The New Fitness & Martial Arts Thread

[CuriousOyster]

What do you you guys get out of doing deadlift's?

A few things. Mainly it's down to once you're doing it right it will be the lift you're strongest at by a considerable margin, so seeing you're able to lift well over your own body weight is very satisfying.

There's also the general aspect of seeing yourself get better at something and the feeling of endorphins you get with most weight lifting, but it's more pronounced with deadlifts. It's also meant to be the best lift for your central nervous system, from what I've read, with it essentially being a whole body work out which you can't really get from any other lift in the same way.

I know that is the goal but I can't see myself lifting over 80kg just because I'm so scared of wrecking my back.

Presume you mean your lower back? If you're form is good, it shouldn't hurt or work your lower back too much. Shoulders back, not rolled and leaning over the bar, chin up facing forward with back straight at like a 45 degree angle at start of lift help to focus my form. Usually tense (well hidden) abs when pulling bar up to focus on stability.

No running trainers either (with big cushioned heels), flat shoes like converse or like just in socks help me because I'm 6'4 and help me get closer to bar without bending over and can lift a lot more as can feel the push in heels against floor. Used to be bit stronger but currently around 160kg deadlift for 5-6ish reps.

[That's not a growth]

I deadlift in socks. Also it stops my back being gooseberry fool, rather than causing it.

[Corazon de Leon]

How do you guys deal with bench press without a spotter? I'm always on my own at the gym, and my BP is up to 55kg now and I'm honestly not sure how much more weight I can handle before I drop this strawberry floating thing on my head

Did 120kg squat last night, 5x5, new PR and couldn't believe it but it almost felt easy! Even when warning up I did 100kg and it felt like nothing.

I'm still strawberry floated tho, coughing loads now and my chest is wrecked. I'm so glad I'm still able to do weights tho.

Benching without a spotter gives me the fear - can't do the exercise at all with dumbbells(I permanently scarred one of my fingers after crushing it between two dumbbells a few years back) so need to either have someone around me or go much lower than my PB(62.5kg) to not be terrified of death.

[7256930752]

What do you you guys get out of doing deadlift's?

A few things. Mainly it's down to once you're doing it right it will be the lift you're strongest at by a considerable margin, so seeing you're able to lift well over your own body weight is very satisfying.

There's also the general aspect of seeing yourself get better at something and the feeling of endorphins you get with most weight lifting, but it's more pronounced with deadlifts. It's also meant to be the best lift for your central nervous system, from what I've read, with it essentially being a whole body work out which you can't really get from any other lift in the same way.

I know that is the goal but I can't see myself lifting over 80kg just because I'm so scared of wrecking my back.

Presume you mean your lower back? If you're form is good, it shouldn't hurt or work your lower back too much. Shoulders back, not rolled and leaning over the bar, chin up facing forward with back straight at like a 45 degree angle at start of lift help to focus my form. Usually tense (well hidden) abs when pulling bar up to focus on stability.

No running trainers either (with big cushioned heels), flat shoes like converse or like just in socks help me because I'm 6'4 and help me get closer to bar without bending over and can lift a lot more as can feel the push in heels against floor. Used to be bit stronger but currently around 160kg deadlift for 5-6ish reps.

Yeah I had one of the PT's check and he said my form is good, it's more psychological from having a bad lower back in the past. I find it much easier with my left hand in an overhand grip and right hand in an underhand grip, the bar gets very close to my knees with both hands ovwrhand.

I'm 6'0 so not especially tall but it is picking the bar of the ground and putting it down that I feel most vulnerable. I would like to try it using a power rack and having the bar slightly off the ground.

[CuriousOyster]

What do you you guys get out of doing deadlift's?

A few things. Mainly it's down to once you're doing it right it will be the lift you're strongest at by a considerable margin, so seeing you're able to lift well over your own body weight is very satisfying.

