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PaperclipPerfector  20hr ago (text post)   286 thread views

Wellness Wednesday for October 7, 2026

The Wednesday Wellness threads are meant to encourage users to ask for and provide advice and motivation to improve their lives. It isn't intended as a 'containment thread' and any content which could go here could instead be posted in its own thread. You could post:

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An open call to make October the official month of fixing our poverty squats

Today I learned that SQUATOBER™ is actually a federally registered trademark of Sorinex Exercise Equipment, Inc. Though I suppose that means it should really be SQUATOBER®.

I have the following complaints about the official Sorinex programming:

  • Insufficient predictability: It would be nice to know the workout at least a couple of days in advance, in case you have to shift it by a day or need to allocate extra training time.
  • Limited progressive overload: There is an excessive emphasis on squat variety over getting your main barbell back squat stronger.
  • Excessive frequency: It's not literally squatting every day, but somehow it's also not just a squat-focused, month-long program. There's not enough recovery to provide a truly near-maximal stimulus, but you don't even get the habit-forming benefit of literally doing something every day.
  • It uses pure, arbitrary percentages: No consideration for differences in scaling, absolute load, age, recovery ability, or sex.
  • It has excessive axial loading for an already squat-focused program: For example, today's workout has five sets of triples on deadlifts in addition to five sets of triples on back squats. At some point, back fatigue becomes more limiting than quad or glute strength, which is kind of ridiculous for a squat program. Five sets of near-maximal deadlifts is a ridiculous amount for an advanced, medium-sized male lifter. Pointless if they're far from maximal, for someone already squatting five days a week.

I do, however, kind of like the idea of novelty-themed training blocks for when your regular programming gets stale. PSA: there's still enough time in October to do a squat-focused cycle of Smolov Jr. this month, if anyone is interested.

We can't use the same portmanteau for this competing novelty program, though. I wonder if Squatoberfest Jr. is far enough away to be safe.

I did my first set of squats in several weeks yesterday evening, after doing something to my back and not wanting to be hobbling on my wedding day. I'm thinking I may need to invest in a snugger-fitting belt.

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