Hi all, I resumed weight training close to 9 months ago,and am now soon approaching to a year. A year before that I weight trained at the gym on and off as well, and have primarily focussed on the big three lifts.
However it seems my squats just seem to get weaker each time I have a go at it. I consistently perform squat training at least once a week, and only recently managed to find my groove back (as in being comfortable enough to go ATG) but I can't seem to go beyond 100kg comfortably (I do 5-3-1 sets to work to my max). My knees creak alot and alot of.times they feel sore and want to give way. I have tried half squat to focus on the quads but couple of times and it was worse as my knees felt.like they were about to pop due to the sheer stress places on the knees in the half squat position. Also after each "tough" suqat session, while my quads felt sore upon completing the set, I don't get the sore that I used to get when I was younger, as in no aches but my knees definitely feel abit sore.
I've started kettlebell lunges and they don't stress my knees the way squat does and am able to go deep and work the quads more. Also I recently did a leg press with a wide v stance to try to remove knee impingements and could comfortably go up to 4 20kg plates on each side.
I'm not sure if I should still go at it with squats or just do away with it entirely. I had a few near misses with squats that left me a few scares. But being the stubborn me, I'm just wondering where am I lacking in my squats that I can't push to even 120kg comfortably. I've seen so many videos skinny guys comfortably hitting twice their bodyweight on the bar, and I can't seem to hit 1.6 times my bodyweight.
Anyone feels the same?
Edit: I'm 40 years old trying to get stronger. I have small bones and wonder if bone density has anything to do with strength.
However it seems my squats just seem to get weaker each time I have a go at it. I consistently perform squat training at least once a week, and only recently managed to find my groove back (as in being comfortable enough to go ATG) but I can't seem to go beyond 100kg comfortably (I do 5-3-1 sets to work to my max). My knees creak alot and alot of.times they feel sore and want to give way. I have tried half squat to focus on the quads but couple of times and it was worse as my knees felt.like they were about to pop due to the sheer stress places on the knees in the half squat position. Also after each "tough" suqat session, while my quads felt sore upon completing the set, I don't get the sore that I used to get when I was younger, as in no aches but my knees definitely feel abit sore.
I've started kettlebell lunges and they don't stress my knees the way squat does and am able to go deep and work the quads more. Also I recently did a leg press with a wide v stance to try to remove knee impingements and could comfortably go up to 4 20kg plates on each side.
I'm not sure if I should still go at it with squats or just do away with it entirely. I had a few near misses with squats that left me a few scares. But being the stubborn me, I'm just wondering where am I lacking in my squats that I can't push to even 120kg comfortably. I've seen so many videos skinny guys comfortably hitting twice their bodyweight on the bar, and I can't seem to hit 1.6 times my bodyweight.
Anyone feels the same?
Edit: I'm 40 years old trying to get stronger. I have small bones and wonder if bone density has anything to do with strength.