Hi Cathe,
Question/Help/Advice. I've been buying your videos -- have pretty much all of them and have STS preordered -- for years. I always LOVED that you seemed to use heavy weight, particularly in comparison to some of those other workout gals out there. It really made me a fan.
This year I've been working very hard at adding weight to my workouts. I can bench 95 pounds x 5 reps for 4 sets with dumbbells. I can finally do some unassisted pull ups. Lat machine -- 145 pounds. Unassisted tricep dips. Lots of push ups in different styles. Military press 35 pounds x 6 reps x 4 sets.
Here's the thing. I'm at the point where I need a spotter to try and go heavier. When I go to the gym, the message I'm getting from the women there is -- I don't need to go heavier. I can get "all" the benefits of heavy weights by using lighter weights and training slow count, holds, etc. I disagree. I think that doing slow count and holds are important techniques and have a place in training, but I do NOT believe that they replace short sets of very heavy weight. The only way to get stronger is to lift more weight and they should be encouraging me and spotting me without putting me down for trying to go big.
The other thing I'm getting is the whole -- don't drop below 90 degrees on your squat. Yet, if you read information on many reputable sites/reputable trainers, the message is that the whole 90 degree thing is a lie/only applies to Olympic power lifters and there is nothing wrong -- with good form -- with dropping lower. I've been doing some gobblet style squats to "open" up my hips and drop lower, but, again, I've been getting the whole "why are you doing that" from some of the gym people. I've taken the time to spend a couple of sessions with a personal trainer, so my form is decent.
Anyways, I don't know if you have a standard line on this. Heavy weights? Squat (not EVERY squat and not all the time) below 90 degrees? I am tired of feeling like I get no support at the gym. I don't even ask for a spot at this point if a woman is working there and even if some of the men are... I'm sick of being disparaged for wanting to lift heavy and be strong and powerful.
Frustrated.
Zoelda
Question/Help/Advice. I've been buying your videos -- have pretty much all of them and have STS preordered -- for years. I always LOVED that you seemed to use heavy weight, particularly in comparison to some of those other workout gals out there. It really made me a fan.
This year I've been working very hard at adding weight to my workouts. I can bench 95 pounds x 5 reps for 4 sets with dumbbells. I can finally do some unassisted pull ups. Lat machine -- 145 pounds. Unassisted tricep dips. Lots of push ups in different styles. Military press 35 pounds x 6 reps x 4 sets.
Here's the thing. I'm at the point where I need a spotter to try and go heavier. When I go to the gym, the message I'm getting from the women there is -- I don't need to go heavier. I can get "all" the benefits of heavy weights by using lighter weights and training slow count, holds, etc. I disagree. I think that doing slow count and holds are important techniques and have a place in training, but I do NOT believe that they replace short sets of very heavy weight. The only way to get stronger is to lift more weight and they should be encouraging me and spotting me without putting me down for trying to go big.
The other thing I'm getting is the whole -- don't drop below 90 degrees on your squat. Yet, if you read information on many reputable sites/reputable trainers, the message is that the whole 90 degree thing is a lie/only applies to Olympic power lifters and there is nothing wrong -- with good form -- with dropping lower. I've been doing some gobblet style squats to "open" up my hips and drop lower, but, again, I've been getting the whole "why are you doing that" from some of the gym people. I've taken the time to spend a couple of sessions with a personal trainer, so my form is decent.
Anyways, I don't know if you have a standard line on this. Heavy weights? Squat (not EVERY squat and not all the time) below 90 degrees? I am tired of feeling like I get no support at the gym. I don't even ask for a spot at this point if a woman is working there and even if some of the men are... I'm sick of being disparaged for wanting to lift heavy and be strong and powerful.
Frustrated.
Zoelda