The psychological barrier

[riverrock]

Hello All,

Got a lift home off another Bro in my gym this morning. Like myself, he suffered a horror injury (unrelated to the gym) a few years ago. I broke my back in a work accident 10 years ago when I was 17. He told me that he couldn't walk for 12 months after a motor-cycle crash about the same length of time ago as well.

Anyhow, we were speaking about squatting. We both admitted that even though we are very strong, when squatting we never go 110%. In other words, we could force one last almighty squat rep, but don't because psychologically we have become more careful about never ever going through the kind of unbearable pain we suffered at the start of out major injuries.

Now, these injuries were 10 years ago, we are in great shape, always go out to beat our own max efforts, can lift extrremely heavy, but feel we are psychologically caught in a time wrap that is holding us back from "just going for the most outrageous heavy lift ever - why not"

Has anyone ever had psychological barriers relating to injury that have held them back and what did you do to overcome them?

 

[blut wump]

I feel the same every time I go for a deadlift over about 60%. I just try to put it out of my mind and keep increasing my top weight a little at a time. Those little 2.5Kg or 1.25Kg plates aren't going to ruin my back but they keep adding up and I always know I'm doing just a bit more than I know I have managed before.

The worst times are when I feel something move in my lower back and then I have to wonder whether I'm simply crazy to keep doing it.

 

[eat big]

I've been really lucky with injuries. Even so, I'm still careful because I can't imagine not going to the gym for a long time. It takes time and when you try to force it is when injury occurs. Better safe than sorry. As long as you are improving don't worry.

 

[riverrock]

I've been really lucky with injuries. Even so, I'm still careful because I can't imagine not going to the gym for a long time. It takes time and when you try to force it is when injury occurs. Better safe than sorry. As long as you are improving don't worry.

Another good psot eat big. Have to spread Karma first, but you know your The Man!

 

[BOOEY]

Not from injury, but when I used to do heavy squats, I never really went at full potential. I remember one day, I did my normal work set and got 5 reps out. Then I thought why not add another ten pounds (5 each side) and try it. I repped out another 5 reps. Then I added another ten pounds - guess what? Another 5 reps. At the end of the day, I had added 30 pounds to my squat, and did no more than 5 reps for each set over my working set. I've always been afraid of injury on squats, even though I've never had one, so I think subconsciously I'm always aware of that fear while squatting.