how much should i squat?

[ilankaplan1]

since i never worked out my legs compared to my upper body, i recently started doing squats, and i was wondering if my max bench was 250 , how much should i be able to squat??

[Organichu]

They won't always correspond. Start with the bar- if you can do 10 reps cleanly, go to 10 lbs per side, then 25, etc.

You could be up in the 200s if you're naturally strong, or you could be stuck under 100. -shrug-

[Keith Wassung]

when I started, I struggled with 65lbs for 8 reps

[Dedicated]

when I started, I struggled with 65lbs for 8 reps

Wow that is worse than me, I thought I was like the worst squatter in the history of the world lol. What do you squat now? How long did it take you to get
to where you are now?

[Organichu]

Keith's all time drug free max squat was 710 lbs, as I recall.

[Optimum08]

Keith's all time drug free max squat was 710 lbs, as I recall.

which goes to show u that it doesn't matter where u start, it matters where hard work and discipline take u...and there is now corresponding squat to bench ratio that applies to everyone either...

[Sc00t]

Keith's all time drug free max squat was 710 lbs, as I recall.

That's like squatting 6 of me.

*wee's pants*

[body]

since i never worked out my legs compared to my upper body, i recently started doing squats, and i was wondering if my max bench was 250 , how much should i be able to squat??

start with the bar.
then if thats easy add anophter 20 pounds on.
keep going to it gets hard.
then stop as your be fatuiging your legs.
wait to next week and try a bit more.
give it a while to build up technique as this will help your squat go up quickly.

[Ironminded]

Keith's all time drug free max squat was 710 lbs, as I recall.

Gooooo!!!! thats amazing, huge props for all the hard work and dedication, to go from struggling with 65 to maxing at 710, WOW!!!

To the op; your bench will have almost nothing to do with how much you can squat. Take the advice above and just start with the bar and add weight until it gets hard. It might also be a good idea to get someone who squats regularly, and has GOOD form, to watch you and give you pointers so you don't begin with bad habits or bad form.

[DNL]

yeah dude.. start out light... i started out with 135.. but guess what.. i had poor form. My legs can handle it.. but my lower back can't. and that was how my messed up my lower back. so i went back to 95 for ATF squat and build that up slowly. I found that doing heavy deadlift really helps my squat too. Also, i had try 20 squat/deadlift and really saw improvement on squat the week after.

This is how i'd do mine
12 x bar
10 x 95
6 x 135
5 x 185
4 x 205
3 x 215
2 x 225
1 x _____ whatever i have the guts for.

[Keith Wassung]

I think it took around ten years, or 120 months or 520 weeks or 3560 days to go from 65x 8 to 600 for reps and 700+ for a single. Each workout was hard-the 65x8 was just as hard ( relatively speaking) as 500x8 in later years. You have to develop and maintain the proper mental toughness and discipline which is necessary for you to reach your own potential. This toughness is largely the ability to deal with pain, fatigue and discomfort associated with hard and progressive training. There are tens of thousands of people who want better strength, development and conditioning and they are totally committed to spending two or more hours a day, six days a week in training, they are willing to buy supplements, equipment, they are willing to do just about anything……except to include and embrace pain, fatigue and discomfort as necessary in their training. In fact, everything they do, everything they buy, every excuse they make is to avoid pain, fatigue and discomfort at all costs. The closest thing that I know to a "lifting secret" is this: Once you are willing to be uncomfortable at times in your workout, it does not take long for you to get used to it, in fact you may look forward to it and thrive on it. This is when you will embark on the journey to achieving the potential that lies within you.

[Keith Wassung]

let me add one more thing. I was talking with a guy I know who has been lifting for about 8 years and has developed a pretty good squat along with all-around strength and development. Recently he and I were talking and he said " Can I tell you something" and he said it in as if he was embarrassed or was about to confess a crime or something. I said "sure", and he says " After all of these years I still am scared when I am standing in front of the squat rack, preparing to do squats" I laughed and said, "believe me, I have been doing this for 26 years and I still get scared-if I was'nt than I am not training very hard" See, the secret is not to eradicate the "fear" it is too "face" the fear.

