3-8-14 – Squat & Pass Out

SQUAT DAY! I look forward to this training day more than any other because not only is the squat my favprite lift but the training environment is electric! We have an amazing group of people who join our Saturday morning squat session. Each person brings the best out of one another. That is what we are all able at HPF. Today was just one of those amazing days!

Today was my max effort day and my hips were still a little tight from my last lower body day where I did sumo deadlifts. To be able to still get the necessary work in I decided to squat with a reverse band. This helped relieve the pressure from my hips while I was in the hole of the squat. I felt no pain on the bottom of my squat so the decision to hook up a reverse band was a good one. The weight was flying up and my body felt strong. I made sure my body was as tight as possible before I took the bar off the rack. This helped me maintain in a good position throughout my squat.

I was making large jumps in weight from one set to the next because the weight just feeling very light. I ended with 680, a 5 pound PR from the last time I did this movement. It felt very good when I unracked the weight and I knew it was going to come up. As I brought the weight down I focused on keeping my shoulder blades squeezed together to maintain my position under the bar. When I hit the hole I felt that I didn’t hit depth that I normally get. It was a struggle coming up with the weight. I held my breath and kept pushing my stomach against my belt to ensure I stayed tight. I was able to lock it out and then it happened. As I released my breath I felt very lightheaded and my vision got blurry. The next thing I knew I was in the arms of my buddy, Mikey Danielcyzk. This wasn’t the first time he has caught me in the middle of passing out. We’ll keep those stories between us. After a few seconds of blurriness I felt great, a little winded but I was fine. Things like that happen on occasion but it’s part of the game. I learned a lesson though.  The steps you take to achieve your goal may scare the shit out of you but they have to be done to in order for it to be achieved.

After my downset I was pretty spent. I finished with some band work and reverse hypers. It was a great day! The guys who were there to help me and cheer me on and motivate me. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.

MAKE IT HAPPEN