There's also the general aspect of seeing yourself get better at something and the feeling of endorphins you get with most weight lifting, but it's more pronounced with deadlifts. It's also meant to be the best lift for your central nervous system, from what I've read, with it essentially being a whole body work out which you can't really get from any other lift in the same way.

I know that is the goal but I can't see myself lifting over 80kg just because I'm so scared of wrecking my back.

Presume you mean your lower back? If you're form is good, it shouldn't hurt or work your lower back too much. Shoulders back, not rolled and leaning over the bar, chin up facing forward with back straight at like a 45 degree angle at start of lift help to focus my form. Usually tense (well hidden) abs when pulling bar up to focus on stability.

No running trainers either (with big cushioned heels), flat shoes like converse or like just in socks help me because I'm 6'4 and help me get closer to bar without bending over and can lift a lot more as can feel the push in heels against floor. Used to be bit stronger but currently around 160kg deadlift for 5-6ish reps.

Yeah I had one of the PT's check and he said my form is good, it's more psychological from having a bad lower back in the past. I find it much easier with my left hand in an overhand grip and right hand in an underhand grip, the bar gets very close to my knees with both hands ovwrhand.

I'm 6'0 so not especially tall but it is picking the bar of the ground and putting it down that I feel most vulnerable. I would like to try it using a power rack and having the bar slightly off the ground.

True, very easy to hurt yourself (like I done last week) never mind with bad back history. Use the same hand grips as you, I think a lot of people do the same as it's effective. My double overhand tends to fail quicker.

I've never done rack pulls but have heard they are good for building up strength in the portion of the lift you are worried about so sounds like a good idea! Might actually try them as well.

[Rocsteady]

If you're not a big fan of deads i just wouldnt do them - I've never done proper back squats as my lower back cant handle them and despite being the 'king of exercises' it's never held me back.

+1 for deadlifts in socks.

I almost like not having a spotter for bench, drives you on more. Either that weight's going up or you're getting crushed by 100 kilos, quite the motivator.

[BTB]

Saw someone squatting 200kg last night

Good grief.

[Rocsteady]

Beast. Love banana splits like that though, spurs you on if you're struggling with minor weights and there's a boy beside you destroying it.

[That's not a growth]

I would wipe away a single tear and try to reassure myself that at least I'd be a better runner than him, then after thinking about it would come to the conclusion he could traverse the landscape like the incredible hunk, with leaps that could humble mountains, and I'd go back to feeling sad again.

[7256930752]

If you're not a big fan of deads i just wouldnt do them - I've never done proper back squats as my lower back cant handle them and despite being the 'king of exercises' it's never held me back.

+1 for deadlifts in socks.

I almost like not having a spotter for bench, drives you on more. Either that weight's going up or you're getting crushed by 100 kilos, quite the motivator.

I like to stick in for a bit and give an exercise a chance, if I find that overall I get more pain than good from it I will swap it for something else. At the moment it's a bit of pride as doing 30KG deadlift's feels feeble. I know know one around you really gives a gooseberry fool but I'm sure you get what I mean.

[Grumpy David]

Quite happy with how my biceps are looking lately but would like to get more of a peak to them. Pic for reference.

I mostly do indirect exercises for arms (bench, overhead press, chin ups, pull ups). Only direct exercise is dumbell curls occasionally. Anything y'all would recommend for an end of workout addition?

[BTB]

Was doing deadlifts last night and felt a slight pain on the inside of my shin, quite high up towards the knee. Never felt that before, has anyone else had that or know of what could have caused it? I'm guessing my form must have been a bit off (never had issues with deadlift before, so I assume my form is generally good), stopped doing them after I felt it to be safe.

Did deadlifts again last night, all felt fine. You can all stop worrying now.

[Rocsteady]

Quite happy with how my biceps are looking lately but would like to get more of a peak to them. Pic for reference.

I mostly do indirect exercises for arms (bench, overhead press, chin ups, pull ups). Only direct exercise is dumbell curls occasionally. Anything y'all would recommend for an end of workout addition?