The legendary John Wayne said Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”

well put Duke!

[Big Bas]

let me add one more thing. I was talking with a guy I know who has been lifting for about 8 years and has developed a pretty good squat along with all-around strength and development. Recently he and I were talking and he said " Can I tell you something" and he said it in as if he was embarrassed or was about to confess a crime or something. I said "sure", and he says " After all of these years I still am scared when I am standing in front of the squat rack, preparing to do squats" I laughed and said, "believe me, I have been doing this for 26 years and I still get scared-if I was'nt than I am not training very hard" See, the secret is not to eradicate the "fear" it is too "face" the fear.

The legendary John Wayne said Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”

well put Duke!

well said... i think the squat is the only exercise that i get "scared" before.

[TheGame]

I would try using the Smith Machine to try squating for the first couple of times. It will allow you to rack the weight if it feels too heavy and you can get the feel for a good form. I still mix the my squats every couple of weeks with smith machine so that I can go really heavy and force my legs to push harder.

[Max-Mex]

Might as well just use the leg press. Using the smith to help your real squat is pointless IMO. Just do real squats with a lighter weight, then work up to a heavier one.

[Paul Stagg]

I think it took around ten years, or 120 months or 520 weeks or 3560 days to go from 65x 8 to 600 for reps and 700+ for a single. Each workout was hard-the 65x8 was just as hard ( relatively speaking) as 500x8 in later years. You have to develop and maintain the proper mental toughness and discipline which is necessary for you to reach your own potential. This toughness is largely the ability to deal with pain, fatigue and discomfort associated with hard and progressive training. There are tens of thousands of people who want better strength, development and conditioning and they are totally committed to spending two or more hours a day, six days a week in training, they are willing to buy supplements, equipment, they are willing to do just about anything……except to include and embrace pain, fatigue and discomfort as necessary in their training. In fact, everything they do, everything they buy, every excuse they make is to avoid pain, fatigue and discomfort at all costs. The closest thing that I know to a "lifting secret" is this: Once you are willing to be uncomfortable at times in your workout, it does not take long for you to get used to it, in fact you may look forward to it and thrive on it. This is when you will embark on the journey to achieving the potential that lies within you.

This is one of the best posts I've ever seen.

[harv]

This is one of the best posts I've ever seen.

:withstupi
Man if that doesn't inspire you...nothing will!

[JTyrell710]

when I started, I struggled with 65lbs for 8 reps

Someone who is exactly as weak as i was a few months ago starting. This gives me an incredible amount of hope. Man if i could be squatting 700 at age 26...

[JAROD]

let me add one more thing. I was talking with a guy I know who has been lifting for about 8 years and has developed a pretty good squat along with all-around strength and development. Recently he and I were talking and he said " Can I tell you something" and he said it in as if he was embarrassed or was about to confess a crime or something. I said "sure", and he says " After all of these years I still am scared when I am standing in front of the squat rack, preparing to do squats" I laughed and said, "believe me, I have been doing this for 26 years and I still get scared-if I was'nt than I am not training very hard" See, the secret is not to eradicate the "fear" it is too "face" the fear.

The legendary John Wayne said Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”

well put Duke!

wow that is something i dont think i will forget and is prob the greatest post iv seen!!

[KoSh]

Not gonna lie, I get scared crapless before squatting and deadlifting...

Squatting cuz I always think I'm going to kill myself...

Deadlift because I'm deathly afraid of not being able to get the bar off the ground at higher weights after I'm fatigued... Usually that fear is enough to make myself get the bar off the ground.

[Girn]

ive started about a month ago and right now I do 200 pound squats.. 185 deadlift.. 110 pound bench press

[mrelwooddowd]

great posts, keith..

[TJH]

This is one of the best posts I've ever seen.

I'm on a lot of forums for many different topics for many years now and it might be the best of all time. Incredible post.

-Tim