4 ms·

I used to have terrible "programmer" posture. It's still not great, but it's way better. I credit a regular routine of loaded barbell squats with an experienced

I used to have terrible "programmer" posture. It's still not great, but it's way better. I credit a regular routine of loaded barbell squats with an experienced trainer. I think part of the progress is because I got stronger, but part of the progress is because the squat would point out quirks in my body that simply had to be fixed in order to continue progressing. There's only so much of "try to sit up straight" before you just go back to sitting the way your body has adapted to sit. In general, your body doesn't want to change. You need to provide some sort of external stress that forces an adaptation. Squats are great for this.

ehnto 9y ago
Likewise. I have been powerlifting for over 7 years now and there are things about my body I would have never realised until they had gotten much worse. Like that I always leaned slightly to the left because of how I had my mouse, and I had a way overdeveloped right spinal erector and funky core because of it. Likewise still not perfect, but simply leagues ahead of my former physical self. I wouldn't recommend powerlifting to everyone, but some kind of weight training and especially the squat and deadlift. You can pick a weight training style to suit your goals though. I have moved to a more powerlifting / bodybuilding regiment as I have reached the strength level I am happy with at my current bodyweight.
- dvtv75 9y ago
  If someone reading this is going to use resistance training to "fix" their weaknesses, it's important to have a trainer assist as they can pick poor technique when you think you're doing it perfectly. For example, I used to be a fencer, and as a result my left leg was much stronger than my right. I thought I was doing squats correctly, but a trainer spotted that I was tilting my hips as I was doing the exercise.
  - jbaudanza 9y ago
    This is definitely true. And finding a good trainer is difficult. For my SF friends, I've worked with Linda Chungchootairong at www.opengymsf.com before. She's an accomplished competitive powerlifter and olympic lifter. She can make sure your squat is on point. She also has a sick deadlift.
cup-of-tea 9y ago
Deadlifts did more for me than squats ever did. That will really strengthen your back. That and lots of pulling movements for the upper back. If you can't do ten pull ups then you're weak.
Cthulhu_ 9y ago
I went to a personal trainer about a year and a half ago; when trying squats, he pointed out a load of issues and started me on what felt more like a physical therapy program than a gym program, working on (primarily) flexibility in the err, calves? No the joint below the calves, the thing that moves your foot. Forgot the name. That, and my knees were wobbling a lot when lifting, so those were also sorted out. It was uncomfortable and painful to squat, but it really was just broken. Need to keep those exercises up, too, I still can't do a proper / relaxed / balanced one without weights.
- heymijo 9y ago
  Ankles! Little humans (kids) have great mobility in their ankles, hips, and shoulders. Big humans (adults) generally have poor ankle/hip/shoulder mobility. The body compensates by doing more with the knees, back, and neck. Hence the preponderance of back problems, knee problems, neck problems. Everyone has unique bio-mechanics but sounds like your trainer started off diligently. Goblet squats are a good way to groove and re-train the squat pattern in adults with bad mobility. Dr. John Rusin, a physical therapist, has quite a few easy to understand articles on his site. Here's one on goblet squats. https://drjohnrusin.com/goblet-squat-variations/ https://drjohnrusin.com/goblet-squat-variations/ Other good people to learn from are Eric Cressey (uses a bit more technical language) and Ben Bruno. Not a mutually exclusive list though by any means! https://ericcressey.com/?s=squat https://ericcressey.com/?s=squat https://www.instagram.com/benbrunotraining/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/benbrunotraining/?hl=en http://benbruno.com/ http://benbruno.com/
deepGem 9y ago
Starting strength is a good book to learn about barbell squats. Pretty simple to understand and the postures are mostly based on angles w.r.t joints.

ehnto 9y ago

Likewise. I have been powerlifting for over 7 years now and there are things about my body I would have never realised until they had gotten much worse. Like that I always leaned slightly to the left because of how I had my mouse, and I had a way overdeveloped right spinal erector and funky core because of it. Likewise still not perfect, but simply leagues ahead of my former physical self. I wouldn't recommend powerlifting to everyone, but some kind of weight training and especially the squat and deadlift. You can pick a weight training style to suit your goals though. I have moved to a more powerlifting / bodybuilding regiment as I have reached the strength level I am happy with at my current bodyweight.

dvtv75 9y ago
If someone reading this is going to use resistance training to "fix" their weaknesses, it's important to have a trainer assist as they can pick poor technique when you think you're doing it perfectly. For example, I used to be a fencer, and as a result my left leg was much stronger than my right. I thought I was doing squats correctly, but a trainer spotted that I was tilting my hips as I was doing the exercise.
- jbaudanza 9y ago
  This is definitely true. And finding a good trainer is difficult. For my SF friends, I've worked with Linda Chungchootairong at www.opengymsf.com before. She's an accomplished competitive powerlifter and olympic lifter. She can make sure your squat is on point. She also has a sick deadlift.

cup-of-tea 9y ago

Deadlifts did more for me than squats ever did. That will really strengthen your back. That and lots of pulling movements for the upper back. If you can't do ten pull ups then you're weak.

Cthulhu_ 9y ago

I went to a personal trainer about a year and a half ago; when trying squats, he pointed out a load of issues and started me on what felt more like a physical therapy program than a gym program, working on (primarily) flexibility in the err, calves? No the joint below the calves, the thing that moves your foot. Forgot the name. That, and my knees were wobbling a lot when lifting, so those were also sorted out. It was uncomfortable and painful to squat, but it really was just broken. Need to keep those exercises up, too, I still can't do a proper / relaxed / balanced one without weights.

heymijo 9y ago
Ankles! Little humans (kids) have great mobility in their ankles, hips, and shoulders. Big humans (adults) generally have poor ankle/hip/shoulder mobility. The body compensates by doing more with the knees, back, and neck. Hence the preponderance of back problems, knee problems, neck problems. Everyone has unique bio-mechanics but sounds like your trainer started off diligently. Goblet squats are a good way to groove and re-train the squat pattern in adults with bad mobility. Dr. John Rusin, a physical therapist, has quite a few easy to understand articles on his site. Here's one on goblet squats. https://drjohnrusin.com/goblet-squat-variations/ https://drjohnrusin.com/goblet-squat-variations/ Other good people to learn from are Eric Cressey (uses a bit more technical language) and Ben Bruno. Not a mutually exclusive list though by any means! https://ericcressey.com/?s=squat https://ericcressey.com/?s=squat https://www.instagram.com/benbrunotraining/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/benbrunotraining/?hl=en http://benbruno.com/ http://benbruno.com/

deepGem 9y ago

Starting strength is a good book to learn about barbell squats. Pretty simple to understand and the postures are mostly based on angles w.r.t joints.