I'm just impressed you managed to get a decent shot, this was my attempt with shite lighting:

Not really though I'm the same - chin ups and curls are enough I've always found.

In great shape just now, 5 weeks to Thailand and I'm on course to being the best i have been in years. Doing a lot of cardio, got abs showing through alongside defined chest and wide shoulders. Legs twice a week has got my thighs looking better too. Benefits to a recent break up.

[7256930752]

Quite happy with how my biceps are looking lately but would like to get more of a peak to them. Pic for reference.

I mostly do indirect exercises for arms (bench, overhead press, chin ups, pull ups). Only direct exercise is dumbell curls occasionally. Anything y'all would recommend for an end of workout addition?

I'm just impressed you managed to get a decent shot, this was my attempt with shite lighting:

Not really though I'm the same - chin ups and curls are enough I've always found.

In great shape just now, 5 weeks to Thailand and I'm on course to being the best i have been in years. Doing a lot of cardio, got abs showing through alongside defined chest and wide shoulders. Legs twice a week has got my thighs looking better too. Benefits to a recent break up.

Good work Rocsteady. strawberry float doing legs twice a week.

GD, could you try doing cable curls for a different bicep exercise? I know it's essentially the same thing but could be good for a change.

[Rocsteady]

Looking class man, crazy improvement on what you used to be way back in the day.

42.5kg is a mad heavy ohp set when compared to 55 bench.

[Rocsteady]

I dunno about lowering it (I wouldn't), just stressing that failing at 42's nowt to be worried about.

[Grumpy David]

Quite happy with how my biceps are looking lately but would like to get more of a peak to them. Pic for reference.

I mostly do indirect exercises for arms (bench, overhead press, chin ups, pull ups). Only direct exercise is dumbell curls occasionally. Anything y'all would recommend for an end of workout addition?

I'm just impressed you managed to get a decent shot, this was my attempt with shite lighting:

Not really though I'm the same - chin ups and curls are enough I've always found.

In great shape just now, 5 weeks to Thailand and I'm on course to being the best i have been in years. Doing a lot of cardio, got abs showing through alongside defined chest and wide shoulders. Legs twice a week has got my thighs looking better too. Benefits to a recent break up.

Looking strawberry floating good my dudes.

Im actually taking this week off the gym. Just felt like rest. Hit 125kg on my squat last session tho which was awesome. BP is up to 55kg which is fairly pathetic but still feels like im about to drop that gooseberry fool at any second and brain myself Really struggling with OHP tho. Failed after the second set on 42.5kg

quick swelfie https://imgur.com/a/ncRGE

not bad considering the damage i did foodwise over Christmas

Your arms look well defined Brerr, surely you are forgetting to include the weight of the barbell with those lifts? I overhead press 60KG for 3x5 or 5x5 without training it too regularly. Benching 100KG 5x5 before chest injury. It's a strange ratio too. Your shoulders are disproportionately strong compared to your chest?

Rocsteady, EasyGym elevator has great lighting ha, plus Nexus 6P just takes really nice photos. Was a bit awkward to angle the phone though.

I prefer pull ups compared to chin ups and I'd say they're my joint favourite exercise with bench press which I never thought I would say, I used to absolutely hate pull ups because they were so difficult and everyone can see you struggle when doing them. Now I feel like a monkey effortlessly pulling itself through tree tops.

[Rocsteady]

I train pull ups a couple of times a week, love them too. Once you're good at them they do feel great, one of the most satisfying lifts.

Can crack out 12 easy now with perfect form so been thinking of wearing a weighted vest, not certain my previously torn shoulder would cope though.

[Rocsteady]

This is essentially my before shot with me hoping to make as big an improvement as possible in just 5 weeks.

The main issue with it being that the lighting in my flat is dreadful so takes away any and all definition to leave me looking significantly flatter than in real life. First world problems

Just realised the app's not uploading it properly, strawberry float it

[Rocsteady]

Hah I’ve found that before too! They cover you in white spotlights basically, it’s awesome.