Training Milestone Thread

[Weakling]

So I finally made it to 135lbs on my work sets on the press! I don't know why I care about making it to the big plates on lifts, (25lbs and up, imo, are big plates) but I do. I remember exactly three weeks ago I could only press 135lbs three times fresh, at the end of my second work set I took an extra two minutes to rest and actually put up the weight six times on my third set! Feck ya!

I should be squatting 275lbs in my next session, which I'm both dreading and looking forward to; I'll be posting here again by then. I'll be making sure I hit 250g of protein each day between now and then.

I know I should probably have a log, but I'm saving that for when I hit 315lbs on the squat for my work sets and switch to the 20rep squat program!

If you asked me back in High School (4 years ago, when I was pressing 70lbs) if it was possible for me to press that much I would have laughed. I love this shit!

Happy training!

[matclone]

In my early days in the gym, I distinctly remember seeing a guy pressing 135 from the rack for reps, and how impressive that seemed. It's still impressive, and, I'd venture to say, still a fairly rare sight in gyms across America.

[Gary Gibson]

Congratulations!

Another set of the big wheels is just psychologically satisfying. 'Cause they're big. The same weight with smaller plates just isn't the same. I make it a point to use the smaller plates only when absolutely necessary. In fact, I love the fact that my squat and deadlift warm ups are all loaded with Big Plates: 135, 225, 315 (well actually, that's only true of the squat in the heavier parts of my cycles; in the lighter parts, my work sets could be below 315).

Congrats again on those press work sets with 135. I hope to be joining you there soon.

[Paul Sousa]

The milestone I want badly will be to press two plates per side. To me that just seems seriously bad ass. Most guys consider benching 225 pretty cool, so pressing it overhead woudl be awesome.

[matclone]

Another set of the big wheels is just psychologically satisfying. 'Cause they're big.

In Tommy Kono's book on Olympic weightlifting, he specifically recommends that lifters switch out and use the big plates whenever possible--for essentially the reason you mention.

[Tiburon]

So I finally made it to 135lbs on my work sets on the press!

Great work! I just hit that this week too. Felt great to *finally* creep up to the plates for x5x3. (Actually 134#, given my 20kg bar.)

I'll post again when I get 225x5x3

[DoS]

I have to agree with the big wheels theory. My next near-term goal is 315x20 on squats. I tried 305 on Monday and ended up seeing the white buffalo on my 14th. I failed on 16. I have some wood to chop.

[PVC]

I don't know why I care about making it to the big plates on lifts, (25lbs and up, imo, are big plates) but I do.

I know exactly what you mean. There isn't a single guy in my gym benching with less than a 45 per side (135 lbs), and it's been embarrassing being the only one using 35's. But no more! I hit 135 lbs with the big boy plates yesterday. Squatting 225, deadlifting 275, pressing 115, and cleaning 95 lbs are my current short-term goals, based entirely around moving up to bigger plates.

[Gary Gibson]

I have to agree with the big wheels theory. My next near-term goal is 315x20 on squats. I tried 305 on Monday and ended up seeing the white buffalo on my 14th. I failed on 16. I have some wood to chop.

That made me laugh pretty damn hard.

[DoS]

I try Gary. JC didn't ask to work in however. Does that only happen if I make all 20?

[Kelly Moore]

I agree....the impact of seeing the big wheels on the bar is tremendous. I still find great joy in the addition of quarters, 35s and wheels on my bar or strapped to a chinning belt. Adding tiny plates just doesn't do it.

Damn it, I will get those four wheels per side on that deadlift before I'm ancient.

[Mr.City]

We all love the big plates. However, it seems the big plates don't love me. I hit 315 on my squats and stall at 320 and then a deload, no more 3 plates for me. I hit 2 plates on the bench and stall the bench session, bad enough to make me consider a deload. I can't even press a one plater. I have failed.

[OldMike]

We all love the big plates. However, it seems the big plates don't love me. I hit 315 on my squats and stall at 320 and then a deload, no more 3 plates for me. I hit 2 plates on the bench and stall the bench session, bad enough to make me consider a deload. I can't even press a one plater. I have failed.

You ain't failing. You're trying. Keep trying.

I broke my neck. I'm very lucky, to be sure. When I went back to the weights, I could barely bench a goddamn empty bar (long layoff, nerve damage, and all that shit). I was scared when I squatted, and couldn't press (lost a couple inches on left clavicle, too- dumping a bike at 120 mph can fuck you up pretty good).

Long story short, I'm still trying. Also got degenerative disc disease, and some weird thing called fibromyalgia (it feels like getting in a fight every night and losing). Plenty of resets, some layoffs when the pain knocks me out or when the arms go numb (first time that happened, I broke two ribs- I was benching with no safety pins, duh). I get pissed, but I'm still trying.

300 deadlift, 250 squat, 180 bench, 115 press and pc before last layoff. Just started again for the umpteenth time. Still trying.

Keep trying.

And congratulations, Weakling! By the way, that name doesn't fit any more, does it?

[Weakling]

Thanks for the congrats guys. And congrats to you OldMike, that's freaking impressive!

[August West]

The milestone I want badly will be to press two plates per side. To me that just seems seriously bad ass. Most guys consider benching 225 pretty cool, so pressing it overhead woudl be awesome.

Yeah I am jonesing for the same thing. That'd be a bodyweight press for me (though that's a moving target these days) and it's something I really want to get done. Let's make it happen.

[Webbie]

Another set of the big wheels is just psychologically satisfying. 'Cause they're big. The same weight with smaller plates just isn't the same.


That's exactly what I love about bumpers. When you get a 25K, a 20K, and a 15K loaded on the bar it just looks awesome. Sometimes after my deadlift I'll leave all of the weight on the bar. When I come back a couple of days later for my next workout it's cool to all of those big bumpers sitting there. It reminds me of the beginning of ABC's Wide World of Sports from the 70's...."the thrill of victory". I'm only about four more workouts away from lifting every rubber weight I have...I'll be taking a picture that day.