New to Deadlifts

MetroStyles · Jun 30, 2008

Originally Posted by Lear

Thanks for all of the tips. I was going to do the deadlifts twice a week. Now I think I'll go for once a week.

I'll start dropping most of the small isolation stuff; just concentrating on the 'nasty' moves with free weights.

It was while watching some of the members at the gym that it occurred to me. Most of them, including myself, enter the gym with good intentions. However, they often end up doing what they LIKE to do and NOT what they were TOLD to (or should) do. For example, the machine where you sit and scissor your legs together, seems to appeal to many a wobble-bottom (especially women) that comes to lose the flab.

I too am guilty of this. I tend to head for the comfort of the bench-press. I don't know why it feels comfortable, but it's not a movement that makes me want to pass out. The squat and the deadlift are.

The result is that I'm benching a satisfying weight (well at least for a normal, friendly gym). yet I can hardly do more than 3 proper pull-ups. PATHETIC!

I'm also not pleased with the way I look sturdy in clothes, what with shirts falling over the pecs, like water cascading over a waterfall. But this also means that the material on an untucked shirt is hung forward enough to clear the gut that awaits below. With shirt off or tucked in, the awful truth is revealed.

It feels like deception!

I now want to see what happens when I eat clean, with more, smaller meals. I'm upping my protein intake and now, for the first time ever, making sure that I munch on protein within minutes of leaving the gym.

Let's see if it makes any difference!

This body imbalance (and the gut) has to be addressed. My goal is to simply not turn into a slob, like most of the people that I know.

I wish you good luck. It takes some time to see progress, so don't get discouraged. When I reflect, the reason I have been so consistent with going to the gym is that I stopped doing it to just get jacked/ripped, and started doing it for the fun of lifting. I still have a lot of vanity when it comes to lifting, but that's not the reason I'm there anymore. With this attitude I think it's easier to stay motivated.

Grayland · Jun 30, 2008

Start doing more pull-ups. What a great exercise; very functional. You are on the right track.

dimshum · Jul 1, 2008

Originally Posted by Grayland

Start doing more pull-ups. What a great exercise; very functional. You are on the right track.

QFT. Keep doing more pullups/chinups, dips, deadlifts, squats, bench presses, barbell rows, military presses and other compound movements. Most of what I need to do can be done in a power rack. Doing only isolation exercises does nothing for fat-burning and overall strength.

Lear · Jul 1, 2008

Thanks again everyone

I'll post again in 6 months, in case anybody at my meager level wants to know if the changes work.

Lear · Jan 5, 2009

OK, it's been 6 months since my last 'deadlift' post.

The most noticeable thing, has been how rapidly the plates pile on compared with other exercises. I'm very happy with my progress so far. Thanks again for all of the advice.

One question: My fingers always give out before the rest of my body. What's the opinion on using wrist straps? Any reason why they might be a bad idea?

Lear

Berticus · Jan 5, 2009

Wrist wraps won't help with that. I mean I use gloves, but that's so it doesn't kill my fingers and rough hands. Even with the gloves, the bar seems rather difficult to hold, in my opinion (small hands). Try having one hand use a pronated grip and the other with a supinated grip. That's what I do and it eliminated the problem.

Deluks917 · Jan 5, 2009

Originally Posted by Berticus

Wrist wraps won't help with that. I mean I use gloves, but that's so it doesn't kill my fingers and rough hands. Even with the gloves, the bar seems rather difficult to hold, in my opinion (small hands). Try having one hand use a pronated grip and the other with a supinated grip. That's what I do and it eliminated the problem.

I figure I might need to get over this as the weight goes up (last time my "heavy" sets were 260x 5 and 280x5) but the opposite grips feel wierd to me.

Berticus · Jan 5, 2009

After the first time, it won't feel so weird. At least that's what I felt.

Oh, just noticed what I said earlier. Meant to say I wear gloves so they don't roughen up my hands.

why · Jan 5, 2009

Originally Posted by Lear

One question: My fingers always give out before the rest of my body. What's the opinion on using wrist straps? Any reason why they might be a bad idea?

Try a hook grip. Some weights I can't handle without straps and just use the straps.

Originally Posted by Berticus

Wrist wraps won't help with that.

...

lefty · Jan 5, 2009

Mixed grip.
Chalk.
Hook grip.
Straps.

Try that order as your weight increases.

lefty

Berticus · Jan 5, 2009

Originally Posted by why

Try a hook grip. Some weights I can't handle without straps and just use the straps. ...

I thought of something else when he mentioned wraps. More like this:

I always thought the straps you used with deadlifts were.. well straps.

Lear · Jan 5, 2009

Thanks for all the replies.

I'll give the hook grip a try in a few days. Hope my thumb doesn't fall off

Lear

lefty · Jan 5, 2009

Originally Posted by Lear

Thanks for all the replies.

I'll give the hook grip a try in a few days. Hope my thumb doesn't fall off

Lear

The hook grip will take some getting used to and will hurt for a bit. Ignore the pain.

Get chalk as well.

lefty

James Bond · Jan 6, 2009

Gloves? Straps? Christ. Mixed grip.

MetroStyles · Jan 6, 2009

I really recommend the mixed grip. It doesn't hurt. It's easy. It works.

New to Deadlifts

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