Quote:
Originally Posted by Clyde Frog
Sounds like you’re already dialed in and just need a few tweaks to unlock some big progress.
Form checks are a game changer. Good on you for leaning into that. If RDLs feel off, it’s probably your hinge or your knees staying too stiff. Try softening the knees a bit and really pushing your hips back. Lock that in and the hamstring tension will follow naturally.
Stoked to hear you're jumping on lifting shoes. You’ll feel way more stable and upright, especially with longer legs. First session in them is gonna hit different.
Sounds like you’re already being smart with volume too. Backing off when your body asks for it is what keeps you lifting long-term. That fourth day for lighter or technique work is a good compromise. Keeps things moving without burning out.
The low back and hip soreness after training is classic fatigue posture. Probably just a bracing drop-off when things get heavy or deep. Good move stretching more during the day. Tight hips steal power, and it adds up fast.
Glad the post helped. Can’t wait to hear how those shoes feel. And..I'm Always down for beers (on the weekends).  |
So far so good! Bought a pair of Adidas Powerlift 5... seemed like one of the best options given the next tier added another hundred bucks at least and they had a lot of good reviews.
Didn't work out for a week while vacationing and drinking/eating far too much, so today's workout was part dread of getting back to reality and part looking forward to the new shoes. The hip and back stuff predate squats, so times like yesterday with a few hours of driving on top of a 3 hour flight left me feeling like an old man this morning and didn't leave me feeling all that great about leg day, but also didn't want to go a couple more days without one, so **** it.
First impression on a light warm up... far better than what I was doing before. I have a better understanding of people talking about having a solid base and all of that, definitely felt that.
Added a rep (or two depending on previous workouts) to where I was previously ATG, felt good about that (wasn't expecting the shoes to perform miracles by any means). Added that ****-you 10lbs to the bar and added a rep to my previously sad set last week, so felt good about that, too. Went up just a tad on parallel squats.
Typically at this point, I wouldn't be feeling hip/back issues while squatting, but sometimes they'd start getting sore on the next movements... I'll do some barbell shrugs and RDL or good mornings, and just holding that weight, I'd feel some hip soreness, and then sometimes I'd cut RDLs short as it would just feel like I was pissing it off too much (or just frustration that I was pissing it off at all).
Felt good today though, which was even more surprising given how I felt this morning and even a little this afternoon.... not non-existent, but nothing close to feeling like I was just punishing myself.
Got me thinking more about bracing, too, so thanks again for that tip as well.
Guess I'll see how that translates in the morning and if I'm a crippled old man, but overall it's a huge upgrade!