Squat and General Activity Update

[Walter Sobchak]

The last time I had enough weight at the gym (and I was much younger) I did the following:

Warm up with 135.

First set 20 reps with 515 lbs.

Second set 20 reps with 535 lbs.

Third "Heavy" set 5 reps with 585 lbs.  It wasn't really heavy  but I needed it to accustom myself to a heavier load.  I also would load the bar to 700 or so lbs. and walk around the gym for the same reason.

Fourth and final set 20 reps with 515 lbs.

I them made the mistake of moving to another gym where there wasn't enough weight for that sort of routine so I would do things like one set of 50 reps with 300 lbs. or 1 set of 100 reps with 225 lbs.

I broke a leg extension machine (selectorized weight stack, plates and a 265 lbs. friend standing on it) well after 10 or so reps with an estimaged 750+ lbs. on it.  And no, they were not stupid "Platz Setz", LOL!   Performed 50 reps on a real (vertical) leg press with 700 lbs.  I despise those angled leg presses.  To me they are crap.

One time some good friends (the guys that got me into the J.C. Hise program) were deadlifting and had the bar and weights I needed.  I asked them for it and they said if I could lift it, I could take it.  505 lbs on the bar.  I deadlifted and carried it about 10 or so feet to the squat rack and set it on the lower tier.  I then squatted under it and did a bottom position rep to full upright and placed the bar on the top tier of the squat rack. 

Squatting changed me  not overnight but over the years.  It took about 10 years to reach these weights and I've yet to meet anyone else that could do that.  I out squatted a couple of San Diego Chargers one day too. They had about 500 or so (could have been in the mid to high 400s at least) lbs. on the bar and I asked if I could work in.  They replied only if I didn't take any weight off the bar.  They were getting 5 or so reps per set and when my turn came I knocked out an easy 20 reps, racked it and then asked if we could go up in weight. These lads were big men, 6'3' was the height of the "shorter" gentleman or more, at least.

For me, squats and the J.C. Hise program changed me into a lifter.  Alas, No one outside of powerlifters ever asks "How mucha squat?!"  LOL!

Two women I trained with both were capable of doing 20 rep sets with 225 lbs.  No drugs allowed.  In my case it was "retard strength". LOL!

That is some serious squatting. Those have to be near world class poundages?

I read an article where tall, skinny women who squatted in their Victoria’s Secret underwear typically saw an increase of about 25 lbs in their lifts.  😂

Get to it JPJ and email me the photos.

[Howard]

I worked up to 405 for reps (6-10, parallel) but then decided my spine hated it. I no longer do any leg exercises and instead do sprints on my bicycle. My legs are still the same size as when I did squats so I figure that's good enough. Plus I have zero spine issues as a result.


BTW many of my cycling and speed skating friends do zero weight work and yet have some of the biggest quads I've ever seen on natural athletes!

My best was many moons ago as a younger dude.
Very similar to your rep range with 405 for full reps and no wraps.
Best every for reps was 315 "hams to calfs"deep  for 20 reps.

[Irongrip400]

505 for a double at age 23-ish. Probably couldn’t do 350 for one now. I haven’t squatted in years probably, my back wouldn’t recover.

[The Scott]

You had some serious strength bro!!!!

Thank you.  I shall never see those poundages again...      

That is some serious squatting. Those have to be near world class poundages?

I read an article where tall, skinny women who squatted in their Victoria’s Secret underwear typically saw an increase of about 25 lbs in their lifts.  😂

Get to it JPJ and email me the photos.

I weighed 250 lbs. with no visible abs, LOL!   I could not bench press for beans having only done 350 lbs. and that deadlift of 505 lbs. was the most I ever did too.  My desire to gain weight led my older powerlifting friends to tell me about J.C. Hise and his routine. 

