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***Weightlifting Thread***

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Furlock Bones
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9:50a, 10/27/25
AG
turn 42 this week. my goal when i got back to lifting this summer was to 1RM 225 on the bench. i actually did 235 earlier this month.

my wife signed us up for a half marathon in January, so I have to start putting in the miles on the road. but, i've been thinking about what my next goal will be.

1000 pound club. that's what I want to do.

i haven't 1RM dead lift or squat. but, based on what I rep now. i should be somewhere around 300 on both. so, currently around 800 pounds for 1RM.

realistically, how long do yall think it would take to get there?

mind you I have 3 young kids at home. so, i'm doing my best with consistency. but, something will always be taking my time.
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to Furlock Bones • 10:16a, 10/27/25
AG
Probably a lot longer if you're training for a half marathon concurrently… I really don't know though I just know that intense cardio training and strength/powerlifting training don't really go hand and hand.

That being said, you can probably hit your goals pretty quickly. Deadlift number skyrocket in a few months with proper form and technique. Squat will jump pretty quickly too if you haven't been doing them already.

Good luck!
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Furlock Bones
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In reply to ttha_aggie_09 • 10:22a, 10/27/25
AG
ttha_aggie_09 said:
Probably a lot longer if you're training for a half marathon concurrently… I really don't know though I just know that intense cardio training and strength/powerlifting training don't really go hand and hand.

That being said, you can probably hit your goals pretty quickly. Deadlift number skyrocket in a few months with proper form and technique. Squat will jump pretty quickly too if you haven't been doing them already.

Good luck!

we are going for any speed records, so i won't be pushing myself too hard from the cardio v strength training perspective. but, for the moment, i'm looking to just maintain my strength level until after the run.

one my biggest things for dead lift is working on hand strength. i'm not using nor do i plan on using straps.
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to Furlock Bones • 10:25a, 10/27/25
AG
Beau is your guy on here to talk deadlifts. I think building hand/grip strength is crucial but at some point it will likely be the weakest link. Don't let it stop you from going an extra 10-20lbs with straps but don't use straps on every lift either. Same with back exercises… sometimes you need to strap up so you can grip and rip.
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jtraggie99
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In reply to Furlock Bones • 10:37a, 10/27/25
AG
I've never used straps on deadlift in my life. Only chalk. Never had an issue with the bar slipping and never dropped a deadlift. Granted, heaviest I've ever done is 565. Give it time and you'll develop some calluses
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jtraggie99
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In reply to Furlock Bones • 1:51p, 10/27/25
AG
One other thing, when it comes to heavy deadlifts, do you use a mixed grip or hook grip? I've always used mixed. I've never used hook grip on deadlifts, but some do. I would think grip strength would be more of an issue there.
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Furlock Bones
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In reply to jtraggie99 • 3:10p, 10/27/25
AG
jtraggie99 said:
One other thing, when it comes to heavy deadlifts, do you use a mixed grip or hook grip? I've always used mixed. I've never used hook grip on deadlifts, but some do. I would think grip strength would be more of an issue there.

i switch it up.
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CC09LawAg
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In reply to Furlock Bones • 8:09p, 10/27/25
Looking back at my chart, I jumped from 300 to over 400 on squat and DL in about 10 months - I'm just a little younger than you.

If you figure you can get your bench to 275-315 in a year, you'd need about 65 pounds each on squat and DL.

I'd say set your goal for a year - it's realistic but enough wiggle room for you to be pleasantly surprised if you get there early. I might try to max out at the 8 month mark to see how close you are.
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fav13andac1)c
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2:33p, 10/28/25
AG
My gym has been closed for the past two weeks. I was able to work out at the office gym the week before last, but last week and this week work has been too crazy to make that feasible, which means I haven't worked out in a week. So I'm using the opportunity to officially switch programs to Madcow when my primary opens back up so I can start well below my training max. Thought I would post my final results from Stronglifts. It's been an incredible journey so far.


