Mechanical Logic

Sometimes you just have to admit you’re struggling.  So I’m just going to come out and say it: my back squat is epically, egregiously, enormously stalled.  For months I’ve been poking at 140Kg.  As in back down to 132, take another linear run at it, start dropping the bar, form all over the place, and me frustrated enough to fall down and start chewing at the gym mats. It’s my hamstrings and my middle. A big soft chewy hole in the middle.  The very center of what should be my get up and go.  So hears how it goes down: bar is heavy so step one , I stay really upright and quad it – ok that’s rep 1 – I then go : “ok fix the hip drive” – so rep 2 – the moment I start to bounce out of the bottom my middle caves in, by erectors round and my hips tucks like a constipated cat straining beyond dignity to make his litter box deposit.  So Michael takes pity on me.  “Rack pulls”, “enough squats for you, need to get your back strong”.  So set the rack bars to just below my knee, set up like a dead lift with very little shin angle, and “TIGHT!” back, chest up, and rock hard abs pull it up the leg.  Holy crap.  It kills my hams and erectors.  I knew that I was cheating around that but this is evidence, immediate feedback as to exactly what is weak.  So good, mission accomplished, I have a new path forward.  Rack pulls and good mornings twice a week.  Until my back is strong enough to be legally a lethal weapon.  I’ll take my humble pie with a big dollap of whip cream and a cherry on tip please!