I hated leg work but once it began to literally transform me, I came to really like it and leg days were my favorite. The last time I could do legs I think I did sets of 335, 355. 405 and then back to 335.  When I completed all sets with 20 reps each and the "heavy" set for 5 reps the next session I would use 5 lbs. more on the bar for each stage.   That's it.  Along with about ten years of squatting.

I don't think Jane would send me anything except well wishes for health reasons.  That is enough for me. 

[joswift]

I never squat...

[Hypertrophy]

My best was many moons ago as a younger dude.
Very similar to your rep range with 405 for full reps and no wraps.
Best every for reps was 315 "hams to calfs"deep  for 20 reps.

Deep squats just aggravated my knees so much! But I ultimately just got tired of the pressure on my upper back. There are so many other options now too.

[Howard]

I’m going to squat 225 lbs next because it looks cool on the bar.

Then I’m going to call Henda’s wife and tell her that her husband is a bit soggy.

That's some decent squatting and good luck banging out some reps with 225.
I loved hiking at Estes Park ( Rocky Mt National Park). Sounds like a great trip for you.

[The Scott]

Deep squats just aggravated my knees so much! But I ultimately just got tired of the pressure on my upper back. There are so many other options now too.

The squat bar at Stern's Gym in San Diego was curved from years of heavy weights.  It was quite an inspiration to me.

[Howard]

Thank you.  I shall never see those poundages again...      



I weighed 250 lbs. with no visible abs, LOL!   I could not bench press for beans having only done 350 lbs. and that deadlift of 505 lbs. was the most I ever did too.  My desire to gain weight led my older powerlifting friends to tell me about J.C. Hise and his routine. 

I hated leg work but once it began to literally transform me, I came to really like it and leg days were my favorite. The last time I could do legs I think I did sets of 335, 355. 405 and then back to 335.  When I completed all sets with 20 reps each and the "heavy" set for 5 reps the next session I would use 5 lbs. more on the bar for each stage.   That's it.  Along with about ten years of squatting.

What was your best max squat in a power lifting contest?

[JustPlaneJane]

The last time I had enough weight at the gym (and I was much younger) I did the following:

Warm up with 135.

First set 20 reps with 515 lbs.

Second set 20 reps with 535 lbs.

Third "Heavy" set 5 reps with 585 lbs.  It wasn't really heavy  but I needed it to accustom myself to a heavier load.  I also would load the bar to 700 or so lbs. and walk around the gym for the same reason.

Fourth and final set 20 reps with 515 lbs.

I them made the mistake of moving to another gym where there wasn't enough weight for that sort of routine so I would do things like one set of 50 reps with 300 lbs. or 1 set of 100 reps with 225 lbs.

I broke a leg extension machine (selectorized weight stack, plates and a 265 lbs. friend standing on it) well after 10 or so reps with an estimaged 750+ lbs. on it.  And no, they were not stupid "Platz Setz", LOL!   Performed 50 reps on a real (vertical) leg press with 700 lbs.  I despise those angled leg presses.  To me they are crap.

One time some good friends (the guys that got me into the J.C. Hise program) were deadlifting and had the bar and weights I needed.  I asked them for it and they said if I could lift it, I could take it.  505 lbs on the bar.  I deadlifted and carried it about 10 or so feet to the squat rack and set it on the lower tier.  I then squatted under it and did a bottom position rep to full upright and placed the bar on the top tier of the squat rack. 

Squatting changed me  not overnight but over the years.  It took about 10 years to reach these weights and I've yet to meet anyone else that could do that.  I out squatted a couple of San Diego Chargers one day too. They had about 500 or so (could have been in the mid to high 400s at least) lbs. on the bar and I asked if I could work in.  They replied only if I didn't take any weight off the bar.  They were getting 5 or so reps per set and when my turn came I knocked out an easy 20 reps, racked it and then asked if we could go up in weight. These lads were big men, 6'3' was the height of the "shorter" gentleman or more, at least.

For me, squats and the J.C. Hise program changed me into a lifter.  Alas, No one outside of powerlifters ever asks "How mucha squat?!"  LOL!

