rydra_wong: (strength -- pudgy)
rydra_wong ([personal profile] rydra_wong) wrote in [community profile] lifting_heavy_things2011-09-06 05:02 pm
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What's everyone been up to lately?

We haven't had a check-in for a while, and I thought an informal one might be nice. So:

What have you all been up to lately? What are you getting into? What's your latest discovery regarding the lifting of heavy things? Got any new toys or tricks?

Who's got a new achievement to brag about? Who's just getting started and would like some encouragement and cheering? Who's had to take time off owing to injury or life and could use some sympathy? How's it going?

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[personal profile] chaostheory635 2011-09-08 06:36 am (UTC)(link)
Hadn't checked those out in a while! Thanks for the link :)

[personal profile] chaostheory635 2011-09-08 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
OVERHEAD SQUATS!!! i <3 them as well.
rydra_wong: Weightlifter Cheryl Haworth with a barbell over her head, yelling. Text: "SHOUT." (strength -- shout)

[personal profile] rydra_wong 2011-09-08 08:54 am (UTC)(link)
http://www.nsca-lift.org/HotTopic/download/Squat%20Depth.pdf
http://www.stumptuous.com/learning-the-squat-1-debunking-the-myths
http://ask.metafilter.com/129091/Are-full-squats-bad-for-the-knees (extensive argumention)
http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=current_comments1&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8652 (the American College of Sports Medicine summarizes research and recs going to where the tops of your thighs are parallel to the ground)
http://www.apec-s.com/Deep%20Squats.pdf
http://gubernatrix.co.uk/2008/11/how-low-should-i-squat/

Short summary: in the early 60s, there was some research suggesting that squatting past 90 degrees was bad for the knee ligaments. This has subsequently been disproved, with indications being that unless you have pre-existing knee damage, squatting full depth is okay (and it engages muscles that don't get fully involved if you stop higher up).

Note: I am not a doctor or trainer and do not play one on the internet, and I am a strong believer in finding out what works for your body in practice, and if something hurts, not doing it.

But having read the info that's out there: I squat below parallel, as low as I can go with good form (no back rounding or knock-knees, etc.). I do have a history of knee problems, and squats have never aggravated my knees.
rydra_wong: 19th-C strongwoman and trapeze artist Charmion flexes her biceps while wearing a marvellous feathery hat (strength -- strongwoman)

[personal profile] rydra_wong 2011-09-08 08:55 am (UTC)(link)
\o/ It's nice to get up from the computer once in a while and go OH YEAH I ALSO HAVE A BODY, isn't it? *g*
rydra_wong: Weightlifter Cheryl Haworth with a barbell over her head, yelling. Text: "SHOUT." (strength -- shout)

[personal profile] rydra_wong 2011-09-08 09:10 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yay, your DVD arrived! Isn't it great? So much good info.

And yep, it's possible to be graceful and precise with TGUs when you're lifting less than your max. At your max? You will flail. *g*
rydra_wong: 19th-C strongwoman and trapeze artist Charmion flexes her biceps while wearing a marvellous feathery hat (strength -- strongwoman)

[personal profile] rydra_wong 2011-09-08 09:19 am (UTC)(link)
something engineered in products made by companies who are making products for people who want to lose weight through exercise.

I suspect it's simply an effective promotional line. Everything has to be sold as a weight loss thing ...

FWIW, one thing I like about the cookie dough protein balls is that I can eat one in the middle of a climbing session, when I need refuelling but an Actual Meal would leave my system unhappy trying to digest and climb simultaneously.

It's quite solid, but the substance comes from the nut butter, not the protein powder, so if you're okay with Nutella, a Nutella version might work for you.

The recipe makes one small ball, and I've found that they last for several days at least in the fridge (or out of the fridge, but then they tend to dry out, which I find less pleasant).
mongrelheart: (graffiti 2)

[personal profile] mongrelheart 2011-09-08 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh wow... that does sound excruciating! But very useful :)
rydra_wong: Tight shot of the shins and arms of a young woman (weightlifter Zoe Smith) as she prepares for a deadlift. (strength -- zoe deadlift)

[personal profile] rydra_wong 2011-09-08 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
And despite how much I complain about how my upper body strength is not improving as fast as I'd like, I'm actually doing multiple reps of the novice one-rep max on the shoulder press these days.

W00t! \o/

I haven't been testing my one rep max in any real sense

I do rec trying it (at a point when you're feeling well-rested and have no niggling injuries) -- it can be quite surprising.

I've been looking at strength standards lately.

I admit I tend to collect them, mainly looking for the ones that make me look good. *g* Gubernatrix has an excellent review of various sets of strength standards (and suggestions for her own standards):

http://gubernatrix.co.uk/2008/12/strength-standards-for-women/
rydra_wong: 19th-C strongwoman and trapeze artist Charmion flexes her biceps while wearing a marvellous feathery hat (strength -- strongwoman)

[personal profile] rydra_wong 2011-09-08 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, yes, pullups are the things I am not going to be able to do in the foreseeable future.

Yeah, they're all about strength-to-weight ratio, rather than pure strength, so they discriminate horribly in that respect.

Every time you post, I have to go look up new and fascinating exercises on the internet!

I am a magpie when it comes to exercises. New and interesting ways of moving! I have a particular fondness for old school stuff that's been forgotten and then rediscovered, like TGUs and bent presses and clubbell stuff.

One day, I dream of doing a "two hands anyhow", almost entirely for the name.
weirdquark: person leaping with sunset (leap)

[personal profile] weirdquark 2011-09-08 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
mainly looking for the ones that make me look good.

