Count me in as another who only deadlifts with a hex bar. Much safer and a more comfortable lift.

Wow. I really liked it and can't believe how much more I felt it in my legs, specifically quads, rather than my lower back. I was worried about how my form would be so I filmed it and it was practically flawless. I'll continue with this from now on. My only complaint is that I wish would've just tried it much earlier lol

Just bumped this from page 7....slacking up in here?!?!

I know I have been.

It's spring aka boozing season. I'm still fasting regularly, but not really concentrating on my cals. I've also been half assing it at the gym...but still going. I'm trying to clean it up this week with diet and workout.

Sorry, just got back from 22.5 mile bike ride with 15 mph winds.
Drank a half bottle of Bolthouse chocolate protien.

That is all.

Just started Jim Wendler's 5, 3, 1 program this week. Going to stray from the Leangains/Paleo thing for the summer and see what happens. If I don't like it, I can always go back. For me it is always easier cutting weight than trying to bulk up by eating 3000 plus calories a day.

Nothing's really changed with me....

Salad with chicken for dinner.

Those who have done Trap Bar Dead Lifts. Question. Do you think it will translate to an improvement in the dead lift?

I'm starting to get frustrated lately. I've thought about doing a PL competition next fall (just for my own amusement), but I'm wanting to really see some progress in lifts before I really make the jump. I want to compete in 77 kg (169 lb) but also continue to improve strength. I'm about 175 right now, so the weight isn't a huge deal to get to the 169.

I've had to back off a bit lately though as I'm pretty sure I fried my CNS from compound heavy lifting 3-4 times a week for about 12 weeks. My dead lift has completely stalled at 425 for 1RM. My squat is also stuck at 335 for 1RM. I guess my bind is...in the summer I like to do a lot of other stuff. Basketball, softball, different metabolic activities, which makes it pretty tough to recover. Unfortunately, with some past knee problems, these activities make it really tough to feel like I have 100% stability when training, especially the dead lift.

Currently I'll do box squats, hack squats, leg presses and some other isolation stuff once a week just to maintain leg strength. I've NEVER Hex Bar dead lifted. Think it's worth working in, at least with the chance that a different movement might get me through the plateau? Kind of in that rut where despite having what I think (and a mentor of mine who programs for me) is a quality program, things feel stale...

Azubuike24;1437035 wrote:Those who have done Trap Bar Dead Lifts. Question. Do you think it will translate to an improvement in the dead lift?

I'm starting to get frustrated lately. I've thought about doing a PL competition next fall (just for my own amusement), but I'm wanting to really see some progress in lifts before I really make the jump. I want to compete in 77 kg (169 lb) but also continue to improve strength. I'm about 175 right now, so the weight isn't a huge deal to get to the 169.

I've had to back off a bit lately though as I'm pretty sure I fried my CNS from compound heavy lifting 3-4 times a week for about 12 weeks. My dead lift has completely stalled at 425 for 1RM. My squat is also stuck at 335 for 1RM. I guess my bind is...in the summer I like to do a lot of other stuff. Basketball, softball, different metabolic activities, which makes it pretty tough to recover. Unfortunately, with some past knee problems, these activities make it really tough to feel like I have 100% stability when training, especially the dead lift.

Currently I'll do box squats, hack squats, leg presses and some other isolation stuff once a week just to maintain leg strength. I've NEVER Hex Bar dead lifted. Think it's worth working in, at least with the chance that a different movement might get me through the plateau? Kind of in that rut where despite having what I think (and a mentor of mine who programs for me) is a quality program, things feel stale...

I don't think it will necessarily equate to a bigger deadlift. With the hex bar you are using more legs, hips & ass where with a standard dead there's more back involved. Training with the hex for a competition, imo, could leave your back as your "weak" point. A hex is almost like doing a squat.

BR1986FB;1437173 wrote:I don't think it will necessarily equate to a bigger deadlift. With the hex bar you are using more legs, hips & ass where with a standard dead there's more back involved. Training with the hex for a competition, imo, could leave your back as your "weak" point. A hex is almost like doing a squat.

This. You want your dead lift to get better, dead lift. Throw in some good mornings and glute ham raises. Those will help you out a bit. Foam roll, stretch, and eat. Then do those things again.

Yeah, I just use the hex because I want to hoist as much weight as possible. My competition days are over. If I was competing I'd do strictly deads, sumo style.

BR1986FB;1437212 wrote:Yeah, I just use the hex because I want to hoist as much weight as possible. My competition days are over. If I was competing I'd do strictly deads, sumo style.

Why the sumo style? I've never actually seen anyone do sumo deadlifts.

Also - i love the hex bar. A lot less strain on my lower back.

Raw Dawgin' it;1437278 wrote:Why the sumo style? I've never actually seen anyone do sumo deadlifts.

My body structure make sumo a much easier pull.

Raw Dawgin' it;1437279 wrote:Also - i love the hex bar. A lot less strain on my lower back.

If done correctly the barbell deadlift should have very little discomfort on lower back. I liked the hex bar deadlift when I tried it (4 weeks) but felt much too like a squat for me and didn't feel like my back was getting much of anything out of it. Plus I feel way more badass barbell deadlifting lol

So it sounds like it might actually improve the squat then?

I don't really think my back is the weak point. I enjoy the other quad/hamstring work though, but may have to incorporate this as well.

Thanks for posting about it actually...

birddog23;1437362 wrote:If done correctly the barbell deadlift should have very little discomfort on lower back. I liked the hex bar deadlift when I tried it (4 weeks) but felt much too like a squat for me and didn't feel like my back was getting much of anything out of it. Plus I feel way more badass barbell deadlifting lol

I've watched videos of Marting Berkhan (LeanGains) deadlift and dude completely rolls his back. Unlike a conventional style where you'd look up the whole time he's looking down and the top of his back is rounded. He seems to think it's ok but it looks like an injury waiting to happen to me.

BR1986FB;1437376 wrote:I've watched videos of Marting Berkhan (LeanGains) deadlift and dude completely rolls his back. Unlike a conventional style where you'd look up the whole time he's looking down and the top of his back is rounded. He seems to think it's ok but it looks like an injury waiting to happen to me.

Yeah, this is why I stick with the hex bar. I know the form, but dont like taking the chance of breaking if I am trying to do a lot of weight. Nothing worse than a pulled back muscle, IMO. I've pulled ones where it hurts to breath, walk, move, etc.

I can't find the link now because work, but check out Elliot Hulse's vids on Youtube. He has a lot of them dedicated to deadlifts.

He is the man, knows his shit and is very informative.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=vFs9em8h8ZE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DvFs9em8h8ZE

Great deadlift article http://articles.elitefts.com/training-articles/tuggin-tips-advice-on-deadlifts-that-changed-my-life/

birddog23;1437559 wrote:Great deadlift article http://articles.elitefts.com/training-articles/tuggin-tips-advice-on-deadlifts-that-changed-my-life/

I wonder how many false hits he got with an article titled "Tuggin' Tips"

I might try to make this over the weekend....if the protein arrives today and I can find a place to buy "almond meal."

My friend gave me the recipe, he said it was amazing. Thought I'd share.
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3 cups of almond meal is a crapload of Omega 6. Definitely looks good, but I personally make stuff like that eat the whole thing in a single sitting.

My new addiction is dry roasted & unsalted almonds.