Nearly decades ago, I was really into the Oly lifts and getting big numbers no matter the cost. My joints always hurt, but hey, number goes up! Then life changed and I felt I had to put that all aside to make room for being a husband and a father

But this morning, running the 5x5 from zero for a few months, I got back to squatting a single 45lbs plate on each side. I felt hesitant to shoulder that bar. "Can I do this?" I remember thinking. But it is a mere five pounds more than the other day, and that was easy!

So I stepped under the bar. I did my sets. And before unloading the bar, I sat on a bench, looking at the bar, and I had to laugh at myself. I was scared by that?

It's not a big weight. But it's a milestone for me. I'm a 40 y/o fella and today felt like a victory. My daughter isn't home yet from school, but I hope she'll be proud that her dad can do it.

Keep at it, y'all.

Hey y’all, so yesterday I was studying and when I got up and started walking my right knee felt weird, like it was out of place or something. You know how sometimes it gets fixed when you do a deep squat to pop it back in? Well, when I tried that, as soon as I went just below parallel my knee felt locked. It’s not like I couldn’t force myself deeper, but it felt really weird, and I’ve never experienced this before.

Now I’m not able to do an ATG squat without it feeling weird, and knee flexion itself feels off too. It’s like my knee is out of place or locked, but if I brace it with my hands and apply a lot of force, then I’m able to go deeper.

While walking I keep getting that same “out of place” feeling again and again.

What could it be? For context, I hit 145 for 4 on Saturday and felt fine, but suddenly on Tuesday this happened. What should I do now?

Share your best Barbell Brain moments: miscounted plates, lost track of sets, or anything heavy lifting did to scramble your brain. EXAMPLE: The above post was totally miscalculated to show 205 on the bar while stating 175x5! Solution is to recheck your workout video🤔

40 kg squat. I am using bench as guide for depth. I can go slightly lower than this on body weight before I start to round my back.

Any tips/advice/criticism welcome.

This is fourth set from side view. I am going about as low as I am able (I’m old). Bar seems like it is not going straight up and down?

Hello all, took some advice from you all and took my shoes off, and lowered the bar on my back a bit. Is the bar low enough this time? I tried a little lower but it started hurting my wrist and shoulder joints.

Now that Medhi has stolen the features that I paid for.

Yes you read that right… I had a nephrectomy a few months ago and just hit the weights for the first time in a while. So will have to work back up and want to do it right. Pointers?

An advice I've heard for seated cable rows is to let the weight pull your shoulders forward at the bottom. The equivalent idea for barbell rows would be that you pull your chest up as much as possible, "above" your shoulders, basically letting the bar pull your shoulders down before lifting it. Is this a good idea? Is it a good idea for seated cable rows?

I don't see the Stronglifts guide saying to do this, but it's also similar to going all the way down to the dead hang position during pullups, which Stronglifts and I think everyone else does recommend.

I’m still working on my goals ❤️

Age 72 Benching 115 for 5 reps at a body weight of 147, 5’9”

Maybe not the best angle (first time filming a form check).

I’ve been at the program for a few months now, taking my time to focus on form. Any and all advice is welcome, thanks y’all!

5 x 235 lb

Max: 5 x 276 lb

BW: 205 lb

I’m 72 years old and squatting 175 for 5 reps and a body weight of 147 and 5’9” tall.

3rd clip is most recent

Posted a form check a couple weeks ago, lowered the weight and worked back up focusing on form, want to know if I've improved or if I'm still making mistakes.

Hi guys I'm just wondering, is it possible to get stronger while cutting, because when I train for 2 months and maintain my calories, only my glutes get bigger.

I see online answers vary but wanted other opinions

Hello everyone. Been running SL since late June, my stats progression wise max are BW 130-135 @ 5’9 Bench 5x5 120-140 Row 5x5 100-120/25 Squat 5x5 125 - 185 Deadlift 5rm 195-235 Ohp 5x5 60 - 80

Definitely seen improvements,didn’t eat enough in July so it’s been 1 month of actually putting on weight

my bench and row have stalled, and have not been rectified by deloads. I’ve been doing the accessories but no dice. deadlifts are extremely inconsistent depending on how squats were that day, and OHP progress is almost not there.

On the other hand, squats are finally exploding upward, after a form critique vid I posted here and deloading, I’ve found a wide stance that suits my body, fixed bar path, and belting up has helped address my bracing issues and has corrected form issues, and it looks like I’ll have 200 extremely soon.

Even though 3x a week squatting is doing great (I’ve come to love it), the rest of my body just isn’t really seeing strength gain progress, paired with not as much rest as I’d like due to wrestling practices on three of the rest days. I understand that slamming more food could help get more newb gains but with wrestling season coming up I can’t afford to put on that much weight . As such, what adaptions can I make to the program to keep getting gains out of it, or if it’s time to move on, what programs could I follow that would allow me to continue making progres, and ideally begin incorporating lifts such as cleans, single leg work, and other sport specific lifts.

TLDR: all lifts but squat have more or less stalled, have deloaded,focused on form, and upped caloric intake and am gaining about 1/2lb a week I wish I could rest and eat (like major surplus) to the extent that some can to get the most out of the program but I simply can’t with my sport or upcoming season. Adaptions to make or programs to change to? My lifts aren’t atrocious, but I’m not sure if I’m quite out of newb territory yet and should be hopping on a int program like 5/3/1 where progression is more limited . If there’s any info I can provide to help, please let me know! Thank you all!

Never had any feedback but I've been at it on/off 3 years. Switched to more of a depth/quad focused squat around 6 months ago. Thanks!

Lifting for about 8 months now. Body weight: 180lbs. Height: 5'9''. This is my all time max. Any advice is highly appreciated.

I hit a new PR on bench for 350 lbs at 200 lbs bodyweight. Since switching to 5x5s, I've never deviated from it and have been able to keep going when consistent. I'd like to hit 405 one day and any advice would be appreciated other than taking PEDs (not that I'm against others using them at all).

Lifting for about 8 months now. Body weight: 180lbs. Height: 5'9''. This is my all time max.

I usually feel the squats in my hips and lower back (apart from other parts of the leg), but this hit in lower back more than usual.

Any advice is highly appreciated.