u/LatterQuestion9417

Hello Reddit, I’m a 20 y/o male and have just had the single worst day of my life yesterday.

My father died. My mom died when I was 13, and now I have no one to look to. No one to get help or guidance from and I don’t know what to do. I have younger siblings both under 18 to take care of and have to help figure out lives for them but I’m just lost.

I’ve been in contact with the remaining side of the family I have left, but we all live hundreds of miles from each other and non of us are wealthy by any means.

I’m still a college student, I was supposed to be finishing my first certification course in EMS school, my dad was my every bit of support and guidance and help and I don’t know what’s next or what I have to do. I have two people looking up to me, no one to talk to and so many questions.

What do I do?

Hello lovely community of fellow lifters.

I’m a 20 y/o male and have been consistently going to the gym for about 3 years now. Strength training and losing weight were at the heart of this journey.

Presently I face two challenges. Both in relation to PRs (and ones with high weight reps)

I seem to find myself stuck at 440lbs max deadlift (no belt) and cannot seem to push the envelope over the edge to 450lbs for some reason. I’ve had weeks and weeks of lower back/leg training. My grip doesn’t give out, and my legs are strong enough, but it’s the standing up right that I can’t seem to get my body to do no matter how much training or stretching or warming up I do before. I feel defeated in this aspect and cannot seem to overcome it with what I know. Any advice? For a little clarity, I do standard stance but a cross grip (one normal one supinated).

My other challenge is bench. I’m currently stuck at max of 215. I can rep 205 for sets of 3, but I have tried to push over my ceiling or 215 a couple times to no avail. I hope to reach 225lbs at some point soon, but between not having a spotter and not seeming to find a way of breaking this barrier, I’m unsure of how to proceed ahead to my goals.

Overall, any advice, tips, and tricks for how to manage breaking these long term plateaus?

Thanks!