Strength / Weight Training

oof - strong work!

You just gonna go for 220 or 210 first?

Wow, that’s epic. Where were you (plate wise) in 2019?

EDIT: Inspired, I ripped open some Black Friday shoes and did back squats for the first time in years. I've a long way to go...

Great work! I saw a video of Ellis Genge squatting 200 this week and he struggled. Any plans to play prop for England soon??

Thanks all! Technique wasn't great leading into it but made it work.

@mcJ78 I've hit 210 before so probably go for 215 in a couple of weeks and hopefully 220 before new years. I'm sure I'll be saying the same thing in 6 months.

@pjhobs in 2019 I'd just hit 180kg for the first time with a little in the tank so figured I wasn't more than a couple months away from 200 and 220 would be mine early 2020. Incresibly idealistic looking back on it.

@TGR I'd love to see this vid - would be great as context for the lift. I did get invited to county trials for rugby as a teen but found out on arrival it was an admin mixup. That was both the beginning and the end of my top flight XVs career.

Your wish ....

https://youtube.com/shorts/_Ta1qI9tUT4?si=5iBC4YOc8P03Bl72

Nice - sounds like you're pretty much there, was that singles?

I'm determined to get 140 before the Christmas break, did 3x3 at 135 last week which upset my knee a bit, so i'll be sticking to one heavy set then backing it right off as I creep it up.

Also had grand plans for 100 on the bench but my bastard elbow has put the brakes on that - ah well!

Yeah 210 was a grindy single back in August so given myself enough space to build and push past it.

3x3@135 means 140 is 100% in reach. Sounds like a good plan with the backoff sets!

Thanks for the tip on discounted stuff. My 10kg dumbells arrived today.

I don't want to get in the habit of posting every PR but this was a big one. 3 plate bench ✔️

Good work! Love the lifting gear 😂

The khakis and tie are a nice touch.

Did a three plate bench today…

25, 5 and 2.5 😅

I hope that is a Colin Furze safety tie?

Incredible work.

I did 2 3 plate squats yesterday. (after my set of 5x 5 2 plate squats)
3 = 20, 10, 5.
2 = 20, 10

Super envious of some of the numbers in this thread...

I'm slowly working my way back to strength. Sadly physio has said no deep squats as I have a lateral meniscal tear awaiting repair so pretty much the only time it's advisable to not hit depth.

Mobility, squats 3x5 110kg to 95ish degrees, 1x5x120 DL then same sumo DL, 3x5x52kg OHP, bent over rows, pull ups and tiny bit of core.

It's lovely slowly getting stronger and my bike sprint in the club ride has gone from my weakest to strongest point over the last year, it's massively noticeable.

Slightly sad that my VO2 is hardly increasing due to the muscle and creatine weight but hey ho

lateral meniscal tear

Sounds rough, I had a scan last week to identify a possible MCL tear but it transpires it's a degenerative meniscus due to getting old. Manage the pain until you can't, seems to be the consensus.

Cheers... Yeah I'm a physio (not sports) and I discussed with a physio with loads of experience in high end sport. He said it's pretty much the only meniscus injury he wouldn't just ignore and pound the strength work.

I can't complain too much though because all I can't do is run (really at all without irritating it hugely) or do yoga positions like hero (knees fully bent with bodyweight on them).

Hence finding myself back in this thread. Long may I remain.

These were the treat to encourage me. Would fully recommend fractional plates to all, lovely to not have 1.25kg plates as the smallest jump, especially for things like overhead press.

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I've been dealing with a meniscal tear, subsequent menisectomy & associated knock-on bullshit for the last 15 years - sounds familiar!

I find that keeping my feet pretty narrow, stacking the joints & kicking the hips back as much as possible helps - I don't take squats past parallel. Those stretchy knee wraps with velcro are good - I go into a 100kg squat looking like i'm shaping up for a WR.

It's a bit of a balancing act to strengthen the leg muscles as much as possible without aggravating it, I can really feel it if I overdo it. I usually ease off on the strength stuff during the summer months when i'm on the bike more, then when the weather turns to shit it's back in the gym without worrying too much about fatigue.

@Ptown Great effort! No chance i'll see a 2 plate bench this side of 2025 but it'll come, gp sent me for an elbow x-ray incase there's an avulsion fracture - might be time to knock it on the head for this year

Thanks for the kind words all!

@TGR the Loakes were an especially poor choice (peep them clinging on to the bench leg for dear life) but I was on lunch and feeling fresh.. blessed to have a gym in the building.

I did notice the footwear 😂😂😂

I don't want to get in the habit of posting every PR but this was a big one. 3 plate bench

This is absolutely one to shout about, as will that squat coming up. Assuming you won't be in Loakes :)

On that topic, I've made some significant changes to my back squat (footwear, wider stance, increased ankle mobility) to account for my unnecessarily long femurs, for the first time hitting depth felt comfortable today. Excited to start throwing more on the bar... slowly....

Thanks!

Funny you mention the squat, I was feeling good working up this morning. 220kg/5 plate checked off. This is my last lifting post for another 5 years, promise.

Boom

Well if that is the case, we will eagerly await casual news of a 4p bench and a 6p squat

Also, congrats on getting the squat stance sorted. Always such a good feeling to know you've put in the work to set yourself up to start making some proper progress again!

Thanks! Annoyed with myself for persevering with flat shoes for so long. I thank RP’s ethos.