So near, and yet, so far! (aka 210kg deadlift at 73kg / 462lbs at 160lbs)

[PersonaNonGrata]

This is my "almost" lockout of 210kg, if you weren't paying attention you might have given it. It looks closer in the picture/video than it felt (it felt bad - i did not get my hips forward properly - no time for a smile at the top)



Looking at my right arm it looks a little bent at the elbow too - not good for the tendon. And my feet are too close together, and are turned out at 45 degrees - gah! basically i somehow didn't even set up properly, so it's no wonder i fecked it up. If i'd set up correctly, and maybe if i'd skipped the 200kg "warm up" pull (which went perfectly) i would probably have made it. Will get it next time i think - i was very apprehensive, but it came off the floor easy enough. I need 219kg for 3x body weight.

(Yes i know, i have no calf muscles, and no, i train legs more often than anything else so it's not my fault!)

[DocHoss]

Pretty freakin' impressive nonheless! You'll get your 3xBW before you know it.

[ilovethe80s]

I quadruple clicked the image about 20 times because i was really hoping it was a vid haha, but great effort, I have failed a lift right there before as well and it is just infuriating. As you pointed out though, you had non-ideal set up so I'm sure once you hit this again, with your usual set up and a lighter weight acclimation pull instead of 200kg, it will be yours and then some

[PersonaNonGrata]

I do have a video, will upload it later if i can figure out how. It is by no means a demonstration of good deadlifting technique though! (but it's very useful to me to see where i'm going wrong)

[silverlightning]

so what you're saying is you can pull more weight then me at 40lbs lighter? good job. can you post your workout for the day and your weight progression up to your last pull?

[silverlightning]

your left arm looks like "do you even lift" compared to your right arm of peace.

[MrNismo]

Man you have some big looking arms and shoulders for 5'11" 162 lbs! I look like a twig at 6' 178 right now compared to you LOL.

Repped for the pic but lets see the vid anyway!

[PersonaNonGrata]

your left arm looks like "do you even lift" compared to your right arm of peace.

Mixed grip and the video angle - both my arms are in fact the same

This is my deadlift log for the last year or so, it's a bit random, but the basic approach is alternate volume and heavy weeks, and try for a big single every month or two. My bodyweight has decreased about 10lbs over the same period (78kg -> 73kg)

02/09/2012 150x5 / 160x1
09/09/2012 150x4, 150x3, 120x5
16/09/2012 120x15, 150x5
23/09/2012 150x6, 140x6, 120x10
30/09/2012 140x4, 160x3, 140x3
07/10/2012 skip
14/10/2012 160x6, 140x6
21/10/2012 skip
28/10/2012 170,175, 180 (felt heavy), 160x3
04/11/2012 skip - SLDL
11/11/2012 150x5, 140x6, 140x4
18/11/2012 skip - SLDL
25/11/2012 170x2, 140x3 x3
02/12/2012 140x8, 150x3
09/12/2012 180x3, 160x3
16/12/2012 140x8 x6 x6
23/12/2012 extra squats
30/12/2012 140x8, 140x6
06/01/2013 190x1, 195x1, 180x2
13/01/2013 140x10
20/01/2013 extra squats
27/01/2013 200x1 (!!!!), 140x4, 140x4
03/02/2013 150x6, 140x6
10/02/2013 extra squats
17/02/2013 skip
24/02/2013 180x3, 160x5
03/03/2013 160x6, 140x6
10/03/2013 skip
17/03/2013 man flu - SLDL 80x10 x10 x10
24/03/2013 180x2 x2
31/03/2013 160x6, 160x4
07/04/2013 180x2 x2
14/04/2013 elbow injury
21/04/2013 elbow injury
28/04/2013 elbow injury
05/05/2013 140x8 x6 x6
12/05/2013 160x6x4, 140x6x6
19/05/2013 160x6x4, 140x6 x6
26/05/2013 holiday
02/06/2013 180x3 x2 x1
09/06/2013 140x6, 180x1 ,200x1 (easy), 210x1 (almost)

[PersonaNonGrata]

Man you have some big looking arms and shoulders for 5'11" 162 lbs! I look like a twig at 6' 178 right now compared to you LOL.

