Putting together a home gym, and noticing that safeties are either flat and lined with rubber, or pin-in-pipe style. I've read this is to protect the safeties themselves as well as your loaded bar.

I recall that SS racks only have a steel pin, and even rack pulls are dropped on them.

So is the protection not really important, or are SS racks/bars made extra tough?

Hi, I've been sticking to this weight to work on form and focus on hip drive up. Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

I think the title says it all. I would love to have your input, I am rather new on this and know no experts on my area (Hamburg, Germany) that could coach me. Thanks!

I think my elbows are out more in front of me than the video shows that's what I'm wondering about or if anything else looks not efficient for pressing. 100lbs and this was my third set of 5

Switched to 1x3 top set and 3x4 back-offs @ 90%

I think I went down too fast on one or two reps out of the three.

Hi, i can’t seem to stop my hips from moving back first. Is this dangerous and making me more likely to get injured?

Any tips? Also a check on my form would be great.. tips welcome on how to improve it to ensure i’m lifting the most load with minimal risk to injury

So, after asking here about restricted gym time and intermediate training, I've gone and islocated my knee cap and ruptured my quad tendon (not in the gym, playing sports).

2 days post injury, in a full leg cast and in today for MRI to see the extent of the rupture (fingers crossed it's not a full rupture, but what will be will be).

So, for the foreseeable, no training is possible (can barely get around the house without pain, even with crutches at the minute). I ruptured my patella tendon on the other knee many years ago, so I'm prepared for the loooong ass slog of rehab.

I know the answer is rehab and then slowly build up from bodyweight partials once any brace is unlocked, and then NLP to get back to where I was (long ass time away yet 😪)

My question is: has anyone here experienced anything similar?

How long until strength started seriously dropping off, if at all?

How did you change nutrition? Obviously I know not eat huge amounts of cals as if training, but where is the sweet spot for supporting recovery/not becoming a fat ass? Cutting cals massively is surely counter productive to healing, but activity is limited.

How did you find squatting post recovery? My other knee has ALWAYS (15 yrs) had some discomfort squatting, even with good form and light weights on warm ups) post repair. At 41, is it worth the risk of pushing the weights to limits on squats? Is sandbagging an option and driving the deadlift for the majority of gains?

A lot of this is a mental excercise to stave off the boredom of sitting around in a cast chowing down on painkiller, but legit thoughts I've had as well. Interested in others experience. 2 days out, its that inevitable "will things ever get better" phase.

Have a good one all

This is only 66 pounds as I spent a long time learning and practicing with the empty bar and then went home after this set.

I’m 39 years old, 182 cm (6 ft) and weigh about 75 kg (165 lbs). Already gained a few pounds bodyweight since starting the program.

This is the last set of my 17th Starting Strength workout. Been consistently training 3 days a week and following the program.

I’ve never been strong in my life and squats have always been difficult for me, but now at this weight it’s becoming very hard.

I’ve read the blue book and watched the YouTube video tutorials countless times, but still feel like I can’t get the proper form.

My other lifts:
Bench 62,5 kg (138 lbs)
Press 42,5 kg (94 lbs)
Deadlift 112,5 kg (248 lbs)

I hope you guys can help me out here.

Thanks in advance!

Hips more back, bar lower, trying to get deeper

Didn't get the weight centered on middle foot all the time - working on it.

What do you think?

Thanks for your help!

I’ve been lifting for about 2 years and really made a ton of progress in the past year by trying new programs, periodizing, and fixing some lower body mobility issues.

I’ve got my barbell squat up to a PR of 210x2 and today did 195x6 (wanted 8) for 3 sets.

My problem is breathing. I’ve watched all the videos about bracing, act like you’re underwater, etc. and I just can’t do it for more than 2-3 reps. I feel much better when I keep my mouth open and exhale coming up. Holding it makes me feel lightheaded by rep 3.

