How does one "START" deadlifting?

[Swerdz]

Deadlifting is really not a welcoming exercise, at least not at my stupid gym. First of all every bar starts out at 45lbs. Deadlifting something lying flat on the floor is a lot different then something resting on 2 45lb plates on either side. Speaking of which my gym has the plate setup that goes from 2.5 lb training wheels to the 2 45lb plates.

So my question is how do I start? I am not going to be able to deadlift 135 lbs from the get go. (a bar with 2 45lb plates)

Should I just do romanian deadlifts first and work my way up?

[Turco]

Toes pointed forward and slightly outward.

[mobikwa]

Take some of those aforementioned plates, stack them on the ground, lay your bar with whatever weight you want to start with (empty bar if you're worried) so that it rests at the height that 135 lbs would be and lift.

[Swerdz]

Take some of those aforementioned plates, stack them on the ground, lay your bar with whatever weight you want to start with (empty bar if you're worried) so that it rests at the height that 135 lbs would be and lift.

EXACTLY what I needed. Thanks alot!

[Uncle Ben]

if you can do romanian deadlifts with 135, you can do conventional deads with 135.

[Swerdz]

well RDLS don't touch the ground, so I wouldn't have to worry about the bar being off the ground.

I'm going with plate stack option.

[Uncle Ben]

well RDLS don't touch the ground, so I wouldn't have to worry about the bar being off the ground.

I'm going with plate stack option.

But at the bottom of the lift, the lifter is at a **** biomechanical position. I guess my experience is irrelevant.

[Metal_Lust]

I stacked plates on the ground as well. What I originally wanted to do was set the power rack's saftey bars to a setting to about mid shin, place the barbell on top and start pulling from there but the one at my gym stops just above my knee..

[dopamine72]

[95whtgst]

You could either use weights stacked on the floor to raise the bar height or if you're lucky, your gym will have 5kg rubber plates that will set the bar the same height off the ground as your standard 45 lb plates.

[CodyK7]

You should be able to put 10's on each side or 25's. 45 pounds is nothing and I can't imagine anyone struggling with 65-85lbs.

[Exs]

But at the bottom of the lift, the lifter is at a **** biomechanical position. I guess my experience is irrelevant.

No way Uncle Ben!!!!!!!! Dont be so hard on yourself! :P

[Fixxxer]

You should be able to put 10's on each side or 25's. 45 pounds is nothing and I can't imagine anyone struggling with 65-85lbs.

That will make the bar lower, increasing the range of motion and making it hard to maintain proper form and arch in the lower back. It's best to learn the lift from the standard height of 45's. As others have said, either put something under the plates to raise it up to standard height, or do it in a power rack with the pins set at the appropriate height. Then once you work up to 135 you can start doing it from the floor.

[Dan_S]

I was actually kind of curious about this myself, as I'm going to have my wife start deadlifting next week. I'd imagine she can't quite do 95 from the get go. I guess I'll stack plates as well.