2/22 - 10/20. 97 workouts. Final lifts for the big 3 (5x5 to 3x5) are:

Squat: 307.5
Bench: 215
Deadlift: 340
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CC09LawAg
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In reply to fav13andac1)c • 2:51p, 10/28/25
Big dog! Looks great.

I gave Madcow about 6 months - I got a little bit of gains out of it but ultimately felt like it was grinding me into a pulp. Maybe I had my maxes too high and let ego take over.

I switched to 5/3/1 after that which has been a very flexible program and that's what I've done for about 2 years, with a 4 month break in there.

ETA: Looking back, I gained about 40 pounds on my squat and deadlift for that 6 months. So maybe my expectations just hadn't adjusted yet from the 5 pound per workout endorphin rush from Stronglifts. Running 5/3/1 now I'm happy to add on around 10 a month, probably overall averages slightly less than that.
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fav13andac1)c
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In reply to CC09LawAg • 6:23p, 10/28/25
AG
Thanks so much for all of the encouragement. Wouldn't have started seriously lifting without you suggesting it. Or StrongLifts for that matter.

And thanks for the info.
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CC09LawAg
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In reply to fav13andac1)c • 8:46p, 10/28/25
It completely changed my life and I feel obligated to tell anyone who will listen how great it is.

All the credit goes to you for taking the first step and putting in the work.
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joerobert_pete06
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11:13p, 10/31/25
AG
Random question for those of yal with kids, at what age did yal let your kids start lifting weights?

I've got two young boys playing football and one of their coaches were telling me to start my 10yo with weights. I was thinking about waiting until puberty at least .
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jtraggie99
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In reply to joerobert_pete06 • 8:44a, 11/1/25
AG
My son and I lift together. He's 16 and a sophomore in high school and competes in powerlifting now. He first starting lifting with me the spring of his 7th grade year, he was 13. And it was all his idea. He was the one pushing me to take him to the gym.

That was around the time I first started lifting consistently as well.
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joerobert_pete06
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2:39p, 11/1/25
AG
13yo seems like a good time to start lifting. My kids are 8 and 10yo and that just seems way too young
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CC09LawAg
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In reply to joerobert_pete06 • 8:40p, 11/1/25
I have my 5 year old do squats with a little 5 pound training barbell. She does pull ups, chin ups, squats, overhead press. She'll usually copy whatever I'm doing.

I think there is nothing wrong with starting kids young - where you get into trouble is chasing weight vs focusing on technique.

Get them doing body weight exercises like pushups, dead hangs, chin ups, pull ups, dips, etc. and that will be plenty if you're hesitant to introduce a barbell.
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joerobert_pete06
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In reply to CC09LawAg • 6:20a, 11/2/25
AG
Thanks
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CC09LawAg
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3:15p, 11/3/25
Coming up on the end of the year - how is everyone looking?

Did you set goals? Did you reach them? Surpass them? Have to change them due to life circumstances?

I've had to temper my goals based on other things in my life taking priority. Silver lining, when I realized my 1500 total wouldn't happen this year, it made it easier for me to deload my squat a bit to work on some form issues which I think is paying dividends. I haven't had much back pain with my squats for about a month or so.

My deadlift is moving along nicely, haven't had a plateau there in awhile so I'm happy with my current programming. Pulling most of my volume sumo, but still mixing in some conventional DL.

Bench will be my big question mark - I haven't maxed out on it this year so no idea where I'll end up. I plan to max out at the end of December. Hoping to finally get that third plate.
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to CC09LawAg • 8:05a, 11/4/25
AG
CC09LawAg said:
Coming up on the end of the year - how is everyone looking?

Did you set goals? Did you reach them? Surpass them? Have to change them due to life circumstances?

I've had to temper my goals based on other things in my life taking priority. Silver lining, when I realized my 1500 total wouldn't happen this year, it made it easier for me to deload my squat a bit to work on some form issues which I think is paying dividends. I haven't had much back pain with my squats for about a month or so.

