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I really shouldn't be asking this question without a form check video to accompany it BUT I'm experiencing some low back pain with the increasing weight with push press. I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this and if this is "common", a form issue, or just weak lower back muscles? Hopefully I will be able to get a video up soon to check my form.

Hey lifting ladies! I know that squat form is the same for men as it is for women (or it is from what I can find), but given that a woman's center of gravity is lower than a man's, do any of y'all have trouble staying back? I always feel like I'm going to fall on my ass. It hasn't been a huge problem, but as I add weight, form is becoming even more of a concern. Any pointers from you experienced lady lifters?

Hey guys! I've been doing the Angry Bird workout, and in the one arm rows I've been slowly upping weight until I think I feel comfortable doing inverted rows (right now I'm at 20lbs, started at 10!). The thing I'm having trouble with is that it seems my biceps are being worked harder than my triceps are, and I think the rows are supposed to work the triceps and back, right? Is there anything I can do to improve my form, or any errors you guys think I may be doing? Any advice?

Hey all, A few (okay *quite a few*) months ago I bought an Olympic bar and 100kg of plates. Wasn't sure what I wanted to do with them, but decided it was an investment in my future health. However, thus far they have sat unused for one simple reason - I have no idea where to start. I'd quite like to start Here are my questions: I don't have a squat rack or money with which to buy a squat rack; so I guess I should be starting out with deadlifts? Anything else?Not buggering my back (or any other part of me, thankyouverymuch) - my brother told me there was "no way" I should consider lifting at home without a mirror or two set up to check my form in... is that sensible advice?? I am basically worried that there is too much injury risk in starting out as a newbie at home without having ever lifted in a gym (or anywhere, actually). I can't afford a trainer, so...? Thoughts?Thank you in advance for any and all advice offered!

This is my latest squat, filmed this morning on the last set of 5x5... My main problem, I feel, is depth. I just can't get deep enough. I really feel my hamstrings shouting at me at the bottom of the squat! I was hoping to get some advice on working on depth, at the moment I'm doing hip-opener stretches, foam rolling and working my IT band. Also, please tell me what else you see in the video that can be improved! I'm not sure about the angle of my back. I'm also constantly adjusting my wrists so that they aren't broken. This is the heaviest I've squatted and it's taken me 2 months to get here! Looking forward to your feedback

Oh nooooooes!!! I think I've been cranking out pushups and progressing with them - but with a mistake in my form. As bashful as I am, I think I need to share some videos so we can see what I'm doing, and then figure out how to fix them. In other words... So here's the story on my pushups. I started doing them this way because I've had a chatty shoulder for ... oh the last year. (Long story short, it's probably overuse from hockey.) Anyway, when I tuck my hands in closer to my chest, my left shoulder almost immediately hisses at me. So, I sort of inadvertantly went to this wide stance on the pushup. I think (hope) the rest of my form isn't too bad. I feel like I keep myself pretty straight and all, but... let me know. (Pre-D&D workout... I wasn't planning on it, so yeah, I got my black skimmers and Gamer Girl t-shirt on, ah well.) I also wonder if this preferred stance came from my having gotten into these bar pushups... (ps, kudos to me for this workout shirt. First 'formfit' shirt I've ever owned in my life lol) Actually, after watching both, I think I have slightly better form on the bars?!? Maybe? So how do I go about correcting the arm placement - and what should I do if the correct arm placement continues to make my shoulder yell at me right away? I don't want to eliminate them from my regime, but I'm also a fan of the 'don't do something that hurts you' mindset. Any suggestions bodyweight peeps?

