You are only as strong as you think you are

You are only as strong as you think you are.

Well, I am only as strong as I think I am.

I have been whining about my lack of progress on the back squat for about a year. Last summer, I PRed the lift at 150# (body-weight around 135#) and since then, it has stalled. Stalled so much so, that the last time I tried to max my squat over a year later, I struggled to hit 145# and 150# was not even possible.

Friday night, we were attempting to max a few different lifts (plan was Crossfit Total, but ended up doing strict press, back squat, overhead squat).

I warmed up with 115#. Not easy.

135#. Same.

145#. Ugh.

155#. Fail.

At least I’m quite the pro at bailing.

I have been putting a huge emphasis on Oly lifting, and I cannot tell you how many front squats and pause squats I have done over the past month. All of my lifts for reps are going up and I have never felt stronger! But herein lies the problem..

I freak out with weight on my back.

I started confident and set myself up under the bar, unracked that 155#, and the moment it rested on my back, all I was thinking was it was so heavy and there was so much weight there, there was no way I was going to stand it up. I have been whining and complaining about my back squat expecting that I should be strong enough to do it, yet not fully committing to the lift.

I typically squat low, and here I almost force myself to stop at parallel, then I give up.

I ended up making that lift, but I was less than ecstatic about finally PRing because it was not a solid lift and I didn’t feel very strong doing it, and because I think I should be able to do more (never mind the fact that I don’t back squat hardly ever.. but compared to my other lifts).

But, let’s look at what happened next.

Quick flashback to last fall where I maxed my overhead squat at 95# during a competition. I haven’t done heavy overhead squats in a awhile, so wanted to attempt to max that as well. I have been doing Oly lifting everyday, so figure since I could snatch 95#, hopefully my OHS will reflect the progress.

95#. Simple.

100#. No problem. 105#. Done. 110#. Easy.

115#. Wow, I really can keep going?

Someone even commented that the look on my face seemed surprised that the lift was as easy as it was.

Rather than exhaust myself adding 5# at a time and spending all day doing so, I did my last attempt at 125#, figuring whatever happens, happens. Besides, my max jerk is only 130# (as of last week), so I knew I wouldn’t be able to get much more weigh overhead (from a snatch grip, behind the neck), let alone squat it.

So 125# on the bar.. and no problem.

The funny thing is, though, I was so hyped up on adrenaline that I was consistently making lift after lift, it fueled my confidence. I love heavy overhead squats and I have a positive attitude towards them over back squats, so I was much more determined than anything to keep going. Why can’t I apply that to my back squat?

As much as lifting is obviously physical and a significant portion of the lifts do rely on proper form and technique, I think an even larger factor sometimes is the mental aspect.

We only have the physical capacity to be as strong as we mentally think we are.

If I think I will never squat more than 150#, chances are I am not going to load the bar up with more and squat it effortlessly.

If I think I can overhead squat 125# and I know the work that I have been putting in can translate into that lift, it will happen.

If I think I can’t snatch 100# because I have failed it numerous times, it won’t magically just work unless I want it.

Sometimes I think we all just need a shift in perspective about our lifts to make them happen. I still despise back squats, and there are likely mobility and strength issues that may prevent it from going up much higher, but I also know that if I never truly believe that I will exceed my max, it likely will not happen.

Your turn.
Is there something that you are preventing yourself from doing because the mind wins over?
Has there been a lift that you are stalled at forever and nothing is working?
What was the last lift you PRed that you surprised yourself?