Starting Weight For Deadlifts

NoeHead

I started doing deadlifts last week and my starting weight is 65lbs(bar alone is 45 lbs) and it doesn't seem like much but to me but when I'm done I feel . A lot of the MFPers deadlift a heck of a lot more than 65lbs but I'm curious as to what weights you all started with? I kind of feel like a weakling but I have to start somewhere, right?

Charliejl82

Everyone's got to start somewhere! What's your aim? How many sets/reps? I would go with between 3-5 sets 4-6 reps. Basically the first workout with be trial and error. If you can't do 4 reps its too heavy, If you can do more than 6 it's too light. Don't go to failure until last set.

back2happy2005

BUMP

NoeHead

I don't really have an aim yet? I wanted to do it to see if I could and although I walk out sore as crap I like it. Right now I'm doing 4 sets of 12 and i feel like I'm struggling the last set. I have to do the one hand over one hand under because I feel like I'm losing grip. I haven't tried going to failure, is that the test to see if the weights are ok?

Charliejl82

Go research starting strength - get the book. http://aasgaardco.com/store/store.php?crn=199

NoeHead

Go research starting strength - get the book. http://aasgaardco.com/store/store.php?crn=199

I just ordered the new rules of lifting for women so I'm kind of excited about that. i can look that book up too though

juliemouse83

I started doing StrongLifts 5x5 in February and my first deads were all of forty pounds.

Don't compare yourself to others. Strength training is you versus you, not everyone else. :flowerforyou:

Charliejl82

I mean is your aim fat loss/ muscle growth muscle maintenence? 4x12 is ok if it's light but if you want to be able to lift heavy you need to lift and with less reps. Going to failure means you literally can't lift anymore ie keep ripping until you fail/can't lift.

Charliejl82

I mean is your aim fat loss/ muscle growth muscle maintenence? 4x12 is ok if it's light but if you want to be able to lift heavy you need to lift and with less reps. Going to failure means you literally can't lift anymore ie keep ripping until you fail/can't lift.

Repping*

howardheilweil

You should be starting light and perfecting your form before adding any more weight. I suggest either following one of the programs mentioned above, or scheduling a couple of sessions with a personal trainer. Good luck!

NoeHead

I started doing StrongLifts 5x5 in February and my first deads were all of forty pounds.

Don't compare yourself to others. Strength training is you versus you, not everyone else. :flowerforyou:

Thanks for the flower I don't mean to compare myself to make sure I'm up to par or anything, but more to look to others as inspiration if that makes sense in terms of how far they've come along. I guess it's similar to seeing someone who is my height and had the same start weight get to a healthy place.

Thank you again for the encouragement!:happy:

indiawastaken

I started Stronglifts 5x5 last week & my deadlifts were 95lbs However, it is only 1 set of 5 reps.

Charliejl82

You should be starting light and perfecting your form before adding any more weight. I suggest either following one of the programs mentioned above, or scheduling a couple of sessions with a personal trainer. Good luck!

Agreed - my posts assume you have good form.

neandermagnon

Everyone's got to start somewhere! What's your aim? How many sets/reps? I would go with between 3-5 sets 4-6 reps. Basically the first workout with be trial and error. If you can't do 4 reps its too heavy, If you can do more than 6 it's too light. Don't go to failure until last set.

it depends on the programme you're doing.... programmes like stronglifts and starting strength you start with a 45lb bar for some exercises, 65lb for deadlift, and each workout you add 5lb (10lb for deadlifts) - this is so you can spend your time when the bar feels relatively light, working on form and building up to the point where you are failing to make the set number of lifts (5 sets of 5 for stronglifts, 3 sets of 5 for starting strength), at which point you don't add 5lb/10lb the next workout.

OP If you're doing either of those programmes or a similar one... yes when you start out the bar is supposed to feel too light, if it feels too heavy it's better to start with a lighter bar (e.g. a non-olympic one) or dumbbells. Make sure your form is 100% correct, and don't worry it'll soon feel really heavy.

From personal experience, I've made much greater gains in strength from doing stronglifts than doing the x number of reps to failure each workout method......... but that doesn't mean that method is wrong, because there are a number of factors such as your level of lifting experience. A lot of people go on to intermediate lifting programmes way too early, which is exactly what I did wrong, so I'm not going to blame the intermediate style lifting programme that I was doing for that... it was me, doing the wrong kind of programme. Hence making a ton more progress doing a beginner's programme (Stronglifts 5x5)

NoeHead

You should be starting light and perfecting your form before adding any more weight. I suggest either following one of the programs mentioned above, or scheduling a couple of sessions with a personal trainer. Good luck!

that was my number one goal as i didn't want to hurt myself. our former strength training class instructor watches me to make sure my form is good and he says it is. thanks!

NoeHead

You should be starting light and perfecting your form before adding any more weight. I suggest either following one of the programs mentioned above, or scheduling a couple of sessions with a personal trainer. Good luck!

Agreed - my posts assume you have good form.

my aim is fat loss...a lot of fat loss lol. i'm plan on staying at the 65lbs just to make sure i get used to my form and not have to second guess myself(i refuse to have a sore back because i didn't focus on form) and get used to the over/under hand thing. it feels weird right now.