The following runs are based on using a forefoot and midfoot strike, having transitioned from years as a heel striker. Regardless of how it's achieved, (Pose, ChiRunning, Goodform Running, Vivobarefoot, Forefoot, Midfoot, Bare, etc.), I found this a really interesting comparison. Here are two of the same runs separated by over 4 months: 10/7/2012 2/24/2013 With the first run back in 2012 I was trying to be mindful of my running form and was practicing what I new from books, the web and videos. A bit more of a forefoot runner, I'd certainly made progress and changed the way I ran, but it wasn't until I got some instruction that I had a bit of an aha moment. Certain things just clicked for me. Now mind you, the app that I use, iSmoothRun has undergone some changes and there may be some differences in accuracy regarding how the metrics are calculated. Also I took a slightly different path on the last mile, but overall as a basic comparison of the trend, I think it's pretty obvious I became significantly more efficient and a bit faster. You might say that I became more fit between October and Feb. But the reality is that I was training much less due to work commitments, had put on weight and was more out of shape than anything. Feel free to check out my training log on RunKeeper and you can see I fell apart for about 8 months. So, I just look at the graph of the latter run and become a believer. It's so much smoother and representative of how the run felt. Post-coaching, my cadence is fairly consistent, my heart rate stays mostly in Z3 and barely dips into Z4. I can tell you I was not nearly as wrecked after the run. I worked but wasn't struggling. I remember the prior run. It was tough. Anyway, when I hear people are suffering when they run, experiencing pain, dealing with injuries, etc. I always suggest they take a serious look at their form. I sight things like the Harvard study and link to some of the different form protocols. I'm not saying people need to run barefoot or even minimal, but I think the running form principles are sound in practice regardless of footwear or lack thereof. Now I might eat my words down the road, but I can't deny my running feels SO much better and is more enjoyable with a focus on form. Take it for what it's worth!

Hey guys, So after a little weird viral arthritic sickness I'm back into circuit training, and loving being back into it. Getting my energy levels back up, feeling stronger after every time. What I'm after here I guess is a little preemptive advice, as I can feel myself finding some of my routine very easy, and others a little too hard. Firstly, my circuit as it stand is this: Decline push ups x15 Hanging knee raises x10 Dumbell Squats x10 Chin ups x as many as I can do up to 10 Body Lever 1min repeat 4 times. It is intense, but firstly, I'm getting to the stage where the push ups are not really challenging enough. Not quite there yet, but I'd rather have something set in stone to change it up with before my triceps and chest get too bored. So should I be looking at wider/narrower hand positions, one armers, higher decline? Is there a general progression to follow? I definitely dont feel ready for one arm yet, I guess that's the end stage of push ups. Other than that, I've just in the last month added chin ups to my circuit after buying a cheap portable doorway bar. My goal at the moment is to hit 10 chin ups or pull ups in a rep. I can barely hit 5 of either, obviously tapering off after every set. Am I being too impatient here? Someone tell me I am and I'll gladly shut up. It just seems like a wall I cant get over yet, and it's a little frustrating. I'm pretty sure my form's ok, I dont swing around at all, and I'm more or less starting from a dead hang, so maybe I'm just being too hard on myself. However if anyone does have suggestions please hit me up. Thanks!

I've finally worked up the guts to post up my form check videos. Taken today so about as recent as they can be: (Squat at 45kg)

So, after reading about all of the benefits of deadlifts and understanding the amount of full body workout they supply, I have been trying to include them into my weight lifting routine. My problem is.. form questions. I have seen plenty of videos about proper form, and I understand the basic concept, but I have a few problems. I am a girl starting out doing weights so I can't lift much weight. To give you an idea of my strength, here is the breakdown of my last weight lifting routine (this is Tues workout, Thurs I do bodyweight -- pushups, squats, planks, inverted rows): Excersize Weight Reps per set Squats 40 10 10 10 Chest press 30 12 11 7 Bent over Rows 40 10 8 7 Bicep curls 15 (per arm) 5 4 3 Tricep extension 15 12 10 7 (overhead, 2hand) My problem is, correct form says the weight should touch the floor between reps. Last time I did deadlifts, I only used a 40lb barbell, which was too light. Even when I do increase the weight, the weights on the end of the bar are no where near big around to keep the bar mid-shin level when it is on the ground. So do I bend waaaay over to touch the ground every time, or do I just lower the bar to mid-shin and not touch between reps? Last time I did deadlifts, they really didn't feel right. I know part of this is due to the weight being too light. Any advice I can get as a girl doing deadlifts with smaller weight would be much appreciated.... any modifications or alternate forms would be helpful.