How to Increase Squat Max

Ten months ago, I did not even know what the squat was, let alone wonder how to increase squat max.

And far be it from me to be the one to teach how to increase squat max, but I do have my experience to share.

When I began over 10 months ago, you can see in the following table how much weaker I was.

I could not do any squats.

In fact, I was so weak that I could not even squat the bar alone.

A lot can change in ten months, not just weight and confidence, they seem to go where the squat goes.

The higher the squat weight, the slimmer in waist and the higher in confidence.

So learning how to increase squat max is welcome, from whomever it might be, even a guy over 55.

The main secret how to increase squat max is to increase your squat weight gradually.

Gradually!

I have gone up gradually in the amount of weight I could squat, press, lift, over the last 10 months as well as repetitions in pushups.

Today I am up to 41 full pushups. I had been doing partial because of my shoulder, and my high then was 85, but my shoulder has been feeling better, good, so , I started to do full, to go all the way down to the floor, at least to touch my nose to the floor.

I was really pleased tonight with the squats.

As you can see, I started with just the 45lb olympic bar, doing 5 sets of 5 repetitions.

I should mention that the first time I used the bar for squats, I could barely walk the next 3 or 4 days, I was so sore!

And now I am doing squats every other day, three times a week, and so far so good.

Today I hit my new high of 115lbs, 5sets of 5 repetitions.

This coming Monday, I will shoot for using 120lbs.

What is my goal?

To see how high I can go, I am not sure what is possible, but I know that 10 months ago, just the bar seemed like an impossible feat considering that I have a torn medial meniscus and was so much heavier.

I have been able to increase squat max weight from zero to a grand total of 135 pounds.

Sure, guys are lifting a lot more in the gym, but I am feeling pretty good and grateful that I can even do any squats at the age of 60 and just keep getting stronger!

Gradual, give yourself time to recover, increase weight slowly, use great form, that is how to increase squat max.