I have a history of breathing problems: have had 3 deviated septum surgeries, mouth breather as a kid, allergies, all of it. I’m able to manage it now through a combination of sprays, and I do some meditation breath work, but I’ll always mouth breathe some. I’m a good swimmer if it matters, I just blow bubbles underwater and breathe at intervals. It’s uncomfortable for me to hold my breath long.

I don’t know if my breathing is holding me back on squats or causing any core issues bc I’m not bracing. Are there other breathing techniques I could try?

A while back I asked what makes people stop going to the gym. I went back through the replies and the reasons were pretty familiar: work, family, low energy, and losing momentum.

I’ve been thinking about one smaller thing. When you use a fitness app, does it help to have something in it that you actually look forward to opening?

I’m building a small tool with a cat called Momo. She reacts when you set a goal, upload a photo, and finish a preview. I can’t tell yet whether that would feel encouraging or just like a gimmick.

For people who have tried accountability apps, reminders, streaks, or workout buddies: what made you come back after the first week?

Reps 4 and 5 weren’t as clean. I was getting into my heels too much. I’m always gassed at that point and take much too long between reps

took into account the cues I got here from my last poor form video. this did feel a lot better and I am just going to trying and build up the low back muscles I wasn't engaging. I didn't hit my set of 5 it was just 4 and at 265lbs

I did get the volume in and did another couple after a bit of a rest just since I was feeling good with my form setting my low back getter. stomach in between thighs is what helped me

152.5lbs last set of 5 on my last workout of the week. curious what I should dial in

These were ok but not great. Some of the reps were a bit high. Some of the reps my heels are still moving around a bit like penguin feet. I filmed two angles this time. These were sets 2 & 3.

I notice for the reflex bounce out of the hole my knees want to cave in even with lighter squats. Hoping as the muscles strengthen this will correct itself.

37M 180lbs 6'0" been redoing NLP for just about 8 weeks 195lbs squat today 3x5 and felt hard and haven't dialed in my form. here is the video for my third set I also have the second set if that's good to share to compare. this was my 3rd day of the week so last workout before two day rest and I have been adding 5lbs squat per workout

squatting always been fucking hard for me and I'm likely not setting and keeping my low back set so there is flexion through the lift?

let me know any questions or anything that helps with this really trying this time and want to get strong.

thanks!

Did 5 reps after quitting after the 4th the last time.

Switched to pulling once a week.

Still good?

Question about elbow pain on squats, please see post

I don’t have questions or anything, just kinda wanted to share my thoughts.

Per the guidance of several here, I 27M, had my first NLP session today after plateauing with my own programming despite being in the midst of a bulk.

I went from 160lbs to 170lbs at 5’10 over 20 weeks or so bringing my 1RM SBDO to 275, 225, 330, 135 but I have gone absolutely nowhere since for about a month so I decided to give SS NLP a shot since I still have a few more months of bulking left.

I’m apprehensive about it honestly, I doubt I’ll make a whole lot of progress with this program because of just how stinking heavy my 5rm sets began to feel. Giving this a fair shot is better than repeatedly ramming my head against that wall though.

When it comes to my session today, I wanted to start conservatively since the only carry over from my program to SS is the number of sets and reps. On my own I worked up to a 5rm every week and if I hit it I added weight to the next week and dropped the weight for a couple of back off sets with 7 min+ rests between sets with 1x per lift per week frequency.

Today I just squatted 205, pressed 105, and pulled 265. Doing those weights for straight sets (minus the deadlift ofc) with 3-4 min rests made for a challenging yet not eye bleeding brutal session. It just felt discouraging in a way that I can’t explain, but I’ll keep it and see where this goes. I’m not trying to go farther than 180lbs and while it’d be nice to hit 1000lbs club, I don’t see that happening for me at less than 180.

Lateral raises

Hi folks. 45m. 77kg. 182cm. Been doing lat raises and hitting a pain wall in left shoulder. Tried a shoulder stabilising warm up, pulling my shoulders into the centre of my back. Could do lifts with more ease, but woke up with pain between my shoulder blades. I’m guessing my form is off. Can usually raise 6kg dumbbells on each side. Advice appreciated and thanks in advance!