Repped for the pic but lets see the vid anyway!

They are actually less than 15" flexed, so i suspect it's down to having quite low bodyfat, and hence some definition (dare i say "tone" )

[PersonaNonGrata]

Like i said - lots of things wrong with this!

[Nikonguy]

So close!

You may want to try DLing w/o shoes and focus on driving your heels into the floor.

[HumblyMuscles]

Like i said - lots of things wrong with this!

Top Effort!.... sorry on spread....

[ilovethe80s]

aww sooooo close! 100% convinced you will have that next time after seeing the vid though. Your feet were narrow but its like the rest of your body was set up wide - the foot placement, and the arms out to the sides... must have made lockout harder not just with the hips but the upper back, almost like a snatch grip. Like you said, you know where the errors were and you'll have it next try.

[trickyB]

I think my right distal bicep tendon ripped just watching the video. Strong effort.

[PersonaNonGrata]

I think my right distal bicep tendon ripped just watching the video. Strong effort.

That thought has been playing on my mind a little watching it back. My arm doesn't feel bent, but it sure looks it

My grip double-overhand is good up to 170kg, but there's no way i could pull 210kg overhand without straps..... what's the general consensus on straps? acceptable or not?

[EB68]

Great effort! My best at your same height, roughly same weight was 435 at 158lbs. Now at 165 I can't even pull that.

[silverlightning]

Unless you're going to compete, I'd say straps are ok. I use Versa Grips now. i used to use a mixed grip back in the 90's, no straps, pulling over 400 lbs for reps. sometimes i'd use a belt, sometimes i wouldn't. can't remember certain details. of course I used the most course bar I could find in the gym. now I used Versa Grips using an over hand grip. the good thing with the versa grips is I don't neccessarily palm the the bar. I can pull with just a finger grip due how the end of the versa grip is made.

I DL on back day right now and SLDL on quad day. I might change that once I figure out a new routine though.

[DocHoss]

That thought has been playing on my mind a little watching it back. My arm doesn't feel bent, but it sure looks it

My grip double-overhand is good up to 170kg, but there's no way i could pull 210kg overhand without straps..... what's the general consensus on straps? acceptable or not?

I'm not afraid of straps. I'm not going to let my weak forearms stymie my deadlifts or rows. And I don't want the risks of a mixed grip. I try to go heavier and heavier before I use the straps so that they are a progressive crutch. Right now I'm using them above 300. They make a huge difference for me. I once managed 315x5 without straps, and then right after that 315x11 with straps.

[PersonaNonGrata]

like nikonguy said..

1..take your shoes off

and

2...your top 1/3 of your range is lacking so maybe you might wanna think about adding HEAVY bent leg goodmornings



the way that came off the floor I'm thinking you've got close to 500 in ya but like I said...you need to work on that top third of the movement and GM's are probably what you need to think about

The shoes are minimalist running shoes - the soles are about 4mm thick and dont compress at all. The gym wont let me lift in socks!

[socket]

Great effort!
You are very close. A few tweeks and you will be moving up in no time..

[DrBigSquat]

Some friendly commentary...I thought your back was a little rounded to begin the pull, and then your right ankle comes up near the top of your lift...both indicating that you may still be too far foward for the entire lift. I'd advise dropping your ass further down, chest up as high as you can while holding the bar and this tight, compact form with bring your quads and hips more into the motion. Again, drive with the heels, chest up. I've watched some awesome deadlift/squat videos on youtube...guys on this forum mentioned "so you think you can squat" and "so you think you can dead lift"..those boys know their stuff...helps a lot to learn the form and then the weight will come. THanks for posting, watching other people going "all in" pumps me up...that guy standing next to you should have put down his dumbells and paid you some respect by at least acknowleding that something impressive was happening right next to him...

