NinjaMom (& others w/the squat rack)

Thanks Laura!!

I'm going to check this out. The bar pad just didn't work and until I solve this issue, I can't go much higher in weight.

JJ
 
Hey Catherine~ I had the bar on my shoulders not my neck but it was my traps that got really sore. I have a fairly thick bar pad but it still got really uncomfortable. It was my first time using much higher weight and I still need to work on loading/unloading the bar on/off the rack. It was kinda awkward:confused:

JJ
 
The trick is to squeeze your back and make a little shelf for the bar to sit on. It takes a bit, but you'll get used to it. Really a bar pad can be dangerous if you are lifting heavier. They can have a tendency to make the bar roll which is not good if you have a heavy wt :confused:

Have you watched the Squat Rx videos? They are very helpful.
 
here's a link to the first of about 15 or 16 mini videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq8CWv8UPAI

Those videos are amazing Catherine! Thank you for the link. I have always been skeptical of You Tube, and didn't realize that there was so much "professional" information out there. Will definately be reviewing that portion much closer!

I also have a question with using the BB... I tried to find a 6' bar that I didn't have to order online that didn't cost a fortune, but could only manage was either a 7' or 5' straight bar... I have them both now, but I don't have room for the 7' one (not to mention that since i am only 5' myself, it is a bit too unstable for me but it came with 110 # set of weight plates so I kept it ~ waste not want not :D), so... I don't have too much discomfort in my shoulders, however, my elbows seem to take a lot of strain or pressure when doing exercises with the BB no matter what weight or exercise I am doing... my hands are as close to the ends as they can possibly go but feel that when they are in this position in grabbing the BB, they are pressed back to hold onto the bar, thus creating this pressure on my elbows... it is not exactly painful, but seems to be more than there should be... I've even tried to hold the BB on the outside of the weights, but the plates get in the way...

Is there a "rule of thumb" on how long a BB should be for a persons height? or is it just whatever is comfortable?

any advice?
 
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Hi Dani~

I also felt some strain in my elbows and forearms. I tried different hand placement on the bar but it didn't make much difference. This was the first time I put that much on my back so I'm wondering if it will get better over time.

I was amazed how far below the shoulders that person held the bar in the first video. I usually rest the bar on the back of my shoulders. Catherine also mentioned puffing out my chest and squeezing my shoulders....creating a "shelf" to place the bar onto. I'm also going to remove my bar pad because it did roll around too much and it felt less stable.

JJ
 
I'm also going to remove my bar pad because it did roll around too much and it felt less stable.

JJ

Thanks JJ... I'm gonna try that this afternoon too and do B&G (won't be able to do workouts with weights as I am going out of town tomorrow for a week) and want to try some alternate positions... I thought about just wrapping a hand towel around the bar with some athletic tape or something to keep it from spinning, but agree that the bar pad I purchased at Sports Authority is too big around! I'm also thinking that if I had another 6 inches on each side (or the 6' BB) that it might take some of the added pressure off the joints... I just hate having to buy MORE equipment and not use what I have... but not at the expense of my joints!

will be interested to see if more experienced Catheites have a comment about the bar size vs height...
 
I do not think height of the person vs the bar should matter. It's a matter of finding the right placement. I have a 7ft BB and use it all the time. I also have a 5ft BB. It took some getting use to the longer one, but over time I did. As far as elbows hurting, they shouldn't. You are not doing something right. The back should be taking the brunt of the wt on the barbell. If your elbows are hurting, maybe your back is not tight enough. Use a lighter wt to perfect the move first and increase the load only after you are sure you have it down. Watch the videos again and again. They are super helpful!!

I have heard "experts" say not to use the manta ray either. I don't know what the right answer is there.
 
:eek::eek: If I went any lighter on the weight, I'd have to put the bar down! :eek::eek:

I think it is just going to take some getting used to like you said Catherine :) It isn't the weight per sa, but the position of having my hands, wrists and forearms behind my shoulders to grab ahold of the bar... I'll do more research and get to the You Tube links while I'm out of town this week... looking forward to putting up a mirror next weekend and check things out :)
 
Dani, there's a squat rx where he does a warm up exercise called shoulder dislocates (sounds terrible) that really preps the shoulders etc. It really helped me.
 
Yea, this is interesting stuff. And the videos are a lot more instructive than the still photos in books. Way back when I did The Firm I recall constantly hearing "Hike your glutes." Intentionally sticking out my curvy bottom may LOOK ridiculous but I did and still do this which is why I tend not to have back issues related to weight training. It was the one really good tip I learned from The Firm. I'm really hoping STS will be loaded with form pointers. Walk around any weight room and it's obvious everyone could use a little schooling on proper form. Much of what I've learned about form I've learned the hard way: Like the way I kept hurting my shoulders and didn't realize it was because, when I benched, I was lifting the weight from my shoulders instead of aligning the bar over the midline of the chest. Never, did I read that particular pointer in a book, yet it's so obvious when you think about it (it IS a CHEST press). My right elbow used to flare up quite a bit and I found much of that was alleviated by eliminating the straight bar in favor of a curl bar or even dumbbells. Everybody's made a little different and if something hurts when it shouldn't you have to make adjustments to avoid permanent injury. We all want to do it just like the Big Guys do it but sometimes that's not a good idea.
 

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