempting something that is Very. Fucking. Hard. But shifting the mindset into not just the possibility of completion, but the explosive dominance and subsequent victory you’ll have over that barrier. The mindset itself is the victory. The destruction of the set is the victory lap. The weening moments after when your heart is still racing and short of breath — that’s standing on the podium. Learning how to give everything you have mentally and physically to achieve your goals is what getting stronger is all about.
Happy PR Friday.
picked up a barbell 2x in a week for the first time in…a year and a half. coming out of retirement for real this time.
yay!
This post made me summon the demons.
3 PR’s this week!
Squat: 360×5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZVdsRf7MPI
Deadlift: 335×5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQH1oNW7fmU
Press 165×2… and a half? I’ll get 5 on the next go round.
Those presses went up easy, I’m surprised you couldn’t make the third rep. Great job!
Me either. I just got really stuck. I even waited a few minutes and took another run at it and couldn’t get it. Next time for sure!
Nice work man!
Thank you!
That’s like 2 and 3/4. You were so close to the lock out!
This. This post is the heart of 70sbig. This is not just about lifting weights, it’s about a mindset with which you approach life. Thank you Justin.
No lifting PRs, but I am kicking the shit out of medical school. Still getting back into my new routine, but now that we’ve learned HVLA and I’ve been a dummy for my wife to practice everything is feeling better. Also grooving my squats daily with a few goblet squat sets really seems to keep everything loose after mobility work. Goal for this afternoon is 3×5 squats with 10 pounds more than last week.
This fucking motivates me, Justin! Great article, short but sweet.
Bench 350×5 all paused
DL 600×2
HBBS
500×5
DL 405
I am more stoked about getting 340 with an overhand grip during the warm-up. That is a big grip-pr for me.
Then Friday I PR’d with a 350# BS. Workout time has been short this week so I figger’d I’d try for some PR’s with the litte time I had.
No lift PRs. Reset everything and shifted from cut-weight, fucking around with no program mode into get-skrong mode. Carbs are back in the diet. feelsgoodman.jpg
Monday’s training was solid:
Squat 350×5
Deadlift 390×3
Been losing a bit of fat, and thus weight from freedive spearfishing the last 8 weekends. Getting pretty darn lean. Strength still coming up.
New freedive depth PR: dove 75 ft and hung out at the bottom for a while spearfishing yesterday
http://youtu.be/vjytTHOzlsk
Finally hit a press PR.
Awesome!
Bench 315 x 2
Deadlift 400 x 1
Squat- no PR, but serious work put in.
On a personal level, lifting is helping me get through a pretty rough patch in my life. I am a teacher/coach and I have been out of work for over a year now. I know that I am depressed about it, but lifting has helped give me a drive and purpose that I need.
Spandex Squat PR: 460 lb x 5 (5RM)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO0aGAM9428
Low bar. Before doing this I attempted 500×3, but only got 2 wobbly reps before I re-racked it.
Reverse Grip Bench Press: 375 lb x 2 (2RM)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocf6_NbBTew
This was my second attempt. Slipped on the 2nd rep the first time, then put on a dry shirt to try again.
“Reverse Grip Bench Press: 375 lb x 2 (2RM)”
Nice!
Deadlift – 565×3
195 bw
looking uber jacked slash how tall are you
5’9″ – 5’10”
No PRs this week, but if you need something to piss you off and help you summon the demons for your next intensity day, take a look at this piece of bullshit being fed to the masses:
http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/injury-prevention/10-Risky-Workout-Moves.html#gallery-photo-1
they should have called the article “how to avoid becoming awesome and maintain mediocrity for idiots”
I think I am nearing the end of starting strength, hitting PR’s in every lift every time I workout now.
This weeks PR’s
High Bar Back Squat 5 reps @ 330#
Deadlift 5 reps @ 400#
Power Clean 3 reps @ 240#
OH Press 5 reps @ 145#
Bench 5 reps @265#
BW – 191
Height 5’10”
Front Squat – 280×1
Clean – 240
As a follow-up to my comment last week, I competed in my first meet. I went 3 for 3 in the snatch and made a lifetime PR of 86kg. C&J started well: opened at 95kg, made an easy 100kg, and went for another PR at 106kg. I made the clean (most difficult for me) but as I was standing up I felt a pop in my left knee. I attempted the jerk but leg gave out on the split. I’m hoping its not too serious but it’s looking like I’m going to need some type of surgery.
Regardless of the injury, I was damn pleased with the meet and my performance. This website is the reason I started lifting seriously. In turn, I’ve found out I have the potential to be a lot stronger than I ever thought I was capable of. I can’t wait to get this bullshit knee taken care of so I can get back on the platform and start lifting heavier shit over head.
Max, out.
hit an OHP PR for the first time in months. 120×6. rewatching “3 press fixes” definitely helped.
been oly lifting since may of this year. 35K snatch double from below the knee up from 31K single
PRs this week:
Squat: 1×5 @ 337.5#
Bench: 1×5 @ 184#
Deadlift: 1×5 @ 365# (not exactly a PR, but the most I’ve done after squatting)
I think it’s time for me to switch to a triple for squat and deadlift on intensity day. The last rep on my squats and deadlifts were both grinds. I figure switching to a triple will be best for my continued progress.
on a high volume cycle with lots of % based work, so no real PRs, other than “this feels way lighter than expected” PRs.
And I snatched 58×2 from the high blocks, which is technically a PR.
Been doing lots of DB presses (from a split and also seated) for sets of 6, and that’s where I can see immediately progress. Last week I struggled with 30#s in each hand for the seated, this week I did two sets with 30#s then one with 35#s and even though about trying 40# because it felt so good. Getting some shoulders, at last!
Need to post more often and quit lurking.
Prs
Press 140×3
That’s it. Had to reset squats and deads due to exertion headache from squats. Anyone else experience these?
My dad blew out a pair of cargo shorts squatting today. I’m pretty proud
Justin has done a couple posts and Q&As on exertion headaches. Search the site for some good info on the topic.