When is enough, enough

[SouthernBell]

Ok, here goes on of my very first clueless questions, My husband tries to help as much as he can when it comes to increasing weight but told me he thinks I should get others opinions.

I have decided to take my weights training to a higher level of intensity. I just don't know how fast I should do it. After I realized that my legs were just kinda strong and they were not gonna get freak big by challenging them I decided to start doing deep squats, lunges, straigth legs deads, and leg presses.

Well I never have a spotter so my first goal was to squat my body weight.( everyone needs a first goal) I took a little while to get there, not because my arse could not push the weight but because lets face it I was a rookie trying to do everything I read right and not tip over forward. So about 2 months ago I finally did It and realized It was pretty easy (not nearly as hard as I thought) Pushing 10-12 on my 3rd and last set of 12. But I was scared of going up in weight. I was scared of
1. having to sacrificing my form and
2. failure ( yes I was scared of adding the weights and not being able to do it ).

None the less I put my fear and my form aside and decided to try to go up at least 5lbs. It went a little like this! (I know these weights are no where near spatts, or night fly etc. but I am by no means pl or ol I just to get over my first hump)

1st. set (warm up) 12-reps at 105 lbs
2nd. set 10-reps at 125 lbs
3rd. set 8- reps at 135 lbs
4th. set 6-reps at 155 lbs (
And i still felt strong I probably could of pushed 2- more forced reps.
So where do I go from here knowing that I could jump up in weight 20 lbs all at once and still get the rest of my leg day in. Am I short changing my legs I really fell that I could push more. So should I try or should I take my time and go up gradually. My next goal is gonna be 185lbs for at least 6 reps.

How do you know when you have reached your plateu and it is time to go slow and work on form again? Ok I know your gonna ask so here are my stats. I am 5'5" around 128 lbs I would say appx 18% Bf. And I have no specific goals like I said I just want to challenge my body to its fullest. I wouldn't consider myself a bb or a pl. I would love to venture into both worlds . (I want my cake and I wanna eat it to.) I love the bb physique and I love the pure adrenaline the THOUGHT of squating 300+ pounds like a pl gives me.

This is a long thread and I may be starting to ramble so I end here fell free to ramble, flame or throw any suggestions my way.

Thanks in advance

 

[SouthernBell]

Can you tell that Spatts and Night fly are my hero's ?

 

[w84me]

I totally agree with Spatts ... and I use the search feature on her name just to read some other tidbits of info she is giving out ...

she has already helped me with the proper format of squats (arm/elbow placement) to get the weight from killing my lumbar.

There are weeks where I can add 2.5lbs - - and others where I stay 'as-is' - - just know that that is OK and move up when your body is ready (not your hubby).

 

[SouthernBell]

Spatts Is it normal to lose your form alittle when you are pushing out the last and final forced rep? That is usually when I get a little shakey. I watch my self close making sure my arse is out elbows back and that weight goes straight up and down. My quads are parallel to the floor and my knees don't go over my toes. But on that last forced rep (usually of all my sets on all body parts back, chest etc. ) I get alittle out of perfect form. I was told that pushing that last forced rep is good if I want to get stronger and keep going up in weight.

I am not using bad form from the first rep to the last I think that would be pure destruction on my own body.

Oh by the way I was hoping that you would say the skys the limit. I have read Your asylum numbers thread a couple of times as yall have updated it and it motivates me.

I think I will have a light week next week so that I can give max effort the following week and see what these babys can do for me.

 

[SouthernBell]

Spatts, do you ever do squats for reps? Or in pl do you only do 1 or 2? I know it sound like a silly question but I was just wodering. I know I have read that a couple of people on these board go back and forth from BB to PL. Does your traing as for as weights, reps, sets etc change to? I am sure it does to some extent. I know you do some awesome numbers on Bench Press. But is that just one rep max or is that something that you use to train in multiple reps?

 

[SouthernBell]

Thanks w84me (I like the name ) I think I am starting to get it now. Oh and maybee I was misunderstood about hubby. He is very supportive. He is so proud of me, if it wern't for him I wouldn't even be where I am now. I love working out with him, I always have a better workout when I know he is spotting me.

 

[SouthernBell]

OMG! That is awesome. I wish you worked out at my gym. I laugh because the guys look at me like I am crazy when I pick up anyting over 10lbs You would make most of them big head, think a woman can't push some weight and look great at the same time hide in the dressing room till you left.

I don't think we have a woman in our whole gym that even squats what I squat the would just all stand around with there jaw on the floor if and When I hit the 200 lb mark on squats and the 120 on bench.

And wow that( press) sled is it the same thing? That is 810 lbs right. My hubby can add some serious weight on the press but cant seem to handle the squat to good. He was told he might not have the build to do heavy squats. Can that be Possible?

 

[SouthernBell]

How can you tell what you are cut out to do? I read this whole article on mesom--- I can't remember how to spell it right now and 2 other body types but how can I tell what body type I am?

Maybee I should be focusing my max effort somewhere ealse. I think I gain muscle pretty easy. Of all of my muscles my back and my legs seem to be more advanced.

My husband i totally opposite he has a better chest traps arms workout and tends to grow fast in these areas. He never used to focus on legs so I think that is why they lag behind. He is strong in most of his leg exercises but gainging muscle there seems to be hard for him.

 

[SouthernBell]

I think your squat is awesome. You have done so much improvement in so short of time did you think you could push that much weight when you were just BB?

 

[SouthernBell]

he he I believe you totaly in altering your symmetry. I am still working on the mold I want!