****Official Beginner Question Thread****

[<3_Tha_Grind]

Originally Posted by kidcolin

kit,

seems like an ideal opportunity to implement some reverse bandz off the top of the rack.

<3

[PokerRon247]

Originally Posted by Ra_Z_Boy

No. I mean you could but not using one is fine.

Any chance you (or anybody else) could elaborate please? Am I risking injury by not using a belt? When should you use a belt? What kind of response should I give to this guy when he gives me another lecture on the dangers of not lifting with a belt?

[Redmen62]

This pretty much says it all:

A properly designed and adjusted belt is useful as a safety device when squatting heavy weights. The role of the weightlifting belt in anterior support having just been discussed, it should be stated that a belt protects the spine while lifting heavy weights...

Your belt should be used judiciously, possibly restricted to the last warm-up and work sets, if then. You may not need a belt at all for much of the early part of your training career, and if your abs are strong and your back is uninjured, you may prefer to never use one. This is a judgement call, but it is probably prudent to err on the side of safety if there is any question at all about it A belt will not prevent your trunk from getting and staying strong. There is plenty of work for the trunk muscles even if a belt is worn on heavy sets; it's not as if your trunk muscles just go to sleep when you put on your belt. A belt does in fact help you lift more weight safely than you would without one, since a tight back feels better when squatting and that tightness allows you to develop more force against the bar.

From Starting Strength pp. 58-59

[BPA234]

In order to deal with a lower back issue, I changed my squat exercise in my SS program to to Super Squat http://www.amazon.com/Super-Squats-P.../dp/0926888005 .

I think it will help me improve my form, reduce the back issues I was experiencing when I was doing 3x5x310 as a workset (which was starting to cause a lot of issues) and still allow me to reach my goals.

Any opinions?

[kyleb]

LOL Super Squats. I have the book. (The guy I bought blast straps off of sent it to me for free.) The program is legit for sure. Good luck squatting 20RM every other day like they say, and doing 8935723 pullovers.

[jeffpm07]

So, after a day where I spent a lot longer than usual standing up my back felt kinda tired, couldn't even do my warmup sets on squats but powercleans and overhead press went well enough, has this happened to others here before?

[Soulman]

Originally Posted by jeffpm07

So, after a day where I spent a lot longer than usual standing up my back felt kinda tired, couldn't even do my warmup sets on squats but powercleans and overhead press went well enough, has this happened to others here before?

...are you talking about squatting out of the hole?

[Redmen62]

Originally Posted by Soulman

...are you talking about squatting out of the hole?

I think he just meant he spent a long time on his feet in the regular day before his workout (tiring out of his back).

[jeffpm07]

Originally Posted by Redmen62

I think he just meant he spent a long time on his feet in the regular day before his workout (tiring out of his back).

ya this, just regular standing around in place for a lot longer than I am used to.

[BPA234]

Originally Posted by kyleb

LOL Super Squats. I have the book. (The guy I bought blast straps off of sent it to me for free.) The program is legit for sure. Good luck squatting 20RM every other day like they say, and doing 8935723 pullovers.

Glad to read that you think it's legit.

I read that you can spread it out to twice a week, so if I do that and it's Ok to cry after, I think I will be alright.

[kitaristi0]

Originally Posted by BPA234

In order to deal with a lower back issue, I changed my squat exercise in my SS program to to Super Squat http://www.amazon.com/Super-Squats-P.../dp/0926888005 .

I think it will help me improve my form, reduce the back issues I was experiencing when I was doing 3x5x310 as a workset (which was starting to cause a lot of issues) and still allow me to reach my goals.

Any opinions?

I'm confused why you want to change your program to fix your form. Why not just reread SS and fix your form? If you can't maintain good form at your current workset then drop the weight and build back up.

I'm not knocking the Super Squat program (you can't really go wrong with 1. do heavy squats 2. eat enough) but it seems like changing your squat program to fix your squat form is like [insert some kind of standard Thremp analogy here].

[BPA234]

Originally Posted by kitaristi0

I'm confused why you want to change your program to fix your form. Why not just reread SS and fix your form? If you can't maintain good form at your current workset then drop the weight and build back up.

I'm not knocking the Super Squat program (you can't really go wrong with 1. do heavy squats 2. eat enough) but it seems like changing your squat program to fix your squat form is like [insert some kind of standard Thremp analogy here].

Fair questions. The problem is that the weight is getting heavy w the /SS program and putting too much pressure on my lower back injury. I think this is similar to having rotator cuff issues impeding your BP/OHP.

I have been working around it. But, it's starting to get bad. I think that I need to do something that will allow more time for my back muscles to "catch up" and help compensate for the injury.

My form is suffering from the injury rather than the weight and I've reset SS 2-3 times, so Super Squat seemed like a good option. But, I couldn't tell if it was legit or not. The book reads kind of sketchy.

[kyleb]

Yeah, it's like the original squat-related program from 4840 years ago. It's legit. Just insanely hard.

[Soulman]

20RM squat sets eh? You could probably play a zombie without any acting instructions the day after. Slap on some make-up and you're ready to go. Or shuffle.

[bro]

Please excuse my ignorance but I have some questions.


1. I never really had to use the bathroom alot, as in taking a **** I am starting to eat alot of fiber/raw fruits vegtables but if that still isnt helping should I consider something like exlax or something close to that.


2. If I walked 9 times in 1 day and ate the same exact thing before every walk, and every walk was exactly the same speed/distance, etc. Would every walk be just as effective?
2.1 If I eat a meal at 12 noon, and then walk 1 mile every hour (20 minutes a mile 40 minutes to rest for example) for 5 hours, how effective will the 5th walk be vs the 2nd?

3. If I am trying to cut as much fat as possible, how much sodium should I eat at the most?