Return to High-Rep Squats with 185: Victory!

I finally exceeded my rep goal with 185!

Way back in late April of 2022 I posted my last high-rep squat video, doing 45 total reps with 185 pounds. I stated then that I expected to hit 50+ reps soon, and that my goal by the end of the year was 50 reps with at least 200. In May I was feeling strong. I set a new PR in deadlift, and squats were going well also.

Then, unfortunately, the bottom fell out. First my feet began hurting badly, apparently due to the pounding they were taking from running and jumping. Then I got sick. When I recovered, side jobs ate up all my spare time and energy. I also continued to have lingering pain and other health issues at the same time. My sleep was disrupted frequently, leaving me feeling exhausted. Training became very sporadic and much lower intensity. Basically, I got fat and lazy. I didn't do ANY high-rep squats for several months. When I finally did try squatting again in September, I struggled to hit 20 reps with 135.

By October I was feeling slightly stronger and more rested. I began doing frequent kettlebell swing sessions and long, slow cardio to build my fitness back. I managed to squat 20 reps with 185, and I also started slowly working to lose the extra flab I had accumulated. As snow hit in early November and never went away, I began doing primarily snow shoveling, firewood splitting, and snowshoe rucks for my workouts, but occasionally threw in 20-rep squat sessions. Gradually my strength and conditioning has been returning.

I finally felt ready to take on the high-rep challenge again. Although my strength level is still not close to where it was last May, my stamina is improved, and I have also been building my mental strength. Since squatting with 185 is not about maximal strength, but rather conditioning and pain tolerance, I was determined to reach my goal anyway. This time I didn't bother setting a timer. I knew it would be a long slow grind. I just had to keep doing reps for as long as it took without racking the bar.

This is the result of my stubborn refusal to stop. It was painful and it was ugly. But, I finally got it done. The next step will be to do 50+ reps with more than my bodyweight on the bar. I've currently plateaued at about 188 pounds, while targeting an eventual bodyweight of roughly 180. For my next high-rep squat sessions I will go slightly heavier (probably 195) and begin building up reps again. Hopefully I can stay healthy this time and continue to improve both my strength and my overall fitness level. I really want to hit 50+ reps with over 200, especially if I can complete it in a shorter time.

For now I will enjoy my success in overcoming the previous goal, and try to ignore the exquisite pain that such a taxing squat session provides.