For the heavyweight Squatters

[rere]

Ok, then....

Ok RBtrout and Jim slade i think this one is for you and anyone else who can squat over 600lbs+

When your looking at the barbell resting so quietly in the Squat Rack with 600lbs+ on the bar, how do you psyche yourselves up for the lift?
I know I might be prying somewhat, but truthfully what is going on in your heads?
Tell us mere mortals
What's it feel like to be in the hole, with such weight on your back?
Has their ever been a time where you thought you would never make it back up?
Have you brushed a person aside with a flicker of your finger when they were doing curls in the rack so you could show them what it's really used for?
Have you ever showed off with such a feat of magnificence, or was you so relievd to walk that weight back onto the pins?
Have you ever doubted yourself while having the weight on your back? How did you overcome your fear of Squatting heavy?

Questions, Questions...

[LiftingNerd]

"Heavy" is a relative term when lifting. The same mental barriers and confidence issues they may have squatting 600+ can be applied to someone struggling for all their life to raise 250. So if you have ever put yourself under a bar that you knew was going to take everything you had to move, you can most likely answer these questions.

[rere]

Thanks Lifting nerd. Suppose your right.

[ricepower]

True, im just getting to bodyweight but the bar is getting scary.

[Jim Slade]

I find it much harder now I train alone. I used to train with two other guys one weaker than me and one stronger, but we were all within 100ish pounds of each other. Chasing big Dan was a great motivator he could do 506 for 15 reps hamstrings to calves and 700 for 2. I used to try that 700 about once a month but it always buried me, it made 500 feel light and 600 feel do able though.
As to whats going through my mind when I get under the bar, well it would best be described as pure rage, Hulk Smash time. I usually have some Rammstein or Slayer playing and a vision of my ex wife driving my ex dog away in my ex car.
When I nail the lift though all the anger evaporates and I'm elated, but if I fail, I have been know to take out my frustration on things around me. Last time I missed a Deadlift I obliterated the gym fan hurling it at the wall, I felt a bit daft when my head cleared though.
You shouldn't fear the weight, trust your rack and yourself. Always practice bailing out so if you need to you can get out from under the bar safely.
I must come clean too and admit that years ago when I was younger and took everthing more seriously I did throw my weight about in the gym. If someone was using my weights or my rack I would take it off them. I wouldn't dream of behaving like that now anger or no anger.

[Dada]

I usually have some Rammstein or Slayer playing and a vision of my ex wife driving my ex dog away in my ex car.

Now that's some motivation!

[RexRomano]

I agree with Mr. Slade. Having your buddies around for friendly (or not so friendly) competition helps.

I played football in college and many of us could squat 600lb or more. My friends were also my competition. We drove each other to work hard.

Motivation is tougher now that I usually lift alone. And I've only been at it two months after more than a decade off.

[KyleAaron]

More experienced lifters have advised me to do "walkouts" and such. Sometimes it's good to put extra on the bar, and just feel it. If for example you usually squat 80kg, then you do your warm-up sets as usual, then put on 100kg, heft it onto your shoulders and take a few steps out with it - then without squatting, put it back in the rack. Then strip the weights off and do your 80kg squats as normal.

This gets you psychologically ready for those heavier weights later on, you know how it feels sitting on your shoulders, you're not so scared of it - though you might not be able to squat it, you know it wont crush you! The first time you squat (say) 120kg, it should not be the first time 120kg has been on your shoulders.

You should only do this with weights of up to 25% or so more than you normally lift. Some people do it with up to twice their normal weights, but only under the supervision of experienced trainers or coaches.

[Rugger]

When I'm looking at a heavily loaded barbell I have two thoughts wrestling each other in my head. Part of me is afraid, afraid of injury, of failing, of how much it's going to hurt during and the next day. That part doesn't want to do it, and it tries it's very hardest to give me a reason to step out of the rack, to take a light day, or to deload. The better part of me thinks about the bigger picture, about how this one set is just a single drop in a very big bucket, how many times I've done the same thing in the past, and how many times I'm going to do it in the future. Then I remember that beautiful feeling I have with a heavy bar on my back, that 3-30 seconds of absolute zen where not a single conscious thought crosses my mind, where I'm completely free of everything for that short moment. I focus on the feeling of triumph as the bar slams into the uprights after the completed set, how god damn good it feels to know I left it all in the gym, and I just drop under the bar and do it.

[maroon]

This is a great thread.

I am now only squatting bodyweight (95kg) for 3x5. That feels REALLY heavy for me on the last reps. I think I may lack some hip drive etc. My main focus for now has been going deep enough (as I wasn't before). As the weight piles on now I'm either going to have to sort the hipdrive or fail.

I have squatted 100kg for singles/doubles a couple of times and have done walkouts with around 110kg. I find this helps the mindgame a little. I won't be worried about squatting with it on my back, but I am concerned I will burn out near the last reps. Two pretty different things.
In the big picture these are tiny weights though. This is what fascinates me because on my back they are BLOODY HEAVY!

My 1.5BW target is 142.5kg/313.5lbs. Right now squatting this for 3x5 seems completely unfeasible in my head. I will be doing some walkouts with this weight in the coming months just to feel it and I look forward to the day I can do it. It will be a MASSIVE milestone for me!

The processes you go through in your head are really important. I have infinite respect for people squatting huge weights, not only because of their raw strength but also because the mental process they have been through as well to get there.

[Munnings]

The better part of me thinks about the bigger picture, about how this one set is just a single drop in a very big bucket, how many times I've done the same thing in the past, and how many times I'm going to do it in the future. Then I remember that beautiful feeling I have with a heavy bar on my back, that 3-30 seconds of absolute zen where not a single conscious thought crosses my mind, where I'm completely free of everything for that short moment. I focus on the feeling of triumph as the bar slams into the uprights after the completed set, how god damn good it feels to know I left it all in the gym, and I just drop under the bar and do it.

ive been doin 5x5 for a month now and the SL version for about half that. before that i wasnt doing squats. Now that im doing them, i really cant wait to do them again- even after the 5sets are done and my legs are sore, i just want more! i cant beleive i wasnt doing them! no wonder its been deemed "The King of excersies" read the "Squat Theory and Execution by Arioch" such a good read that explains a lot about the squat. >> http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/weigh ... ost5124176
the whole process of the squat, and any excersise in SL makes me feel... I cant even describe it- zen is a good word Rugger

[dhw]

As LN said "heavy is a relative term". I would think and hope that just about everyone in here is looking at what is a "heavy" weight at least once every one or two weeks. Now, when I advance or progress weight on the Squat I just tell myself, someday this will be a warm-up weight or what was once a 1 rep max is now my new 5x5 working weight. I try and stay positive and know that I will work through and someday conquer what ever weight I might be facing at this time. 315 lbs for at least one rep was once a huge goal of mine and tonight I'll be going for 325 5x5. When I get under the bar, I will be remembering my struggles to just get to 315 and think of how I am now past that goal. Anyway, I have to be successful and work through 325 to get to 405. That's just the way it is.

[Westsider]

I think the most important thing is to simply go when you feel are ready. You don't need to be super intense. Ed Coan was an amazing squatter but he always approached the bar in a calm fashion. Believe you are going to lift it, get yourself really tight and that should be more than enough.