Post by lovelace on May 30, 2007 20:35:37 GMT -5
I found this old article I wrote a loooooonnnnnngggg time ago when Jason, Keith, Walter, Tom and myself worked out together in my basement. Kinda made me feel warm and fuzzy! LOL It brought back a lot of memories of the first time putting on a squat suit. I would guess this was around 1999 or 2000? I shortly after met Tracy and Jamie Langdon at a Tim King meet and squatted 610 at 275 in my first assisted full meet. This believe it or not was the state record at the time. It was a Inzer Hardcore squat suit. Hope you enjoy and get a chuckle!
God Bless, Mike
First Assisted Experience
I am going to try and capture what I felt the first time I wore a squat suit and the differences between it and raw lifting. This is only my personal experience and I am not trying to sway anyone for or against assisted lifting. I have always lifted raw, honestly, I have always sworn not to put on a piece of equipment. Just call me old fashioned, but never had the desire to wear and wanted to keep things pure. I never really had anything against those that did lift assisted, just didn’t put them in the same category as myself when comparing numbers. Hopefully one will be able to maybe visualize my experience and this may help those that have wondered what it would be like to try one on!
There I stood, in my living room, opening the box that I knew contained what I always said I would never wear, my squat suit. I held it up in front of me…yeah, like a girl trying on a dress for the first time! I told myself, your big butt is not going to fit in that tiny little wrestling singlet. I could just hear the laughter of everyone when I tried it on. I am sorry, I just have this stereotype about wearing singlets! I always feel awkward when wearing one, like everyone else is saying, “look at that ballerina!” O.K., back to the topic, I was dying to try it on, so I pulled, tucked, sucked in my gut,etc.. etc.. till finally I had it up enough to pull one strap up. I uttered under my breath; you’ll never get the other strap up. It just didn’t feel right! Then again, I had never worn one before. Off it came until tomorrow, my first action with it on.
Things were crazy this day, I had taken off work early to be at home for a 2pm trophy delivery that would arrive… right in the middle of my 5pm workout! Keith had told me the day before to try and turn the suit inside out, thinking it would be easier to put on. So before anyone had arrived, I had to figure if I turned this thing inside out, would I be putting it on backwards? I didn’t want Keith and Jason to have anything else to laugh at…I just knew they were going to laugh at the singlet thing! Jason arrived first and asked me if this was the singlet I was going to wear; I played it cool, yeah! He picks it up and looks at it, throws it back down…d**n…he messed me up…I had to now figure out if I was putting it on right again when the time came to strap it up!
It was workout time; we cranked up the music and did several sets with lower weight warming up. Once we hit the 365 number, I decided to go ahead and put on the suit. Yes, I was able to figure out the right way without letting them know I was paranoid about it. Once I had it up, Keith and Jason helped me do some tugging and pull the straps up and make sure everything was straight. It felt real tight everywhere, I do mean everywhere. You definitely have to make sure things are in place, if you know what I am talking about! I tried to squat down, could only go about a third of the way down, shazaam, it hit me, this was going to work once I was under some weight.
I grabbed both ends of the bar, looked straight ahead and then ducked my head under the bar to place it correctly on my back. I lifted the weight up, took a right step backwards then a left. I was set up…ready to squat down! I went down slowly, once I reached about half way in my normal squat stance, it felt like my stomach was heading towards my throat. Not that I was sick, just my gut had know where to go and it felt as if the suit was pushing it up! I went all the way down, I couldn’t tell if I was below parallel. My knees were turned in slightly. This was not right! I exploded back up! I continued a couple of more reps and then racked. First thing I heard,
“Did it help you any?”
I could tell it was going to help, no doubt! I just had to get my form right and maybe put my belt a little lower. I also had to get use to my legs being numb. The biggest problem I had was trying to figure out if I was below parallel! The suit gave me a big boost at the bottom! It actually felt real good! It felt tight through the hips, glutes and hams. It helped my lower back and kept me tight in the mid-section. I was starting to have confidence in this new toy of mine! “Let’s add another plate!”