Heh. Yeah, I hear that. The exrx.net standards are lower for squat and deadlift, so I'm closer on those than on the gubernatrix ones. ::g:: But her "good" press is lower than the goal for novice, so. I've been doing 4 or 5 reps of 42% of my body weight on press, which is awesome. But clearly I need to step it up on squat and deadlift; the one-rep calculator seems to think that body weight on either are not yet in my reach. This is the only reason I have not gotten around to buying the extra plates that it would take to have enough to lift my body weight.

I do rec trying it (at a point when you're feeling well-rested and have no niggling injuries) -- it can be quite surprising.

I should try deadlifting everything I've got at some point, which is about 88% of my body-weight. More, if I can figure out a clever way to add on my non-adjustable dumbbells and the extra dumbbell bars.

Given my improvised-no-safety squat rack, I'm leery of adding weight too fast there though. Possibly I could surround myself with pillows so I don't damage the floor if I have to drop the bar? I thought about using chairs as a safety so I wouldn't damage me, and may have tried it out but I think I squat lower than the seats because I'm short and can go all the way down, so it interfered more than it helped. Will have to look into that again.
laurashapiro: a woman sits at a kitchen table reading a book, cup of tea in hand. Table has a sliced apple and teapot. A cat looks on. (Default)

[personal profile] laurashapiro 2011-09-08 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I dunno, I'm managing a lot of injuries. Maybe in a few years? (: Either way, thanks for being so inspirational!
laurashapiro: a woman sits at a kitchen table reading a book, cup of tea in hand. Table has a sliced apple and teapot. A cat looks on. (Default)

[personal profile] laurashapiro 2011-09-08 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
See, that's what I remembered from Stumptuous! TBH, I was pretty dubious about a lot of what the trainer told me. Which is a shame, because she was physical therapist-required and damned expensive, too.

Nevermind. I did proper squats today and my knees felt fine.
laurashapiro: a woman sits at a kitchen table reading a book, cup of tea in hand. Table has a sliced apple and teapot. A cat looks on. (Default)

[personal profile] laurashapiro 2011-09-08 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
You raise excellent points! I kinda thought she was fulloshit at the time, but it was awkward. The whole experience with her was so awkward, in fact, that I nearly posted a rant about it in this very comm. But then I collected myself. (:
laurashapiro: a woman sits at a kitchen table reading a book, cup of tea in hand. Table has a sliced apple and teapot. A cat looks on. (Default)

[personal profile] laurashapiro 2011-09-09 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
I hope it is. (: It sure hurts enough to be good for me.

[personal profile] chaostheory635 2011-09-09 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
Shoulder mobility/stability ;) At least that's what I keep getting told to work on...
rydra_wong: 19th-C strongwoman and trapeze artist Charmion flexes her biceps while wearing a marvellous feathery hat (strength -- strongwoman)

[personal profile] rydra_wong 2011-09-09 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
But rants are fun! *g*
untonuggan: Person with prosthetic legs doing pilates (aimeepilates)

[personal profile] untonuggan 2011-09-09 03:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I have random joint pain, and my doctor wants me to hold off on lifting heavy things while they do more tests. I feel like this is silly, but I'm complying for the time being.

Sympathy?
rydra_wong: 19th-C strongwoman and trapeze artist Charmion flexes her biceps while wearing a marvellous feathery hat (strength -- strongwoman)

[personal profile] rydra_wong 2011-09-09 03:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Sympathy! That must be extremely frustrating (as must the random joint pain).
rydra_wong: 19th-C strongwoman and trapeze artist Charmion flexes her biceps while wearing a marvellous feathery hat (strength -- strongwoman)

[personal profile] rydra_wong 2011-09-09 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)
The trouble is that the way you build more shoulder mobility/stability is to do more overhead squats. *g*

(And TGUs.)
laurashapiro: a woman sits at a kitchen table reading a book, cup of tea in hand. Table has a sliced apple and teapot. A cat looks on. (Default)

[personal profile] laurashapiro 2011-09-09 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee! Well, I'll remember that next time. I do have a new posting topic in mind, actually, but I am too busy to answer comments right now. :p Soon!

[personal profile] chaostheory635 2011-09-09 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah. They're SO TRICKY, but they're MAGIC for developing just about everything...
quartzpebble: (Default)

[personal profile] quartzpebble 2011-09-10 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
Asked my PT, because somehow I was engaging my SC joint when I tried to lead with the chest coming up! And ohboy, she was all "yer doin it rong!" (Well, more "You will hurt your back if you keep doing this archy wiggly hyperextendy thing. Don't even try to keep your back from rounding, just try to stand up *straight*.") So that's good I guess, even though I feel fairly foolish for apparently getting it so very wrong. Sounds like it is in fact time for bodyweight while I figure out wtf on form. Argh.
quartzpebble: (Default)

[personal profile] quartzpebble 2011-09-10 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
Sympathy--that sounds obnoxious. I hope there's something you can keep doing in the meantime.
untonuggan: Lily and Chance squished in a cat pile-up on top of a cat tree (buff tabby, black cat with red collar) (Default)

[personal profile] untonuggan 2011-09-10 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the sympathy! I'm working on it...
untonuggan: Lily and Chance squished in a cat pile-up on top of a cat tree (buff tabby, black cat with red collar) (Default)

[personal profile] untonuggan 2011-09-10 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! Yes it is. I'm just trying to remember that this too shall pass...
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