- Worked out for many years using powerlifting focused routines as ultimately I value strength in big movements over looks. Started at SS but ended up with BBM/Tuscherer/Nuckols point of view on working out
- Hit almost all my initial lifetime goals (5/4/3 plates at ~200lb) and stopped when my 2nd was born around 2 years ago
- Time was a factor but it was mostly how excruciatingly unenjoyable it was and how often I would have gnawing pains (usually squat related)
- I acknowledge any type of working out > no working out because can't do everything that I think is important to do
- Just started again
- Using SS type programming at the very beginning (using the big lifts 3x5 in rotation and adding weight every time...but none of the dogmatic ideology)
- Benching: I don't think anything needs changing here. It is relatively my strongest and best movements. Unbelievably enough, my untrained bench is quite a bit stronger than my untrained squat. I've had plenty of pain issues with bench, but I am pretty positive they never start with bench. For example elbow/shoulder pain....But it's because the pain starts with the squat and then benching further aggravates it.
- Deadlift: Another relatively strong movement for me because my back is abnormally strong. But I do have a lower back that is prone to pulling. I think the way I was deadlifting may be too much volume. I was doing it BBM style (i.e no reason to treat it differently than other lifts. So depending on the routine I was doing 5 sets a session). I don't think I have ever pulled my back going HEAVY. I think it's always from it being overly exhausted and then I pick up a pencil the wrong way. So I'm thinking I may try to explore that even though it's against typical dogma. I've started doing one top set of 5 and thats it (not including warmup sets). But I'm open to suggestions otherwise as I acknowledge that the only reason I'm keeping them in is because I'm strong in them and it feels good to know I can lift heavy weights off the floor. It just feels good physically and mentally. I'd probably be super happy to just do a top set of 1@8 and be done with deadlift, but that is alot of time (warmups) just to do 1 set of 1 haha
- Squat: The bane of my existence. I've spent years trying to get this movement comfortable. Not just time either. I've done endless video self critiques, video critiques from forum members and coaches, and trying all sorts of different forms. I have even went to starting strength coaches (back when I followed them). Low bar squat is my strongest by far and it feels good on my back/hips/knees. But it KILLS my elbows, wrists and shoulder. High bar squat doesn't kill anything in particular but eventually I start getting shoulder/wrist pain because even for HBBS I can't reach far back enough without pressure. It's a flexibility and not a basic form issue. I could do a HBBS with no hands if I had to. But getting my hands on the bar in any way over extends my flexibility. I also start getting hip & lower back pain with HBBS. The only way to prevent that is squatting slightly above parallel... Which is obviously not good either. So I end up in a vicious cycle where things start flaring up more or less but atleast one thing is always flared up and hurting even with HBBS.
- Benching: <3
- Deadlifting: No direct issues, but I have already skipped 1 out of 2 deadlift days because my lower back felt sensitive from the squats before it. I'm not basing this off some kind of movement fear, but rather going off the fatigue I feel there. I am trying to use my best judgement instead of my natural judgement of PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN YOU'LL BE FINE.
- Squat: I was smart enough not to try low bar. I did High Bar and immediately remembered all my issues. Nothing killed but immediately needed to wear wrist straps for my wrists, my shoulders were tired, my lower back felt sensitive. Very off putting considering I am using LOW weight. I tried 2 workouts with my Duffalo bar and it mostly helped. It's a bit weird doing high bar with it because if it's not placed perfectly it shifts against my spine neck bone. Also, while it alleviated the shoulder strain and the need for wrist straps, I still feel a little bit of tension in my wrist. There is no weight carried by them, but it's more like "no one's wrist feels good when it's flexed all the way to the end of it's ROM". I'm wonder if I should see where this goes or just say "why am I accepting any strain at all and I should just use my rogue SSB". From what I remember, the SSB is a great alternative but it works different muscles than a squat and leaves some openings. If I am remembering correctly, I could SSB squat basically as much as my regular squat, but once things got heavy, the movement started to look like I was really leveraging my strong back muscles instead of working my legs.
I've got a basic powerlifting type home gym with many different bars (including trap bar) & dumbbells. I also have a dual cable pulley machine.