We kept adding weight until I had reached ten more pounds than my previous raw max. I was a little cautious of this, but knew I had a little more spring in my pants. I unracked the weight, tried to set up, things were a little unstable, finally, I was ready to squat. Again, I began to lower the weight slowly. At the bottom, I exploded! The weight felt real light! I realized that the suit was giving me so much at the bottom! If I could just break parallel, it was coming up! I calculated twenty-five more pounds than my previous max and prepared for battle. Squatting this much more than my previous raw attempt had me psyched up! This was how much I wanted to do raw for sometime now! I backed it out…squatting real slow…I could really feel the weight…down…down..down…BOOM! It came up like a rocket! I just shooked my head from side to side. I could not believe how much I was getting out of this new battle friend of mine. Keith and Jason asked if I wanted more on the bar, I told them no, not today, didn’t want to injure myself the first time I tried out the suit.
What did I learn? There are a couple of things that stood out! The negatives I will recall first. I didn’t like the fact of not knowing if I was below parallel. Then again, who does in a meet! I didn’t like the numbness of my legs because of the tight legs in the suit. I didn’t like the scary feeling of the heavier weight at the top while backing out and setting up…was scary! The next couple of days, my ankles were sore from handling more weight and backing out with the bigger load. Believe it or not, that was all and really those were some just getting use to factors!
What I liked! I felt confident when I was at the bottom of the lift! I also thought the suit does have many safety advantages! It was tight through the mid- section, hips, glutes and hams. It made me stand more erect in my squatting stance. It was an ego boost! Those that say it is not and your only doing it for safety reasons…come on…you know the adrenaline rush of squatting more than what you can raw is awesome!
In my final assessment of lifting with a suit, it was a positive adventure. It was a learning experience. I before never had the experience and now I do. I can give a fair first hand comment on a question concerning lifting with a suit. I know I can get 50 to 75 more pounds than a raw squat (not everyone gets this much carry over). I will not lift assisted all the time, I will continue to train and compete raw! I do believe there are safety advantages to lifting with a suit. As long as you know your parameters, you will be fine! I also realize that I need to practice handling more weight at the top because of the boost at the bottom. I guess I will have to buy a bench shirt next..ha ha. I can truly say that one should compare their numbers to others with the same equipment or raw totals. To state how much I can squat…I would have to ask, “Is that raw or assisted”? There is a big difference! These are my personal feelings and opinions. I hope I have somehow helped those that have often wondered or asked the same questions that I have now answered for myself! Train hard, Mike
God Bless, Mike
First Assisted Experience
I am going to try and capture what I felt the first time I wore a squat suit and the differences between it and raw lifting. This is only my personal experience and I am not trying to sway anyone for or against assisted lifting. I have always lifted raw, honestly, I have always sworn not to put on a piece of equipment. Just call me old fashioned, but never had the desire to wear and wanted to keep things pure. I never really had anything against those that did lift assisted, just didn’t put them in the same category as myself when comparing numbers. Hopefully one will be able to maybe visualize my experience and this may help those that have wondered what it would be like to try one on!
There I stood, in my living room, opening the box that I knew contained what I always said I would never wear, my squat suit. I held it up in front of me…yeah, like a girl trying on a dress for the first time! I told myself, your big butt is not going to fit in that tiny little wrestling singlet. I could just hear the laughter of everyone when I tried it on. I am sorry, I just have this stereotype about wearing singlets! I always feel awkward when wearing one, like everyone else is saying, “look at that ballerina!” O.K., back to the topic, I was dying to try it on, so I pulled, tucked, sucked in my gut,etc.. etc.. till finally I had it up enough to pull one strap up. I uttered under my breath; you’ll never get the other strap up. It just didn’t feel right! Then again, I had never worn one before. Off it came until tomorrow, my first action with it on.
Things were crazy this day, I had taken off work early to be at home for a 2pm trophy delivery that would arrive… right in the middle of my 5pm workout! Keith had told me the day before to try and turn the suit inside out, thinking it would be easier to put on. So before anyone had arrived, I had to figure if I turned this thing inside out, would I be putting it on backwards? I didn’t want Keith and Jason to have anything else to laugh at…I just knew they were going to laugh at the singlet thing! Jason arrived first and asked me if this was the singlet I was going to wear; I played it cool, yeah! He picks it up and looks at it, throws it back down…d**n…he messed me up…I had to now figure out if I was putting it on right again when the time came to strap it up!
