Suck Less 8 Week Back Squat Program

Suck Less Studios

Weightlifting, Football
Coach
Nathan Cerwinske

This 8-week program prioritizes leg strength with a key pillar In Olympic Weightlifting: "Strength to Hold Position & Strength to Move Through Position" Well-developed leg strength is crucial not just for Olympic weightlifting but overall athletic dominance. This program integrates exercises and philosophies that 2012 Olympic Coach Joe Micela used with me during my developmental. We will focus not just on pure strength exercises but also dynamic exercises tailored for raw power output, so your squats will move like an elite. With 3 weekly sessions, two focus on Back Squats, while one addresses Prehab/Rehab and accessories, aiming to prevent injuries. Included are specific warm-ups, working sets, and detailed exercise instructions with videos. The program's primary goal is, of course, to achieve personal records. If not that, then to ensure your squats look and feel amazing—strong, smooth, controlled, explosive, and athletic. Elite weightlifters and athletes exhibit a difference in form, where heavy attempts seem almost effortless. The goal is to exude confidence, control, and technical prowess over the weight and feel great while doing it. Best of luck, and remember: suck less.

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Build Confidence in Your Leg Strength!
Yes you can make leg strength and squat gains. But how do your squats move? How do they feel? Do they feel as if they always just tear the ass out of you? Let's ensure your squats look and feel amazing—strong, smooth, controlled, explosive, and athletic. By the end of this use should be exuding confidence when your step up to the rack.
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Stop the guess work
Tired of guessing how and what to program for the day and week? Tired of searching on the internet for the best exercises? I got you covered! These are my favorites from my career!
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Understand the WHY
I've attached videos detailing how to perform these exercises and what I personally cue when doing them. I also detail WHY we did them throughout my career, how they helped me personally, and the positive impacts I noticed from doing them.
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Change it up!
I get it. Weightlifting is monotonous and your program sometimes get stale. It is partly what burnt me out! Looking back I wish I took some time and blocks to change things up and try new things to keep everything fresh and interesting.
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Tired of setbacks?
Knee Tendonitis & Back Pain held back my squats for years. I've teamed up with my DPT, Morgan Huppental & integrated our favorite rehab/prehab exercises with my favorite strength movements and accessories that made me feel my strongest and most athletic, but most importantly, crucial in preventing major injuries and getting rid of aches and pains throughout the years.
Features
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Programming 3 days per week
Daily strength, conditioning, and skill training that’s accessible and challenging for athletes of any level or background
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Exercise Video Guidance
Instructional videos including my personal experience and cues to guide your practice and make execution easy
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Delivered through TrainHeroic
Equipment
Required
Barbell & Weights
Recommended
Exercise Bands // Leg Extension Machine // Dumbells // Adjustable Cable Machine
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Sample Week
Week 1 of 8-week program
Monday
Week 1 Day 2

A1

DNS Star Plank

3 x 8

A2

Standing Banded Hip Adduction

3 x 10

A3

Standing Banded Deadlift

3 x 15

B

Tempo Back Squat (4 Seconds Down, 4 Seconds Up)

4 x 3 @ 60 %

C

Back Squat Cluster

6 x 3 @ 70 %

D1

Weighted Plank

4 x 0:45

D2

Hypers

4 x 15

Wednesday
Week 1 Day 4

A1

Cardio

1 x 5:00

A2

Sit in Squat

B1

Iso Single Leg Extension

3 x 0:30

B2

Single Leg RDL

3 x 10

B3

Side Lunge Plate Pull

3 x 8

C1

One Leg Bulgarian Split Squat

4 x 8

C2

Box Jump (no step, quiet feet)

4 x 6

D1

Alternating Half Hurdlers

3 x 8

D2

Couch Stretch (Hip Flexors)

3 x 0:30

Friday
Week 1 Day 6

A1

Reverse Toe Raise

3 x 15

A2

Knee Over Toe Lunge

3 x 8

A3

Hip Extension with Band

3 x 15

B

Back Squat

5 x 5 @ 80 %

C1

Good Morning

4 x 10

C2

Barbell Squat Jump

4 x 12

C3

Side Plank with Top Leg in Air

4 x 0:30

Coach
coach-avatar Nathan Cerwinske

Nate is a multiple time USAW National Medalist at the Youth, Junior, and Senior Level. He is a 2x Junior Pan Am and 1x Junior World Team Member with 9 years of Competitive Olympic Weightlifting Experience under 2012 Olympic Coach Joe Micela. He is the Assistant Coach at the Olympic Weightlifting and Strength & Conditioning Facility Performance One Advanced Sports Training in Mesa, Arizona

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Ordinary People. Extroadinary things.

Proven Principles. Proven Philosophies. Proven Techniques. Suck Less.

Get Suck Less 8 Week Back Squat Program
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FAQs
Can this be used with another Weightlifting Program?
Absolutely! However, I recommend to cut out other lower body accessories/strength work.
How long do the sessions take?
Sessions should range from 75-90 Minutes from start to finish on squat days and 60-75 Minutes on Rehab/Prehab Day!
Should I do this in season or while prepping for a competition?
I recommend to do this program in the offseason or in a strength phase block.
What skill level is this for?
Really for any level of lifter or athlete. Beginners & Intermediates your squats will blow up! More experienced athletes the goal is to bring squats back to fundamentals through different varioations, stimuli, and to just change things up!
Were these exercises incorporated in my career?
Yep! All exercises and philosophies in this program have been learned over my 9 Years of competitive weightlifting experience under 2012 Olympic Coach Joe Micela.
Suck Less 8 Week Back Squat Program