What's everyone been up to lately?

[rydra_wong]

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?

Comments

[laurashapiro]

And being able to squat deep is a very good thing, IMHO

I always thought so! But my trainer was all YER DOING IT RONG -- she said I would hurt my knees if I went below a 90-degree angle, even though the rest of my form was correct. When I asked about the "your butt should kiss the floor" rule I had been taught, she said that was only for people who had been working hard for a long time and had built up very strong stabilizer muscles. It sounded fishy to me, but I like my knees, so I've been squatting shallowly since.

[chaostheory635]

guhwhah? and how exactly does your trainer recommend you develop awesome stabilizers, if not by working through a full range of motion?! i've been told exactly the opposite, and also that more depth will help drive up heavy weights because at the bottom your hamstrings are "loaded" (i.e. under a lot of tension and capable of producing a lot of force).

[laurashapiro]

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. (:

[rydra_wong]

But rants are fun! *g*

[laurashapiro]

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!

[rydra_wong]

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.

[laurashapiro]

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.