I hate Deadlifts and Squats

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Replies

  • GuybrushThreepw00d
    GuybrushThreepw00d Posts: 784 Member
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  • markink81
    markink81 Posts: 73 Member
    I wouldn't go so far as to say that I hate those lifts. I have a great degree of respect (almost a fear) for them because I know they are highly effective at making people strong. They're a challenge, but progress at them, and you'll be a monster.

    At this point, I'm starting to get a little nervous when deadlift day comes. I'm going to be lifting something off the ground that weighs significantly more than I do for reps. It's going to wear me out. I'm probably going to make weird breathing noises, Arnold grunts, and possibly exhale like a horse after my last rep. Yes, I'm getting damn fearful of the deadlift as I've progressed in it. At what point does my spine just shoot out of my back, or when does my grip give, allowing the bar to fall on my legs somehow and break them in 6 places?

    But as I look at the development I've had from challenging myself with the dreadlift, I can't help but love it to pieces.
    The old cliche is love what you fear. Just do it no what ifs or mindless worry. You know you could slip on a bar of soap in the shower too. I have two arthritic kness and a torn meniscus and I'm sure one day ill have a brand new set of titanium implants. So don't worry about something that my never happen. Good lifting form, lifting belt and a good mindset equals sucess.
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    I'm seriously NOT the biggest roided out person in the world.

    So you're saying you are 'roided-out though? LOL! :wink: :love:
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    May I suggest...

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSRsdE13y9oVNmkOzhl8HhFOKeQGSt7CU9C_pB4ijYBjq0XgOkn





    Problem=Solved
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    The old cliche is love what you fear. Just do it no what ifs or mindless worry.

    That is so true. I hurt my back really bad a few years ago and I still have to stand there and get my head on right before I do a heavy lift, definitely a large mental component.
  • Showcase_Brodown
    Showcase_Brodown Posts: 919 Member
    I wouldn't go so far as to say that I hate those lifts. I have a great degree of respect (almost a fear) for them because I know they are highly effective at making people strong. They're a challenge, but progress at them, and you'll be a monster.

    At this point, I'm starting to get a little nervous when deadlift day comes. I'm going to be lifting something off the ground that weighs significantly more than I do for reps. It's going to wear me out. I'm probably going to make weird breathing noises, Arnold grunts, and possibly exhale like a horse after my last rep. Yes, I'm getting damn fearful of the deadlift as I've progressed in it. At what point does my spine just shoot out of my back, or when does my grip give, allowing the bar to fall on my legs somehow and break them in 6 places?

    But as I look at the development I've had from challenging myself with the dreadlift, I can't help but love it to pieces.
    The old cliche is love what you fear. Just do it no what ifs or mindless worry. You know you could slip on a bar of soap in the shower too. I have two arthritic kness and a torn meniscus and I'm sure one day ill have a brand new set of titanium implants. So don't worry about something that my never happen. Good lifting form, lifting belt and a good mindset equals sucess.

    Well yeah, the spine explosion and leg breaking scenarios were a product of my worst imagination. I'm not really afraid of injury, I just respect the beast that is the deadlift.
  • Showcase_Brodown
    Showcase_Brodown Posts: 919 Member
    Don't do them.
    I absolutely hate deadlifts and never do them. They're the most overhyped lift possible.

    And I think suggesting beginners to squat and deadlift without someone coaching them is horrible, they're going to snap the **** out of their back.

    Look out for the bicep curls too. I've seen so many beginners get their arms or shoulders torn completely off. Sometimes I have nightmares about the sound it makes.
  • astronomicals
    astronomicals Posts: 1,537 Member
    Don't do them.
    I absolutely hate deadlifts and never do them. They're the most overhyped lift possible.

    And I think suggesting beginners to squat and deadlift without someone coaching them is horrible, they're going to snap the **** out of their back.

    Look out for the bicep curls too. I've seen so many beginners get their arms or shoulders torn completely off. Sometimes I have nightmares about the sound it makes.

