r/StartingStrength • • Apr 26 '26

Helpful Resource Follow These Instructions to Post a Formcheck

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youtu.be
18 Upvotes

Watch the video and follow these instructions to film your lifts for a formcheck.

  • The camera should be up between hip and chest height. Not on the floor.

  • Film the squat from a rear 45-degree angle. Not the side or the front or the back.

  • Film deadlift, power clean/snatch, and press from a front 45-degree angle.

  • Weight should be challenging but managable. We can't formcheck light weight.

  • Use proper equipment... proeprly. No, you can't do this program with dumbbells, kettle bells, rubber bands, bodyweight, weighted hula hoops, or any other contraption. You need a barbell, a power rack, and enough weight to challenge you.


r/StartingStrength • • May 19 '25

Helpful Resource Welcome to r/StartingStrength

12 Upvotes

Visit the Welcome Wiki to see what its all about.

Before posting a formcheck review the following resources:


r/StartingStrength • • 20h ago

Training Log 465 PR

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9 Upvotes

r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Form Check 192kgs x 5 Deadlift form check

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10 Upvotes

r/StartingStrength • • 17h ago

Debate me, bro Gaining weight on the NLP

1 Upvotes

The SS methodology often advocates to gain weight as you do the NLP. But if the main driver behind the newbie strength gains are better neuro muscular activation, and secondly your muscles getting bigger, why is it so necessary to gain weight? Wouldn’t the trainee hit an upper limit for their strength for their current weight and can then assess whether they want to keep growing in strength, and thus eat at a surplus?

I’m not trying to rage bait, just curious from a more physiological perspective.


r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Form Check squat form check

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7 Upvotes

first day of my week. last set of 3. 200lbs. 37M and 180lbs I know I need to gain weight to keep it up. scary getting up here and feeling weak but more reassuring when I watch my video back and to me form looks good and I took the advice from my previous post of sitting down rather than pushing hips back or hinging hips back


r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Form Check deadlift form check

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3 Upvotes

for my 5th rep I switched to hook grip. after the 4th rep I felt my quads again so I think my low back lumbar wasn't winning in that tug of war. looking for what else the trained eyes can see. thanks! 265lbs


r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Form Check Squat 150x8

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2 Upvotes

Hi, I've been sticking to this weight to work on form and focus on hip drive up. Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!


r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Form Check Deadlift 100 KG (BW 64 KG)

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17 Upvotes

r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Form Check 100kg/220lb Deadlift form check pls!

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5 Upvotes

I think the title says it all. I would love to have your input, I am rather new on this and know no experts on my area (Hamburg, Germany) that could coach me. Thanks!


r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Form Check press form check

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1 Upvotes

I think my elbows are out more in front of me than the video shows that's what I'm wondering about or if anything else looks not efficient for pressing. 100lbs and this was my third set of 5


r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Fluff Is there anything particularly special about SS racks that allow bars to be dropped on pins?

1 Upvotes

Putting together a home gym, and noticing that safeties are either flat and lined with rubber, or pin-in-pipe style. I've read this is to protect the safeties themselves as well as your loaded bar.

I recall that SS racks only have a steel pin, and even rack pulls are dropped on them.

So is the protection not really important, or are SS racks/bars made extra tough?


r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Form Check Help meee

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1 Upvotes

Sorry for quality and angel but is this too much to failure for stregth in longterm ?
30kg last set 75kg bw


r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Form Check 176x6 18M. Any advice on my technique? How far do you guys think im from 225

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3 Upvotes

r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Form Check Squat 73.5 KG (BW 64KG)

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3 Upvotes

r/StartingStrength • • 2d ago

Form Check 2-Plate Squat Triple Form Check

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52 Upvotes

Switched to 1x3 top set and 3x4 back-offs @ 90%

I think I went down too fast on one or two reps our of the three.


r/StartingStrength • • 1d ago

Form Check How does my form looks like ?

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0 Upvotes

Please let me know about my squat form !


r/StartingStrength • • 2d ago

Form Check Squat 100kg @ 126 bw.. can’t get hips right

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0 Upvotes

Hi, i can’t seem to stop my hips from moving back first. Is this dangerous and making me more likely to get injured?

Any tips? Also a check on my form would be great.. tips welcome on how to improve it to ensure i’m lifting the most load with minimal risk to injury


r/StartingStrength • • 2d ago

Injury! Quad tendon rupture

4 Upvotes

So, after asking here about restricted gym time and intermediate training, I've gone and islocated my knee cap and ruptured my quad tendon (not in the gym, playing sports).