Two women I trained with both were capable of doing 20 rep sets with 225 lbs.  No drugs allowed.  In my case it was "retard strength". LOL!

“20 reps with 535 pounds”

Holy crap !

[The Scott]

What was your best max squat in a power lifting contest?

I was a bodybuilder, even competed a few times.  I never entered a power lifting meet as I could not really bench nor deadlift and thought I would look ridiculous. Some friends estimated I should have been able to handle at least 700 lbs.  Having walked around a gym with that on my back, I think so too.  But reality is, who knows.  I think I asked Coach here once if he thought I could have done that as I met another coach and he had estimated at least 700 lbs. for a single after watching me train one day.

I have never had knee problems from squatting, nor lower back problems  I used only one Ace bandage around each knee and a 4" or 6" belt, usually the former as the bigger one felt weird.  I still have one given to my by one of my friends that taught me the J.C. Hise routine.  He is doubtless, long gone. 

[The Scott]

“20 reps with 535 pounds”

Holy crap !

Yes, and I do believe Platz was capable of the set he did on video years ago despite Kaz's ridiculous protestations. I have seen Platz train the squat and it was impressive.  He is a lot shorter than me and I only went to parallel or just below (which my friends that taught me insisted upon in case I even wanted to compete) and he did the ass to grass thing.  I was 6' 1.5" (calm down Matt, that is height not weiner size, LOL!)  and he was teensie in comparison.

Except for his legs, LOL! 

The squat changed me and I consider it the bestest exercise of all.  For me, that is. 

[JustPlaneJane]

That's some decent squatting and good luck banging out some reps with 225.
I loved hiking at Estes Park ( Rocky Mt National Park). Sounds like a great trip for you.

Hi Howard 🙋‍♀️

That was where we went into the National Park and to the hikes near Bear Lake. Some of the views were cloudy because of the smoke from the California wildfires.

I think I can lift the 225, but the knurling on the bar really made a mark on the skin on my upper back.

I told my Mom I need better lifting shoes, she thinks I’ve kind of lost it.

[Howard]

I was a bodybuilder, even competed a few times.  I never entered a power lifting meet as I could not really bench nor deadlift and thought I would look ridiculous. Some friends estimated I should have been able to handle at least 700 lbs.  Having walked around a gym with that on my back, I think so too.  But reality is, who knows.  I think I asked Coach here once if he thought I could have done that as I met another coach and he had estimated at least 700 lbs. for a single after watching me train one day.

I have never had knee problems from squatting, nor lower back problems  I used only one Ace bandage around each knee and a 4" or 6" belt, usually the former as the bigger one felt weird.  I still have one given to my by one of my friends that taught me the J.C. Hise routine.  He is doubtless, long gone. 

Sounds like you had some serious power.
Would have been cool for you to nail a big lift in a meet 'eh.

No matter . Thanks for posting your lifts .

[ThisisOverload]

When i was powerlifting i did a full depth squat with 615 at 220 pounds. Nothing but a belt. This was in a competition.

In the gym i think i did a single with 635 or so at 250ish pounds. Full walk out and re-rack, no mono lift crap.

Blew out my knee (unrelated to weightlifting) and never went over 455 since. Also not willing to take all the drugs and gain 30 pounds just to be strong again.

I have no idea how much i can squat today. The highest i've done in the last 5-6 years if 425 for 6-8 reps.

Typical workouts these days are front BB squats working up to 315 for 8-10 reps. Stopping well short of failure. I don't do many back squats anymore.

My lower back is bad and i don't care about strength. My legs are still huge, but they always have been since i was 12 years old. Good genetics.

At my age it doesn't matter. I want to have my legs and lower back my entire life. I go on 5 miles hikes almost every weekend with elevation changes up to 4000-feet.

Also do a lot of mountain biking.

My priorities have changed.