    Ever seen a distal biceps tear from someone deadflifting without straight arms.... Now thats ugly. Whole bicep rolls up into a ball in your arm


    long arms people, long arms
  • Showcase_Brodown
    Showcase_Brodown Posts: 919 Member
    Don't do them.
    I absolutely hate deadlifts and never do them. They're the most overhyped lift possible.

    And I think suggesting beginners to squat and deadlift without someone coaching them is horrible, they're going to snap the **** out of their back.

    Look out for the bicep curls too. I've seen so many beginners get their arms or shoulders torn completely off. Sometimes I have nightmares about the sound it makes.

    Ever seen a distal biceps tear from someone deadflifting without straight arms.... Now thats ugly. Whole bicep rolls up into a ball in your arm


    long arms people, long arms

    All joking aside...

    I haven't. I sure hope I don't have to, because that sounds absolutely horrifyingly terrible. I will take the long arms tip to heart.
  • juliewatkin
    juliewatkin Posts: 764 Member
    Don't do them.
    I absolutely hate deadlifts and never do them. They're the most overhyped lift possible.

    And I think suggesting beginners to squat and deadlift without someone coaching them is horrible, they're going to snap the **** out of their back.

    Look out for the bicep curls too. I've seen so many beginners get their arms or shoulders torn completely off. Sometimes I have nightmares about the sound it makes.

    Ever seen a distal biceps tear from someone deadflifting without straight arms.... Now thats ugly. Whole bicep rolls up into a ball in your arm


    long arms people, long arms

    Or double over hand or hook
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    (squats + deadlifts)>bench

    I cannot see for the life of me how a bench PR can be more rewarding than the former 2 exercises. One day when you pick something up off the ground really heavy or get out of the hole from a deep squat that is trying to crush you you may change your mindset on that one.

    I believe the question has been answered in that you don't HAVE to do them but if you want to replace them you will need to add a fair few exercises to hit all the same muscle groups.
  • Amadbro
    Amadbro Posts: 750 Member
    When I started weight training, I knew that the Big 3 compound lifts were important, and my trainer ensured that I did them. When I returned to the States and was not under the supervision of a trainer, I dropped deadlifts completely and moved from weighted squats to body weight squats. I justified this to myself by citing the potential for injury, but didn't really find suitable replacements.

    I've since added them back into my routine (albeit for only the past week), but have not grown to love them any more than before. As weight lifting is about progression, I don't see these exercises getting any easier - and I'm going relatively light right now until I'm confident that I didn't lose my form.

    Are there suitable alternatives? Will they get easier? Are they really that critical? I look forward to your input.

    If it were easy then everyone would be doing it

    I despise squats but I do them. You know why? Because I know I need to. A piece of iron isn't going to punk me out.
  • mheebner
    mheebner Posts: 285 Member
    (squats + deadlifts)>bench

    I cannot see for the life of me how a bench PR can be more rewarding than the former 2 exercises.

    Say and believe what you will but a PR bench press is pretty gol-damn satisfying.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    (squats + deadlifts)>bench

    I cannot see for the life of me how a bench PR can be more rewarding than the former 2 exercises.

    Say and believe what you will but a PR bench press is pretty gol-damn satisfying.

    I prefer to move the biggest weights possible and that is done by my legs not my arms :smile:

    Don't get me wrong, I love a PR bench (barely remember the last time though :laugh:) but it is comparatively much lighter.