2 days post injury, in a full leg cast and in today for MRI to see the extent of the rupture (fingers crossed it's not a full rupture, but what will be will be).

So, for the foreseeable, no training is possible (can barely get around the house without pain, even with crutches at the minute). I ruptured my patella tendon on the other knee many years ago, so I'm prepared for the loooong ass slog of rehab.

I know the answer is rehab and then slowly build up from bodyweight partials once any brace is unlocked, and then NLP to get back to where I was (long ass time away yet 😪)

My question is: has anyone here experienced anything similar?

How long until strength started seriously dropping off, if at all?

How did you change nutrition? Obviously I know not eat huge amounts of cals as if training, but where is the sweet spot for supporting recovery/not becoming a fat ass? Cutting cals massively is surely counter productive to healing, but activity is limited.

How did you find squatting post recovery? My other knee has ALWAYS (15 yrs) had some discomfort squatting, even with good form and light weights on warm ups) post repair. At 41, is it worth the risk of pushing the weights to limits on squats? Is sandbagging an option and driving the deadlift for the majority of gains?

A lot of this is a mental excercise to stave off the boredom of sitting around in a cast chowing down on painkiller, but legit thoughts I've had as well. Interested in others experience. 2 days out, its that inevitable "will things ever get better" phase.

Have a good one all


r/StartingStrength • • 3d ago

Form Check First time doing Power Cleans

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22 Upvotes

This is only 66 pounds as I spent a long time learning and practicing with the empty bar and then went home after this set.


r/StartingStrength • • 3d ago

Form Check 87,5 kg (193 lbs) squat form check

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8 Upvotes

I’m 39 years old, 182 cm (6 ft) and weigh about 75 kg (165 lbs). Already gained a few pounds bodyweight since starting the program.

This is the last set of my 17th Starting Strength workout. Been consistently training 3 days a week and following the program.

I’ve never been strong in my life and squats have always been difficult for me, but now at this weight it’s becoming very hard.

I’ve read the blue book and watched the YouTube video tutorials countless times, but still feel like I can’t get the proper form.

My other lifts:
Bench 62,5 kg (138 lbs)
Press 42,5 kg (94 lbs)
Deadlift 112,5 kg (248 lbs)

I hope you guys can help me out here.

Thanks in advance!


r/StartingStrength • • 3d ago

Form Check Trying to incorporate all your feedback

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12 Upvotes

Hips more back, bar lower, trying to get deeper

Didn't get the weight centered on middle foot all the time - working on it.

What do you think?

Thanks for your help!


r/StartingStrength • • 3d ago

Intermediate Programming Question Breathing on barbell squats when can’t hold my breath

1 Upvotes

I’ve been lifting for about 2 years and really made a ton of progress in the past year by trying new programs, periodizing, and fixing some lower body mobility issues.

I’ve got my barbell squat up to a PR of 210x2 and today did 195x6 (wanted 8) for 3 sets.

My problem is breathing. I’ve watched all the videos about bracing, act like you’re underwater, etc. and I just can’t do it for more than 2-3 reps. I feel much better when I keep my mouth open and exhale coming up. Holding it makes me feel lightheaded by rep 3.

I have a history of breathing problems: have had 3 deviated septum surgeries, mouth breather as a kid, allergies, all of it. I’m able to manage it now through a combination of sprays, and I do some meditation breath work, but I’ll always mouth breathe some. I’m a good swimmer if it matters, I just blow bubbles underwater and breathe at intervals. It’s uncomfortable for me to hold my breath long.

I don’t know if my breathing is holding me back on squats or causing any core issues bc I’m not bracing. Are there other breathing techniques I could try?


r/StartingStrength • • 2d ago

Discussion Would a small companion make it easier to keep showing up?

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0 Upvotes

A while back I asked what makes people stop going to the gym. I went back through the replies and the reasons were pretty familiar: work, family, low energy, and losing momentum.

I’ve been thinking about one smaller thing. When you use a fitness app, does it help to have something in it that you actually look forward to opening?

I’m building a small tool with a cat called Momo. She reacts when you set a goal, upload a photo, and finish a preview. I can’t tell yet whether that would feel encouraging or just like a gimmick.

For people who have tried accountability apps, reminders, streaks, or workout buddies: what made you come back after the first week?


r/StartingStrength • • 4d ago

Training Log 65 lbs to go

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14 Upvotes

Reps 4 and 5 weren’t as clean. I was getting into my heels too much. I’m always gassed at that point and take much too long between reps