My deadlift is moving along nicely, haven't had a plateau there in awhile so I'm happy with my current programming. Pulling most of my volume sumo, but still mixing in some conventional DL.

Bench will be my big question mark - I haven't maxed out on it this year so no idea where I'll end up. I plan to max out at the end of December. Hoping to finally get that third plate.

I had a goal on bench (5 plates) and got 5lbs away from it. I then had a very minor shoulder issue and decided to do a 3 week (might have been 4) de-load as I was traveling for work that month. It took me about 1 month to get my numbers back up to where they were before and then had a brutal schedule of travel last month + a ton of work travel + hunting season, which means I was lucky to get in 4 days/week.

I also decided somewhere in the middle of it, after a DEXA scan, that I should maybe lean out a little bit... I will not be making that mistake again so long as I am trying to bench and squat more. I dropped about 8-10 lbs by just tweaking a few things in diet and felt great but top end strength suffered. I have gained most of that weight back.

November will still be crazy with hunting season but I'll hopefully be able to consistently be in the gym 5 days a week which should be enough to make some gains. However, I think I am about 20lbs shy of that goal right now so it will take some time.

On squat, I was doing really well until I started having a random hip pain, almost on the IT band but not really. It has been about 2 months since I have touched 6 plates and was really hoping to do a raw 605+, something I have done with belt.

More than likely, I will look at how things are around Christmas/New Years and then set new goals for 2026. Father time is not working in my favor but I hope to continue my progression.
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CC09LawAg
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In reply to ttha_aggie_09 • 8:16a, 11/4/25
Man, you are moving some weight. I don't anticipate I'll ever approach 4 plates on bench, let alone 5 - I bet it would take me at least 2 years to get to 4 and that is if I was fanatical about it. Kudos to you for having the discipline to deload when you were only 5 pounds away. That is something that only comes with time/experience.

I'm hoping to get my squat and DL to ~600 to make up for that to get my 1500 total. Deadlift I think will be easy, but man it doesn't seem like putting 400 pounds on my back ever gets easier/more comfortable. I've been trying to load heavy singles weekly to adjust to it but still not quite there.

I can't imagine these guys squatting 1000 pounds. Just insane to think about even holding up that much weight, let alone squatting it.
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bam02
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In reply to ttha_aggie_09 • 10:49a, 11/4/25
AG
That's crazy weight!
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Tex117
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In reply to ttha_aggie_09 • 11:09a, 11/5/25
AG
Bonkers weight heavy.

My year was bascially a recovery year. I dropped 47 pounds from August of last year to about January of this year. I lost a good bit of top end strength in the process. This year was slowly gaining weight, (I'm up about 13 pounds), and building back up.

I was hoping to hit 315 for reps on squat by now, but I'm not quite there. (just a hair shy). Ive tweaked my back a few times setting me back.

Bench is just about back to where it was, if not higher. Deadlift, not quite back, but not too far.

I had to make the switch to intermidate programming using a top set back off. So I'm in the trial and error period of dialing in how much weight I need to do on the back off to keep driving gains on the top end.

Overall though, with the addition of the body building stuff I throw in, I'm pretty happy overall with how things are going. (Ie, if I catch a glance of myself in a mirror with the right lighting, I'm like...hell yeah...then I take a closer look and hate myself)/.


Today's winner for the General Board Burrito Lottery is:

Tex117
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True Anomaly
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1:01p, 11/5/25
AG
I don't have kids, but I started lifting weights at around 7-8. I tagged along with my dad to the gym and did circuit training. It instilled good habits early on and made me unafraid of lifting weights at an early age, and now at the age of 45 and having decent muscle mass and a love of the gym, I think the earlier the better when it comes to introducing weight lifting
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CC09LawAg
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In reply to Tex117 • 1:52p, 11/5/25
Tex117 said:
Overall though, with the addition of the body building stuff I throw in, I'm pretty happy overall with how things are going. (Ie, if I catch a glance of myself in a mirror with the right lighting, I'm like...hell yeah...then I take a closer look and hate myself)/.


