Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cubanlord]

I've been working out, consistently, for about 3 months now. My strength has more than doubled and I am bulking up quickly. I take glutamine twice a day in order to help facilitate muscle repair. Well, today, I worked out back, lats, and shoulders. I have been somewhat scared of doing deadlifts, but everything I read about deadlifts indicates that if I want even more strength, then deadlifts are the way to go. So, I did them today (5 sets of 12 with 70kgs). I know that isn't much weight, but, I wanted to be careful as for some convoluted reason, deadlifts scare me.

Having done them, I can honestly say I feel great! I know it sounds stupid, but, after the workout (even now 4 hours later) I feel strong. I mean really strong. What have your experiences been with deadlifts? Any suggestions, advice or even caution to share?
Me.

[JMO]

From what I've read, Squats and deadlifts are basically the two most important lifts there are. The back is very important as far as i know, in gaining overall strength so maybe thats what it is.

make sure your technique is right..don't round your back and the bar should be touching your legs on the way up and the way down.

[raclos234]

i use the 2 types of deadlifts in various workouts: the regular deadlift that u are mentioning and the stiff-legged deadlift for the hams.

regular deadlifts ive always enjoyed doing...i can really feel it in my lower back as well as increasing my grip strength. i usually throw in a set of back raises after that.

stiff legged deadlifts i dont really like. even using a little bit of weight really can fry ur hams. i dont like em'...but they work.

[Ginormousaurus]

I like them, but they make me dizzy. I don't know why. I don't hold my breath while doing them. I get scared that sometime I'm going actually pass out or something. Has anyone else experienced this?

[samd]

[cubanlord]

update - Today is day 2 after my workout. I am still pumped and there are muscles in my back that ache so bad...I never knew I had muscles there. I feel great though dispite the pain. I'm going back in tomorrow for chest and arms. I should be good to go.

[aka Dave]

Yeah, I do the 5x5 thing, deadlifts are great. However, technique is an issue, there's several deadlifts like the straight back deadlift, Romanian deadlift.

And I'm not really sure which one's are best. I ordered the book "Starting Strength" which is supposed to be gread for squat/deadlift technique. Hopefully it will come from Amazon.com soon.

I deadlift once or twice a week. I always squat three times a week. The deadlift is nice because you don't need a squat rack and you can load up the weight (because you don't have to clean it or steinborn it as you do for your squats.)

That said, the squat is the best, I think. Or most popular in the 5x5 programs. I did Zercher squats today, which are good if you have no rack (though the Koreans will think you're nuts). I usually clean and front squat (I hate that that Steinborn lift, nearly killed myself doing it once).

Anyway check out madcow 5x5, or the stronglifts.com site for advice on the compound lifts. They're the lifts you should be doing if you want to get strong.

When you deadlift (quoting madcow) make sure they weight rests on the floor. It's "dead" on the floor and you're not just dipping down with out letting the weight rest for a moment.

BTW, if you do zercher squats (and if you don't have a squat rack, you'll probably have to resort to them), use a big bar (20 kilos), and be careful.

When I first did the zercher squats, I had huge bruises. I mean 3 inch bruises on my arms (this from a small bar which cuts into your arms).

I quit for a while and used the bigger bar, and was careful in putting the bar on my arms. And I have no bruises after doing a PR zercher squat! It requires a very low squat (you deadlift the bar, bring it to the thighs, rest it there, squat down and put it on your arms and bring it back up), way below parallel, but if you don't have a squat rack it's useful.