Stella's Adventures in Squatting Journal

The home stretch

This installment jumps a couple of workouts ahead and covers some of the "grunt work" that is occurring in preparation for the big day.

Bill: Hey, Stella. How do you feel about going to the 180-220-260 on Tuesday? Did the second day topping out at 255 go well?

Hey, Bill. ;-) Are we coming up on 10 already? Saturday went fine although not a day where I gunned it too much. I did get 7 reps on the final set..well, maybe 6.5. It wasn't a strong 7. I'm thinking about this. One one hadn I know another 5 pounds is no big deal but on the other I feel like my first rep is always sub par on the heavy sets and I don't like my re-rack.

I really have to suppress the speed on the descent and this prevents me from wanting to let myself move on. I don't smash into the ground or anything but that first rep still kind of owns me on the way down. This is the one I want to be perfect if anything because if someday I actually *do* do a single, I don't have the advantage of a "practice" rep or a second of time to gain total control of the bar.

The lift off the rack looks and feels good. There is no awkwardness to
pushing off high enough but still getting used to stepping back with control and confidence and minimal shuffling. When this is good, the set is good. When it's just okay..a little part of my brain gets mad and loses focus and the set is just okay. The re-rack, well I think there I just come back a little too low. I know I just need to practice but it's just a consistent error.

Strength is increasing though overall b/c I think the last 3 workouts with leg presses have gone better. I had 340 on the sled but Tues want to take that to 360. Last two reps of sets 2-4 with 340 sticking to that clock of 1 min rest is tough but what's another 20 on a legpress anyway? Leg extensions..when I first was doing this I did my normal 45 lbs (what I use for higher reps) but did added a couple of extra sets. I stopped doing this once I was seeing myself fall into the old pattern (do more sets to fatigue self instead of fewer harder sets) just do two at 90. I may do better if I had someone there to yell at me and push me but by this point I have squatted 11 sets, leg
pressed, done the leg curls so these just sort of seal my fate.

Bill: Tuesday will be workout #10 and the 13th will be workout #12. Got a surprise for you for the 17th.

I am afraid to ask what the surprise is Crazy Man.

Stella
PS One cool thing happened. A guy came up to me as I was racking my 5 rep sets and said "Wow. That is really cool. I haven't ever seen a girl squat that much. I've never been able to do that much myself." ;-) I didn't say anything about the triples coming up....

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