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The 2024 Squat Big Plates For Reps Challenge!

metaldrummer said:
Don't have the money or I would. :(
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If the rack is the problem, people have made them from 2x4s etc. Of course, you still need the weights... Back when I was in high school, all I could afford where the plates. So I built myself a "rack" in my parent's garage with adjustable straps and ceiling mounts, and used a cold-rolled steel bar from the hardware store as a barbell. Worked ok, even though I had to start every rep at the bottom (I didn't have a squat stand at the time). In all seriousness, I've seen worse setups in commercial gyms.
 
Boris Bachmann said:
A Facebook friend suggested that, in the next zine, contributors talk about their squat goals and training plans. It's a great idea, so, if have some squat-specific goals, please share them and your plan to achieve them here!
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500 lbs. That's the goal. Highest I ever got (in my early 30s) was 490. Then I got injured. I hit a relatively easy 475 about a month ago so think I'm on the right track. I've been doing a modified 5-3-1 program and in a month or two I'll probably max again. Would love to hit 485-490, then after that go for the 500 the next time I max a couple months later.
 
Period said:
If the rack is the problem, people have made them from 2x4s etc. Of course, you still need the weights... Back when I was in high school, all I could afford where the plates. So I built myself a "rack" in my parent's garage with adjustable straps and ceiling mounts, and used a cold-rolled steel bar from the hardware store as a barbell. Worked ok, even though I had to start every rep at the bottom (I didn't have a squat stand at the time). In all seriousness, I've seen worse setups in commercial gyms.
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My first “rack” was a pair of steel sawhorses. Everything was started from the bottom too, and all my presses had to be cleaned.
 
John K said:
My first “rack” was a pair of steel sawhorses. Everything was started from the bottom too, and all my presses had to be cleaned.
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That works, too! I used wooden ones at some point later. Starting from the bottom has its own advantages, but of course it's impossible to use the same poundages when they get close to a "normal" 1 RM.
 
Boris Bachmann said:
Obviously, be safe and smart and don't hurt yourself.
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PEOPLES!!!!
Please adhere to this. Don’t get excited, don’t get carried away. Last years challenge motivated me to get back under the bar again. It was awesome, I kettlebelled & body weighted through the week & weekends were dedicated to putting a bar on my back & squatting plus a few other big movements if I had the gas left.
I would look forward to to the weekend all week. Broke a couple of my old squat records, put on some weight & felt crazy strong….
Then I got greedy
Because of a past back injury I was very strict & conservative with my jumps in weight or reps.
My back held up beautifully which both surprised me & shot my confidence through the roof. That confidence caused me to break from my strict protocol & do something I hadn’t done in a set before. Bang hernia. Not huge, not devastating or debilitating but irritating.
Let me be clear. ITS 100% MY FAULT. @Boris Bachmann made the statement a number of times this is a fun thing, be careful don’t hurt yourself, you’re competing against yourself.
I’m prone to getting carried away when I’m competing against myself and doing well & I know for a fact some of you are reading this with a nod of familiarity.
In saying that, as soon as I’m healed up & get the all clear, I’m under the bar again with the goal of beating 2023’s numbers. Highly recommend participating. Up to the hernia I was having one of my best strength years ever. The challenge gave me the motivation to push a bit harder rather then cruising.
“BE SAFE AND BE SMART AND DON’T HURT YOURSELF “ @Boris Bachmann
If you get injured it’s your fault, you were warned.
Good lifting people. Looking forward to watching all your numbers.
 
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dc said:
PEOPLES!!!!
Please adhere to this. Don’t get excited, don’t get carried away. Last years challenge motivated me to get back under the bar again. It was awesome, I kettlebelled & body weighted through the week & weekends were dedicated to putting a bar on my back & squatting plus a few other big movements if I had the gas left.
I would look forward to to the weekend all week. Broke a couple of my old squat records, put on some weight & felt crazy strong….
Then I got greedy
Because of a past back injury I was very strict & conservative with my jumps in weight or reps.
My back held up beautifully which both surprised me & shot my confidence through the roof. That confidence caused me to break from my strict protocol & do something I hadn’t done in a set before. Bang hernia. Not huge, not devastating or debilitating but irritating.
Let me be clear. ITS 100% MY FAULT. @Boris Bachmann made the statement a number of times this is a fun thing, be careful don’t hurt yourself, you’re competing against yourself.
I’m prone to getting carried away when I’m competing against myself and doing well & I know for a fact some of you are reading this with a nod of familiarity.
In saying that, as soon as I’m healed up & get the all clear, I’m under the bar again with the goal of beating 2023’s numbers. Highly recommend participating. Up to the hernia I was having one of my best strength years ever. The challenge gave me the motivation to push a bit harder rather then cruising.
“BE SAFE AND BE SMART AND DON’T HURT YOURSELF “ @Boris Bachmann
If you get injured it’s your fault, you were warned.
Good lifting people. Looking forward to watching all your numbers.
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Hernias are common, especially as we age. You could have got it on the toilet, be happy it happened while lifting, makes for a better story.

Good training to you this year, I'm sure you'll beat last years ifts!
 
metaldrummer said:
At this point I'm probably not going to try to hit 315 this month since I've lost a whole week of training. At least the power's back I guess. Back to work (the gym) Monday to try to recover my losses.
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Glad you got your power back - that's roooooouuuughh.

Call it a taper and see how it goes - I had an unplanned 10 days off in December and the body was probably happy for it (I wasn't, but the body was).
 
Boris Bachmann said:
Glad you got your power back - that's roooooouuuughh.

Call it a taper and see how it goes - I had an unplanned 10 days off in December and the body was probably happy for it (I wasn't, but the body was).
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Aye, although I think my back was actually feeling worse from just sitting around. Something was grinding and popping pretty good the other day. lol I'm pretty sure if I had a scan it'd show a bit of wear and tear on the old spinal but I just live with it and try to not make things worse at this point.
 
135225315405
John K5 (1/1), 10 (1/9)
Boris B3 (1/6), 15 (1/13)2 (1/6), 5 (1/10)1 (1/6)
silveraw3 (1/8)
Jeff Roark10 (1/9)4 (1/9)5 (1/9)2 (1/9)
Hung5 (1/10)
AnnaC12 (1/12)
William BB4 (1/14)4 (1/14)
JonS1 (1/14)
TM6 (1/20)
 
I almost matched my 12 reps at 135+ (68 kg / 150 lbs) yesterday. Got 11 reps at 72 kg / 158 lbs. My e1RM says that translates to a 1RM of 215 lbs. So I'm not too far off from my goal of 1RM of 2 big plates.

My coach has me doing a 5/3/1-ish program for squat strength among the weightlifting training, so the AMRAP sets follow that guidance.
 
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