Post your Squat Pics!

robert · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 3:08 am

Hey everyone!

I can't contain my enthusiasm! I'm back doing squats for the first time in 7 years! I'm taking it easy since I had all those lower back problems, but I'm back!

This summer I started training again after a tough session with Vegan Essentials. I haven't missed a workout since August.

I started with bodyweight squats for months at a time and then moved up to the bar, then tens on the sides and I've been at it with weights every week for the past 2 months. Today I squatted 225 pounds and I feel like I'm finally making a solid comeback to squats and bodybuilding in general.

So, since I'm totally new to squats, I'm going to post some recent pics for feedback. I'm open to anything.

I keep little 2.5 or 5lb plates under my feet to keep my body leaning forward since it was the tucking of my tailbone that caused my back injuries. So far it seems to be working really well. I always squat with plates under my feet putting a little more stress on my quads. I never go more than 135lbs without little plates. I just feel more comfortable.

Anyway, here are a few angles. Feel free to post your pics too. Not just a thread about me and my return to squatting.

Anyone else....post squat photos too.

Please post some of your pics too. Thanks! -RC

VeganEssentials · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 3:11 am

Next week, I'll get some!

vege · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 3:45 am

Robert, why are you having plates under your feet? I was told one should be barefooted or wear flat sneakers while squatting, and now I see you doing exact the opposite. What is the right way to squat?

robert · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 4:00 am

Read my post

I explained why I put plates under my feet. I was advised to do so because of my tail bone tucking under me when I squat down. This is supposed to take strain off my lower back where I have had injuries the past 7 years.

Feeling good now. Just want to get proper form, depth, stance, etc.

vege · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 4:23 am

oh, sorry! I only noticed the pictures, stupid me:))))) thanks!

sosso · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 4:45 am

I'll try to get some too.

Robert, could you also try wearing weightlifting shoes, which have a raised heel? They probably wouldn't raise the heel up as high as with the plates though..

http://www.strengthshop.co.uk/index.php ... shoes.html

chewybaws · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 5:36 am

sosso wrote:

Robert, could you also try wearing weightlifting shoes, which have a raised heel? They probably wouldn't raise the heel up as high as with the plates though..

http://www.strengthshop.co.uk/index.php ... shoes.html

I highly recommend those shoes. The guy who runs the powerlifting at the club I go to (has been powerlifting for decades. A 290kg squatter - suited at a comp, @51 years old) also got a pair of these a month ago and he's impressed with them (prob has no idea they're vegan as well haha).

Are you looking at your flexibility as well Robert? Could be something like tight hamstrings, hips, glutes or bad ankle mobility.

Last time I took a camera to the club it got mooned at. So I'll wait for my first competition and try get someone to take a pic/video of that haha.

robert · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:28 pm

Nice! Thanks for the shoe suggestion! That is great because sometimes I feel a tiny bit unstable on the plates thinking they may slip or something.

Very good to know!

Yes, I have been focusing on stretching ever since I returned to training 6 months ago. I have very tight hamstrings (and other muscle groups, even shoulders) but especially in hams, glutes, quads, lower back, etc.

So I'm working on that but still need to make a lot of improvements too.

Thanks again.

I know in one of those pics I wasn't going as deep as I should have. I knew it during the set too, but it was the heaviest I lifted in 7 years and was a little nervous about going too deep and not getting back up or causing slight injury. But with 185lbs and under I am comfortable going as keep as my body can go.

bronco · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 4:58 pm

I am also getting back into back squats after doing only front squats for a couple of year. I am starting to like them

.

robert · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:29 pm

Holy crap! That is awesome!

Great gym too.....

How much weight is that? You made it look easy and smooth. I don't know anything about form, but it looked like nice and deep and under control and even pace and I know you've studied form and technique so it looks really impressive.

Nice work!

Any tips for me based on pics or based on knowing that I'm new to the squatting game? I'll get a video soon too. That may tell a better story.

Well done.

bronco · **Posted:** Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:29 pm

robert wrote:

Holy crap! That is awesome!

Great gym too.....

Thanks

.

robert wrote:

How much weight is that? You made it look easy and smooth. I don't know anything about form, but it looked like nice and deep and under control and even pace and I know you've studied form and technique so it looks really impressive.

120kg, I am not really a strong squatter.

robert wrote:

Any tips for me based on pics or based on knowing that I'm new to the squatting game? I'll get a video soon too. That may tell a better story.

Like has been said allready, a better pair of shoes might actually be a good investment. If not a pair of lifting shoes then a pair of converse style shoes are probably better than the ones you are using now. They look like running shoes, running shoes are too soft and kill your stability.
If your back rounds as you go deep it could be a flexibility issue, but could also be technique related. Or both. Might be worth trying around a bit with different stances etc. Otherwise I believe best way to work on flexibility is to squat with light weight, with good form. Front squats and overhead squats might also help.

If you like reading books it might be worth picking up a copy of starting strength, it has the best introductions to squatting I've seen in writing.

vege · **Posted:** Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:27 pm

nice, Bronco!
This is correct squatting technique, in my opinion.
Good job!

sosso · **Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:28 am

Elite FTS has some good videos on their youtube channel for squat technique. In this series they take a guy who has done some squatting in the past, look at his technique, then fix the problems he has. So far there's just two videos uploaded but the rest should be up soon.

robert · **Posted:** Thu Feb 03, 2011 4:46 am

Awesome!

Thanks!

I will work on all these things to get my structure in better balance for these lifts. Thanks for the feedback.

Also....please feel free to post your own pics and videos too. Let's see more squatters!

Octopussoir · **Posted:** Thu Feb 03, 2011 3:46 pm

Have you been pro-tanning or commercially spray tanning in recent pics?

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