[PersonaNonGrata]

Some friendly commentary...I thought your back was a little rounded to begin the pull, and then your right ankle comes up near the top of your lift...both indicating that you may still be too far foward for the entire lift. I'd advise dropping your ass further down, chest up as high as you can while holding the bar and this tight, compact form with bring your quads and hips more into the motion. Again, drive with the heels, chest up. I've watched some awesome deadlift/squat videos on youtube...guys on this forum mentioned "so you think you can squat" and "so you think you can dead lift"..those boys know their stuff...helps a lot to learn the form and then the weight will come. THanks for posting, watching other people going "all in" pumps me up...that guy standing next to you should have put down his dumbells and paid you some respect by at least acknowleding that something impressive was happening right next to him...

Thanks - and yes, i have been working pretty hard on trying to stop my hips coming up too soon - i'm a lot better now than i used to be, but when i go very heavy it's still there - my back is stronger than my legs.
And again yes, towards the "almost" lockout my shoulders drop and the bar comes forward pushing me onto my toes - at that point there was no way i was getting it, and down it comes! This, i think, is because my foot position is all wrong from the start (too close together and pointed outwards).
I don't normally video stuff in the gym as i feel a bit self conscious about it, but i am glad i did - i've learnt a lot from watching myself back

[fittofattofit]

Great deadlifting to get 200kg at 73kg anyway and that 210kg looked so strong from the ground. Yeah you just missed the lockout but you were a whisker away
That 73kg looks like all muscle anyway ... really lean!

[doughnutgut]

Great deadlifting to get 200kg at 73kg anyway and that 210kg looked so strong from the ground. Yeah you just missed the lockout but you were a whisker away
That 73kg looks like all muscle anyway ... really lean!

Paltry noob here watched the vid and wanted to 1rm 120 kilo. burst out a 140... Chuffed but miles behind... Flex squats and that dead vid just encourages me more.....

Feel like a trainwreck today though. ;-)

[PersonaNonGrata]

Paltry noob here watched the vid and wanted to 1rm 120 kilo. burst out a 140... Chuffed but miles behind... Flex squats and that dead vid just encourages me more.....

Feel like a trainwreck today though. ;-)

Congrats. You are the same height as me, if you have longish arms like I do then you were built to deadlift, and you will probably keep on surprising yourself for several months

[gs425e]

The shoes are minimalist running shoes - the soles are about 4mm thick and dont compress at all. The gym wont let me lift in socks!

Ive got the same shoes..i love mine for running..but never thought there be good in the gym...do you think they help for better foot control over normal padded trainers..?

[PersonaNonGrata]

Ive got the same shoes..i love mine for running..but never thought there be good in the gym...do you think they help for better foot control over normal padded trainers..?

Yes, normal squishy-soled running shoes are horrible for lifting in, and i would probably have actually fallen over doing that lift if i'd been wearing Nikes with 1" thick foam soles

I have two pairs of these (NB Minimus Zeros) - one pair for running, one for deadlifts/squats/etc - the flat, non-compressible soles are great, very stable. They are just like socks with a thin Vibram sole. Just dont drop something on your foot!

[doughnutgut]

cheers persona... Never really thought whether i have long arms or not... I know after deading though i feel like my arms are miles long..

As for gym shoes. I wear TOMS for everything unless i am squatting then i use NIKE RIFFS... Stink but work wonders for helping keep my heels to the floor.

[PersonaNonGrata]

Attempt #2 in about 12 hours time - looking forward to it immensely

[tobymax123]

Go for it Persona, you'll make it this time. I missed this thread earlier, but I just want to say 462 pounds at your weight is pretty impressive! It's a heck of a lot more than I'm deadlifting.