[JustPlaneJane]

Yes, and I do believe Platz was capable of the set he did on video years ago despite Kaz's ridiculous protestations. I have seen Platz train the squat and it was impressive.  He is a lot shorter than me and I only went to parallel or just below (which my friends that taught me insisted upon in case I even wanted to compete) and he did the ass to grass thing.  I was 6' 1.5" (calm down Matt, that is height now weiner size, LOL!)  and he was teensie in comparison.

Except for his legs, LOL! 

The squat changed me and I consider it the bestest exercise of all.  For me, that is. 

So we are about the same height ?   LOL

(The above post was made specifically for height-challenged Matt C)

[JustPlaneJane]

Use bumper plates for the ultimate look, lol

I have yellow, orange, and black bumper plates at my home gym and love them.

The only problem is the black plates keep trying to mug the yellow plates !   🤣

[King Shizzo]

I never squat...

Unless it's to pee.

[JustPlaneJane]

When i was powerlifting i did a full depth squat with 615 at 220 pounds. Nothing but a belt. This was in a competition.

In the gym i think i did a single with 635 or so at 250ish pounds. Full walk out and re-rack, no mono lift crap.

Blew out my knee (unrelated to weightlifting) and never went over 455 since. Also not willing to take all the drugs and gain 30 pounds just to be strong again.

I have no idea how much i can squat today. The highest i've done in the last 5-6 years if 425 for 6-8 reps.

Typical workouts these days are front BB squats working up to 315 for 8-10 reps. Stopping well short of failure. I don't do many back squats anymore.

My lower back is bad and i don't care about strength. My legs are still huge, but they always have been since i was 12 years old. Good genetics.

At my age it doesn't matter. I want to have my legs and lower back my entire life. I go on 5 miles hikes almost every weekend with elevation changes up to 4000-feet.

Also do a lot of mountain biking.

My priorities have changed.

635 ?

Oh my Lord.

Now I feel like Shitzo in an NFL locker room.

Holy cow, at what point does the bar bend ?

[The Scott]

So we are about the same height ?   LOL

(The above post was made specifically for height-challenged Matt C)

Well I do know I have shrunk to at least 5' 11&15/16s" now as I am well into my 60s and we tend to shrink as we age.  My daughter saw Arnold in Sacramento a few years back as she interned there for a Republican (we are Conservative!  ) and she told me I now dwarf him.   He was huge when I first met him.  It is a crime we age...

Mr. Sobchak asked me to inform you that training in lingerie would get you a 25 lbs. increase in strength! He also requested photos. Of you, not me.   

[Marty Champions]

275 for 15 at my peak

[The Scott]

I have yellow, orange, and black bumper plates at my home gym and love them.

The only problem is the black plates keep trying to mug the yellow plates !   🤣

 

I'll be in Hell/Chicago/Detroit for laughing at this one!

[JustPlaneJane]

Unless it's to pee.

Shush…the adults are talking.

[The Scott]

Unless it's to pee.

BAZINGA!  Well played, laddie!

[The Scott]

When i was powerlifting i did a full depth squat with 615 at 220 pounds. Nothing but a belt. This was in a competition.

In the gym i think i did a single with 635 or so at 250ish pounds. Full walk out and re-rack, no mono lift crap.

Blew out my knee (unrelated to weightlifting) and never went over 455 since. Also not willing to take all the drugs and gain 30 pounds just to be strong again.

I have no idea how much i can squat today. The highest i've done in the last 5-6 years if 425 for 6-8 reps.

Typical workouts these days are front BB squats working up to 315 for 8-10 reps. Stopping well short of failure. I don't do many back squats anymore.

My lower back is bad and i don't care about strength. My legs are still huge, but they always have been since i was 12 years old. Good genetics.

At my age it doesn't matter. I want to have my legs and lower back my entire life. I go on 5 miles hikes almost every weekend with elevation changes up to 4000-feet.

Also do a lot of mountain biking.

My priorities have changed.

Excellent lifting, sir!