How To Get Fit Fast - Fat Loss and Strength Gain Chart

Date	Body Weight	Body Fat Percentage	Pushups or Pullups	Squats (below Parallel)	Deadlift
Monday December 23, 2013, Day 8	195lbs	22.7%	5 sets of 17 + 8 + 7 = 100 in under 10 minutes	5 sets of 75lbs, warm up with 45lbs, rest between 2 and 5 minutes between sets
Sunday December 22, Day 7	196lb	22.9%	5 sets of 16	none	none
Saturday, December 21, Day 6	197.5lbs	23%	5 sets of 16	none	none
Friday December 20, Day 5	199lb	23.3%	5 sets of 14	70lb	none
Thursday December 19, Day 4	200lb	23.5%	5 sets of 13	65lbs	none
Wednesday December 18, Day 3	202lb	23.8%	5 sets of 12	60lbs	none
Tuesday December 17, Day 2	204.5	23.9%	5 sets of 11	55lbs	none
Monday December 16, 2013 Day 1	205lb	24%	5 sets of 10	45lb bar	none
October 31, 2013 Day 5 of the 30 Day Adventure			Pullups - today shoot for using 85lbs on the stack assist. Did 4 sets with 85lbs, will shoot for 5 sets on sunday or monday..	Rest	Shoot for 5 sets of 120lbs, going up 5 lbs from Wednesday did 4 sets of 120lbs...will shoot for 5 sets again on monday..or next time ...it was tiring...grr
October 30, 2013, Day 4 of Hashi Mashi 2			Today did maximum number of pushups possible. I have not tried that for many months and glad that I have gotten back to it. I did 40 which is not awful in the scheme of things, so that actually motivated me. I also did sets of pushups in between squats, 21 pushups between each set of squats.	5 sets of 5 reps using 70lbs	Rest
October 29, third day of this 30 day Hashi Mashi Adventure, results so far have been promising, 5lbs down and 1% bodyfat down. Keep going			Today did pullups using 90lbs on the stack and will shoot for going down to 85lbs	Rest	5 sets of 115lbs, did one set of 135lbs, so not too far back but have to make progress slowly
October 28, 2013 Wow it has been way too long since I was keeping track, but better late than never!			5 sets of 20 pushups, will take some time till I can build back up to the max pushups that I was doing which was 56 back in April	5 sets of 5 only using 55lbs, it will take time to build up again to 130lbs...it is a good thing I still had this table so I can see how fast I have lost strength over the last 6 months.	Rest
April 3, 2013 Day 286			Shoot for sets today, not max..	warm up with 45lbs2x5, 65lbx1, 95lbsx2, then 115lbs x1 then 120lbs 5setsx5reps - did them..should stay at 120 till it feels easy enough to move up to 125	shoot for 150lbs...good form.....decided to stay at 135lbs...1set of 5 reps...that was enough for today, did not want to push it! max 155 or 160..see how we feel..
April 2, 2013 Day 285			Rest Pushups - Take a Break!	Rest	Rest
April 1, 2013 Day 284			56 full pushups - the last 10 were purty difficult...	warm up with 45lbs2x5, 65lbx1, 95lbsx2, then 115lbs x1 then 120lbs 5setsx5reps - did them..should stay at 120 till it feels easy enough to move up to 125	Rest
March 29, 2013 Day 281			Will shoot for 52/53	Have to see if I can do any! And I did..whew...warm up with 45lbs2x5, 65lbx1, 95lbsx2, then 115lbs 5setsx5reps...did not feel too bad...happy I could do them..kept strict form...now rest for 2 days..	shoot for 150lbs...good form.....decided to stay at 135lbs...1set of 5 reps...that was enough for today, did not want to push it!
March 27, 2013 Day 279			52 - went up 1	135lbs 4 sets of 5, felt pull in right thigh...so stopped at 4 sets, will go down in weight	Rest
March 25, 2013 Mon Day 277			51 - went up 1, the last 5 were pretty difficult, consecutive full pushups	135lbs 5 sets of 5 reps, these were so @#$ hard, went up 5lbs but think I might have to stay here for a week or so till I am moving the weight easier	165lbs is the goal for today, did warmups of 95, 135 and 155 and then 1 set of 5 reps of 165lbs. I think the form can be better, so stay at this weight in the meantime.
March 23, 2013 Sat Day 275			50 - Yeeha! Did many shoulder dislocations for warmup	130lbs is my new High, 5 sets of 5 repetitions, up 5lbs from last workout.	Rest Deadlift
March 22, 2013 Fri Day 274			Rest - Wedding Celebration
March 21, 2013 Thur Day 273			Rest
March 20, 2013 Wed Day 272			Rest	125lbs 5 sets of 5 reps, went up	155lbs 1 set of 5 reps, up 5lbs using mixed grip, left overhand, right underhand
March 19, 2013 Tue Day 271			45 pushups first set max	Rest	Rest
March 18, 2013			Chest so sore, could not even do 1!	120lbs 5 sets of 5 reps, went up	Off Today
March 15, 2013			41 repetitions nose to floor, yea, i have a long nose	115lbs 5 sets of 5 reps, went up 5lbs from the previous workout	150lbs 1set of 5 reps, up 10lbs
March 13, 2013			40rep max	110lbs 5 sets of 5 reps	140lbs 1 x 5
June 21, 2012			1	2 repetitions using 45lb bar	2 reps 45lb bar

Our Focus is on Fat Loss and Strength Gain. Fat Loss is accomplished by eating real foods and avoiding processed foods. Real Strength means doing a workout , doing exercises such as core, compound exercises like pushups, squats, deadlifts, bench press, overhead press and barbell rows using free weights or your bodyweight.

Resources And Tools

For resources and tools to ignite your health and fitness, lose weight without counting calories, get leaner and stronger, help depression without antidepressants, please click here.

Connect And Take Action

If you appreciated this article, please subscribe to my personal blog here, or on the form below this post. Enter your first name and email and you will receive a free get fit cheat sheet.

This cheat sheet is a template of the plan I followed to lose 100 pounds in under a year.

Please read the cheat sheet, any other recommended articles and take action. You will not fail!

Please leave your questions/comments/corrections in the comment section below or contact me here.

Share your struggles, experiences and success. Thank You!