Hey squad! So today is day 9 of Squat Every Day. My goal was to go all the way up to 495. But, obviously, I was only going to do that if my body allowed it.
Remember that one of the purposes of squatting every day is getting your body to that inflection point where it adjusts, and you’re able to increase the weight. If you stick to it, it will happen at some point. You just gotta stay patient.
Today I was joined by a very special guest: my twin brother. His name is also Mike because my parents didn’t want to bother remembering different names, so they just gave us the same name—pretty smart, huh? He is also somewhat of a beast, so y’all can now see that my physical ability is pretty much all genetics.
Today’s Squat Progression
Listen, y’all, I’m doing this for longevity. I’m doing this for strength. Like I’ve said before, other leg exercises will actually make your legs appear stronger than if you just squat.
But, we train for strength around here, and squats are probably the single hardest and most well-rounded movement in weightlifting. Squatting will make you strong overall. The amount of stress you’re putting in your central nervous system is crazy, but that’s good for you—that will make you stronger.
Squatting every day also makes you mentally tough, which, as you know, is useful for anything you do in life. Today I wasn’t feeling that good. Honestly, I didn’t even want to do this. It was day 9, and my body still hasn’t adapted, so I don’t feel bad, but I also don’t feel good.
However, I still went in and touched 495, which is a shit ton of weight. And that’s what it’s about! If you’re following along with the challenge, or for anything you’re doing, you just gotta go in and do it, you know what I’m saying?
Even days when you don’t feel that good can be used as something positive—it’s an opportunity to build even more mental toughness y’all! Get after it!
What About Pain On Your Knees?
Many people have been asking me if squatting every day has gotten my knees feeling a little tight. The answer is no. But this is not an accident. I’m very conscientious of my form—of getting my hips back and not coming down with the weight on my toes.
This makes sure that my knees are protected all the time. So, I don’t feel any pressure or pain in my knees. Now, if you want to learn exactly how to squat without pain, there’s that link for y’all. Make sure your form is good before attempting to lift anything heavy. Otherwise, you’ll get injured. Perhaps not today, but tomorrow you will.
Advice From Jhonny Cash
Here’s a quote from a Johny Cash song that goes with this:
“I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that’s real”
Pain keeps one grounded. We will all feel pain throughout our lives—we can’t avoid it, we can’ escape it. But, how we deal with it makes the difference. It can make us powerful and unbreakable or beat us to the ground and get us looking at ourselves with self-pity.
We have the opportunity to prime ourselves for those moments of pain and become mentally strong. That’s how you change your mentality. You can treat pain as a means of becoming that strong—it can be your asset. But, to do that, you gotta be willing to put yourself through stressful and painful situations, just like in the gym.
Look, it’s common gym wisdom to train one body part and then let it rest for a week. But, I’ve done my research on the central nervous system, and let me tell y’all: 24 hours is plenty of time to recover. Now, you’re not gonna feel good. Your body will tell you it’s tired. But, it’s capable of sustaining the challenge and adapting to new threats.
Supplements For Better Recovery
Training can take a toll on your body. So, as long as you’re not getting into banned substances with side effects, it’s ok to help it out. With that said, I wanna recommend you three different products I’m currently taking to help my body sustain the Squat Every Day Challenge.
Overtraining Solution
This supercharges your immune system, and it helps your body recover faster.
Mwendo
This is for joint and ligament support. If you’re really going after it and maybe even following along with squatting every day, I’d definitely look into this. It’s unbelievably good!
Golden
This is a supplement based on turmeric, which is a natural anti-inflammatory. This is great for joints and for your health in general.
What are you doing to make pain and stress your allies? Let me know in the comments!