Took off my squat diaper today as an experiment
Even though I'm only up to 195 on my beginning-squats 5x5 program, I decided to load 225 on the bar for the first time today just to see if I was there yet. Started at 195 then did single reps adding 10 lbs to the bar each time until 225. Then tried to rep-out 225....made it to 3 1/2 before failure. Overall I was pretty damn happy that I didn't look like a jackass out there trying to push the weight

. Core was plenty stable....had a bit of a forward lean at the end but I still haven't bought flat shoes so my running shoes might be to blame.
I could definitely get 4 reps with a better set up, which puts me around a 245 max. At my bodyweight that is 'intermediate' level, so I guess I'm happy to be there.