It was workout time; we cranked up the music and did several sets with lower weight warming up. Once we hit the 365 number, I decided to go ahead and put on the suit. Yes, I was able to figure out the right way without letting them know I was paranoid about it. Once I had it up, Keith and Jason helped me do some tugging and pull the straps up and make sure everything was straight. It felt real tight everywhere, I do mean everywhere. You definitely have to make sure things are in place, if you know what I am talking about! I tried to squat down, could only go about a third of the way down, shazaam, it hit me, this was going to work once I was under some weight.
I grabbed both ends of the bar, looked straight ahead and then ducked my head under the bar to place it correctly on my back. I lifted the weight up, took a right step backwards then a left. I was set up…ready to squat down! I went down slowly, once I reached about half way in my normal squat stance, it felt like my stomach was heading towards my throat. Not that I was sick, just my gut had know where to go and it felt as if the suit was pushing it up! I went all the way down, I couldn’t tell if I was below parallel. My knees were turned in slightly. This was not right! I exploded back up! I continued a couple of more reps and then racked. First thing I heard,
“Did it help you any?”
I could tell it was going to help, no doubt! I just had to get my form right and maybe put my belt a little lower. I also had to get use to my legs being numb. The biggest problem I had was trying to figure out if I was below parallel! The suit gave me a big boost at the bottom! It actually felt real good! It felt tight through the hips, glutes and hams. It helped my lower back and kept me tight in the mid-section. I was starting to have confidence in this new toy of mine! “Let’s add another plate!”
We kept adding weight until I had reached ten more pounds than my previous raw max. I was a little cautious of this, but knew I had a little more spring in my pants. I unracked the weight, tried to set up, things were a little unstable, finally, I was ready to squat. Again, I began to lower the weight slowly. At the bottom, I exploded! The weight felt real light! I realized that the suit was giving me so much at the bottom! If I could just break parallel, it was coming up! I calculated twenty-five more pounds than my previous max and prepared for battle. Squatting this much more than my previous raw attempt had me psyched up! This was how much I wanted to do raw for sometime now! I backed it out…squatting real slow…I could really feel the weight…down…down..down…BOOM! It came up like a rocket! I just shooked my head from side to side. I could not believe how much I was getting out of this new battle friend of mine. Keith and Jason asked if I wanted more on the bar, I told them no, not today, didn’t want to injure myself the first time I tried out the suit.
What did I learn? There are a couple of things that stood out! The negatives I will recall first. I didn’t like the fact of not knowing if I was below parallel. Then again, who does in a meet! I didn’t like the numbness of my legs because of the tight legs in the suit. I didn’t like the scary feeling of the heavier weight at the top while backing out and setting up…was scary! The next couple of days, my ankles were sore from handling more weight and backing out with the bigger load. Believe it or not, that was all and really those were some just getting use to factors!
What I liked! I felt confident when I was at the bottom of the lift! I also thought the suit does have many safety advantages! It was tight through the mid- section, hips, glutes and hams. It made me stand more erect in my squatting stance. It was an ego boost! Those that say it is not and your only doing it for safety reasons…come on…you know the adrenaline rush of squatting more than what you can raw is awesome!
In my final assessment of lifting with a suit, it was a positive adventure. It was a learning experience. I before never had the experience and now I do. I can give a fair first hand comment on a question concerning lifting with a suit. I know I can get 50 to 75 more pounds than a raw squat (not everyone gets this much carry over). I will not lift assisted all the time, I will continue to train and compete raw! I do believe there are safety advantages to lifting with a suit. As long as you know your parameters, you will be fine! I also realize that I need to practice handling more weight at the top because of the boost at the bottom. I guess I will have to buy a bench shirt next..ha ha. I can truly say that one should compare their numbers to others with the same equipment or raw totals. To state how much I can squat…I would have to ask, “Is that raw or assisted”? There is a big difference! These are my personal feelings and opinions. I hope I have somehow helped those that have often wondered or asked the same questions that I have now answered for myself! Train hard, Mike
