The Mind Sets Limits, Not Your Body

[MOD]

I'll tell you a story of something that happened today.
Today was leg day, and me and my partner were getting ready to squat.
I was to attempt 295 for 3 sets of 6, last week I got 285 for 6/6/5 and it was time to up the weight again. I was thinking to myself, damn, I'm so close to 315 I can smell it. So I warmed up, did my weight acclimation sets, ....245x2, 265x2 I thought damn, that extra 20lbs on that last set felt like a feather. So right before I got ready for the work sets I needed to make a run to the bathroom. When I came back I got under the bar and got ready to squat. As I started squatting I thought to myself, damn, this is heavy shite, but it's only an extra 20lbs from my last acclimation set, so it can't be as heavy as it seems. I looked at my partner and he gave me the " why the hell are you struggling look " , and I thought " why the hell am I struggling? it's only 10lbs more than last week ". I pushed out 4 HARD gut WRENCHING reps. I racked the bar. My buddy looks at me and laughs. I looked at the bar and he managed to sneak another 10lbs on per a side while I was in the bathroom. I was squatting 315! I couldn't believe it, had I know 315 was on the bar, I'm sure I wouldn't have done more than 2 reps. Second set I only got 3 reps, which I was pleased with because I was man enough to keep the weight on the bar. Third set I only got 1 rep. I was pissed! I thought to myself, how can you only do 1 rep? the weight's not THAT heavy. I got right back under the bar and grinded out 3 more reps. Best leg day ever.

 

[Atomic Punk]

I'd bust my partner in the mouth if he ever pulled some shit like that. Come to think of it, situations like that are why I don't have or want a partner. Good for you on the lift though bro. It's just that...that wasn't cool at all on his part, in my opinion. 10 pounds or not.

 

[Becoming]

I would agree that it is not too smart to be adding weight on to your partners sets... When I do get an infrequent workout with a partner, I always encourage them to throw another set of 10s on or add a little bit more on if I think they are not pushing themselves....

Hopefully, it will be a lesson for the future to push yourself, that you can knock out more than you think you can, just get under the bar and do it...

Nice job on the lift...

 

[Numani]

Good on your partner and well done to you. Hopefully he was there spotting you and not across the room watching though!!

I have heard of that trick being done particularly at the elite level in weightlifting, but it was usually only for about 5lbs to break a mental barrier to lifting a 300 or 400 or 500lbs lift etc.

 

[slobberknocker]

That's a good training partner.

 

[xp02]

from my experience many people underestimate leg strength (i definetly was guilty of this for quite some time)

I am kind of reminded of when in matrix 1 morpheus says to neo "come on, your faster than this' and then 'don't think you are, know you are".