Squats

[Dalcassian]

Hey guys, my squats are way behind my other lifts. I had ACL/MCL/meniscus reconstructive surgery a few years back around the end of middle school, so I've been taking it light for lower body stuff since I started power lifting.

Right now my bench press is at 300, deadlift 430 (hopefully 450 in a couple weeks!) and I haven't maxed on squats.

Today I did low box squats, 135x5, (250x5)x4, 275x3, and then 135x15 at the end of my workout.

I'm going to max out next week, and was hoping somebody could give me some input on how much to aim for, as well as the sets I should do leading up to it.

Thanks!

[t_mh]

Dunno if you've seen this, but generally people use this formula:

Max = Weight x Reps x .0333 + Weight

So if you went 275x3, that's a max of 275 x 3 x .0333 + 275 = 302.

Just a rule of thumb.

[shizz702]

Go for 315, if you can hit a triple with 275 your probably good for 3 plates.

Just don't overdo it on the warm ups and make sure you're good and fresh for the max.

[ironshaolin]

I know the guys at westside like to do it like this. Keep adding 10-20 lbs at a time doing 5 reps. When you get to a weight you know you won't make 5, drop to sets of 3 reps and keep working up in 10-20 lb intervals. When you get to a weight you can't get 3 in, drop to singles, and keep adding 10-20lbs until you find your max. Although that percentage given is good. I highly recommend Jim Wendler's 5/3/1 e-manual for getting strong.

[VinceRkg]

So should squats be first on leg days?

[Dalcassian]

So should squats be first on leg days?

I would say yes; every day I train there's always one main exercise I do, whether it's deadlift, squats, or some form of bench press. I finish sets with one of those before I move on to other things.