Hey there! Yesterday I went to Old Navy to use some of the Super Cash I had from the last time I was there and ended up getting SIX things for only $41 (five pieces of active wear and one regular sweater)!
One of the things I got was this Strong Like My Coffee top because… yes! On Tuesday when I got home from work Adam actually challenged me to see how much I can squat these days.
It’s been a long time since I’ve done back squats with the barbell using any type of weight. Mostly I just do dumbbell squats because that’s faster/easier than loading up the barbell.
Over the last couple of years the most I’ve squatted is just the bar (45lbs) and/or 50lbs (using two 25lb dumbbells). I honestly wasn’t sure what I could do but I ended up doing a warmup at 90lbs I think, and then I knocked out 3 x 135.
Just kidding :). Doing that did kind of make me want to start squatting heavy again. My max is 165 I think, but I set that back in 2013. Yesterday I did 3 x 135 out of nowhere (wearing the dress I wore to work), and I think I could have done 1 rep @ 145 even.
My legs felt fine, it was my back that wasn’t used to supporting that much weight really.
Seeing how easy 135 was made me think I could probably beat my max pretty quickly. That may be super big headed thinking but I’m sort of interested in it now.
I stopped lifting heavy because it made my legs too sore to run distance, but I won’t be seriously running distance for a while. Even if I get cleared to run next Monday, which I hope I will, it’s doing to be a LONG time before I train for a half marathon or longer since I’m going to miss this season.
That gives me plenty of time to go after new squat max. Adam suggested maybe I should film myself going for it; is that the type of video you would watch?
If I go for a max I’ll need to smart whipping up some protein shakes again.
Over the weekend B and I had gotten these amazing Tropical Breeze smoothies at VegFest. They include mango, pineapple, peach, banana, sugar free coconut syrup, orange juice and almond milk.
They were SO GOOD I decided to buy the ingredients to make it at home. I bought the Torani sugar free coconut syrup included in the ingredients but I have no idea how much I’m supposed to add! haha
(Also I might not add the orange juice. I bought it but with all the regular fruit I don’t think it’s necessary.)
I guess I’m just going to have to wing the syrup and go by trial and error. If I can figure it out I’ll be in for a real treat! I’ll let you know how it goes :).
Should I train for a new squat max (165+lbs)?
Should I film it if I do? Would you be interested in a series of videos showing my lead up to it? I would also include going for a new deadlift max of 200lbs.
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Yes, you should train for a max and you should film it! Are you sore??? I’m sore today because I lifted chest yesterday. Now today I am going to do back but I’ll probably be weak…
Author
Surprisingly I wasn’t sore after squatting that heavy, which really reinforces the idea to me that I COULD lift more, maybe even a lot more, if I was in the right mental state. You know, not just randomly seeing what I could do while wearing the dress I wore to work.
I am sore today after lifting chest yesterday ;). My upper body is so weak compared to my lower body. I should probably really make *that* the focus of 2018!
Definitely do it and film it! I do Cross Fit and just got PRs this morning on my back squat and deadlift (115 and 205). I really love CrossFit and running but I’ve yet to manage really doing them both at the same time. It didn’t occur to me that I could go and just NOT lift super heavy, instead of just stopping altogether! Sounds obvious but it wasn’t, haha. I’m jealous you have a home gym! My husband has never seen me lift weights and I really want him to.
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NICE JOB, CONGRATS! What a great way to kick off the morning!!!
I want to deadlift 200+ too!!!! I’m inspired!
Yes!! That is a lot of weight, you should go for it!! it will help you be a better runner! and make you feel badass 🙂 I’d love to see it
Author
Hahah it does make me feel good to lift heavy when it’s done :). It also makes me feel good though that low weight but high reps has helped me keep a pretty good squat base all these years!
Impressive – I’ve never done a squat lift before! Given my forever glute and hamstring issues, I doubt I ever will – and I’m good with that! I’d love to see you do it though 🙂
Author
Oh yeah I hear ya, with glute and hamstring issues that’s a tough one, that’s annoying. We all have something to deal with though, it keeps us humble haha!
Yes, go for it! I would totally want to follow along on your journey!