Being unhappy is the sole motivation for my strength gains - I'm not sure how well adjusted people do it
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Hoosegow
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In reply to CC09LawAg • 2:47p, 11/5/25
There are no well adjusted people playing in the lifting game.
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Tex117
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In reply to CC09LawAg • 12:02p, 11/6/25
AG
CC09LawAg said:
Tex117 said:
Overall though, with the addition of the body building stuff I throw in, I'm pretty happy overall with how things are going. (Ie, if I catch a glance of myself in a mirror with the right lighting, I'm like...hell yeah...then I take a closer look and hate myself)/.


Being unhappy is the sole motivation for my strength gains - I'm not sure how well adjusted people do it

LOL, now we are getting to it!


Today's winner for the General Board Burrito Lottery is:

Tex117
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fav13andac1)c
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In reply to CC09LawAg • 12:54p, 11/6/25
AG
CC09LawAg said:
Tex117 said:
Overall though, with the addition of the body building stuff I throw in, I'm pretty happy overall with how things are going. (Ie, if I catch a glance of myself in a mirror with the right lighting, I'm like...hell yeah...then I take a closer look and hate myself)/.


Being unhappy is the sole motivation for my strength gains - I'm not sure how well adjusted people do it


I look my most swole when I don't have my contacts in.
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stuckinaustinAG
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8:03a, 11/9/25
AG
I have been training for 1,000 pound club as well. Individually, I am comfortable with 245 bench, 385 squat and 425 deadlift. I am testing out in a couple weeks and shooting for 245 bench, 405 squat and 455 deadlift. I weigh ~190lbs.

One caveat is that I use trap bar for deadlift but no grips, so will not be a purist 1,000lb club which I am ok with. I had back surgery 3 years ago and just don't want to risk it with straight bar so I swore that off a while ago.

It took me a very long time to get squat and deadlift to those zones, I am a former soccer player, not that big of a frame so closer to a year but more like 2 years to build out a comfortable 405 squat. I am sure you can do it, lifting 3x per week and lots of protein in 6-9 months.

Yoga with weights helped me a ton in my lifting, built up much needed core strength to handle the bigger weights.
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CC09LawAg
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In reply to stuckinaustinAG • 9:47a, 11/9/25
Doesn't matter how you do it, getting 400+ pounds off the ground is no small feat!

Nice work.
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Hoosegow
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In reply to stuckinaustinAG • 10:08a, 11/9/25
I get pride and accomplishing a numbers goal. It would be hypocritical of me not to acknowledge that, but man... why are you even deadlifting with your history?

Strongman Robert Oberst Says You Shouldn't Do Deadlifts | Joe Rogan
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texasaggie2015
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3:57p, 11/11/25
AG
Almost one full year into my fitness journey. Hard to believe after so many failed attempts at getting started.

Just want to say thanks to everyone for all the tips and advice on this thread.

You guys are a big part of it.

Started at about 206 pounds (I'm 5'9) and unbelievably out of shape. Right now I'm 171 and have never felt better in my life.

Did a DEXA scan the other day and I'm down to 18.7% body fat. No idea where I was before and don't want to know!

Goal for 2026 will be 15%.
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CC09LawAg
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In reply to texasaggie2015 • 4:31p, 11/11/25
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Guitarsoup
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9:12p, 11/15/25
AG
Is there an app that yall suggest for tracking lifting? Don't mind paying, but would rather a 1-time payment rather than a subscription.
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bam02
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10:07p, 11/15/25
AG
If you're a newbie or even a pretty advanced intermediate lifter, I would recommend Stronglifts 5X5. It's a free app, but pretty sure you can still upgrade with a one time fee for a lot of added features.

It's a phenomenal program overall for strength building. It 100% absolutely works if you do it.
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bagger05
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In reply to Guitarsoup • 10:32p, 11/15/25
AG
Strong
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