plaunie
Registered
I'm new to the forum, and still fairly new to lifting. Actually, I used to lift before I went to college. Then i went to college...
as an example of the complete disregard for my own body in college, it took 6 years to get through a BS program (I figure 4 for classes, 2 for parties). Anyway, I got back into the gym after seeing some pictures of myself, and went from a "Fat" 240 lbs, I say fat because I was just slovenly looking and didn't have the courage to get my bodyfat measured, to now a much improved 212, 14% b.f. over the last 7 months (my lean body mass actually went up 6 lbs since February) Not on par with the most of the other people inthis forum, but good for me considering how many hours a day I spend keeping my chair warm at work.
Which brings me to my question:
I was afraid to start back with squats in my workout, as I was a little unsureof my stability and balance. So I've been using the smith machine at the prompting of the people who run my gym. Which looking back was probably not the best course, as I didn't have the opportunity to build up the stabalizing muscles that would assist my squats. Anyway, I've determined that I need to start squatting in my workouts if for no other reason than the smith machine is only rated for 400 lbs.
Does anyone have any advice or warnings about making the transition? What kind of drop in weight should I expect when I squat 20%, 50%? In my last two leg workouts the smith squats were 2x9x325 and 2x6x360
as an example of the complete disregard for my own body in college, it took 6 years to get through a BS program (I figure 4 for classes, 2 for parties). Anyway, I got back into the gym after seeing some pictures of myself, and went from a "Fat" 240 lbs, I say fat because I was just slovenly looking and didn't have the courage to get my bodyfat measured, to now a much improved 212, 14% b.f. over the last 7 months (my lean body mass actually went up 6 lbs since February) Not on par with the most of the other people inthis forum, but good for me considering how many hours a day I spend keeping my chair warm at work.
Which brings me to my question:
I was afraid to start back with squats in my workout, as I was a little unsureof my stability and balance. So I've been using the smith machine at the prompting of the people who run my gym. Which looking back was probably not the best course, as I didn't have the opportunity to build up the stabalizing muscles that would assist my squats. Anyway, I've determined that I need to start squatting in my workouts if for no other reason than the smith machine is only rated for 400 lbs.
Does anyone have any advice or warnings about making the transition? What kind of drop in weight should I expect when I squat 20%, 50%? In my last two leg workouts the smith squats were 2x9x325 and 2x6x360