    I'm a powerlifter who hates the bench press. Weird I know.
  • mheebner
    mheebner Posts: 285 Member
    :wink: I was just givin ya a hassle...I totally understand. But right now I am kinda upside down in my SL program. I pushing new PR everytime I bench but my squats and deads have not gotten to that point yet. I know it cant continue much longer and I will have to deload and eventually move to 3x5 or even 1x5 on BP while I have LOTS of room to grow in both squats and deads.
  • pcastagner
    pcastagner Posts: 1,606 Member
    i think what you gotta remember is that one of the major "rewards" for lifting is you look good. then think about how you look at yourself. I mean, literally, how do you look at yourself? In the mirror. Basically, skipping leg day happens because leg day doesn't do much you can see from that angle. But isn't that selfish? everyone else has to see all the other angles of you. The ones improved by squats and deads.
  • Jersey_Devil
    Jersey_Devil Posts: 4,142 Member
    squats deadlifts bench military press- all compound movements that will get you the best results.

    if you dont want to do squats and deadlifts, nobody is forcing you too.
    you can always do squats using a machine-- you wont be working the stabilizer muscles the same way- you wont be getting the benefits of a compound lift-- but you will be working quads/glutes.
    you could also do lunges.

    personally, i cant imagine not doing squats and deadlifts. I dont like squats but i suck it up and do them. And deadlifts---- well, once you are done doing them, the feeling is AMAZING!
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    You won't hate them once you start seeing 400lb + on your DL or 300+ on your squat. This is a promise.
  • markink81
    markink81 Posts: 73 Member
    you can always do squats using a machine-- you wont be working the stabilizer muscles the same way- you wont be getting the benefits of a compound lift-- but you will be working quads/glutes.
    Just an fyi...there is no such thing as stabilizer muscles.
  • danimalkeys
    danimalkeys Posts: 982 Member
    (squats + deadlifts)>bench

    I cannot see for the life of me how a bench PR can be more rewarding than the former 2 exercises.

    Say and believe what you will but a PR bench press is pretty gol-damn satisfying.

    I prefer to move the biggest weights possible and that is done by my legs not my arms :smile:

    Don't get me wrong, I love a PR bench (barely remember the last time though :laugh:) but it is comparatively much lighter.

    I'm a powerlifter who hates the bench press. Weird I know.

    A good squat and dead will win you meets more than a good bench will. I get where you are coming from.
  • pattyproulx
    pattyproulx Posts: 603 Member
    Squats and DLs take so much out of you that I understand why people don't like doing them. Still as others have said, it's not a coincidence that they are so tough; you're using you entire body in those lifts and that's why there's no substitute.

    I dread squat days as much as anyone I'm sure, but the feeling you get after completing it is awesome.

    Also, once you start adding real weight on there, you get a nice sense of pride in being able to lift all that weight.
    Not too many people at my gym do full squats and deadlifts, so you can see that people are watching when you've got a 400lb load on a bar and that to me is really motivating.
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    I think it should be remembered that some people have terrible biomechanics for lever movements like squats. Yes, squats are tough and you have to persevere with them but if you are constantly fighting your body the likelihood is that you will end up stopping completely especially if are a beginner.

    The only people who really need to do squats or deads are competitive power lifters. Everyone else can consider other options or even eventually transition into them after getting some confidence with similar movements under their belt.

    Obviously if you are comfortable right off the bat doing them - top banana. Otherwise there is no shame in considering other avenues.
  • Jersey_Devil
    Jersey_Devil Posts: 4,142 Member
    you can always do squats using a machine-- you wont be working the stabilizer muscles the same way- you wont be getting the benefits of a compound lift-- but you will be working quads/glutes.
    Just an fyi...there is no such thing as stabilizer muscles.

    technically speaking, no but im talking about the muscles whose function is to assist in stabilization. haha
  • SkinnyFatAlbert
    SkinnyFatAlbert Posts: 482 Member
    My knees are crap from being heavy (as in they click when i squat or walk up stairs) so I just do goblet squats. The squat rack is always busy anyways with guys taking 10 minutes between sets so it's a win win.
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    The only people who really need to do squats or deads are competitive power lifters.

    And athletes actually. There is considerable relationship between improvement in the squat and improvement in things like vertical jump and speed.
  • pcastagner
    pcastagner Posts: 1,606 Member
    A proper squat also the exercise that will give you the most quality of life improvement.
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    The only people who really need to do squats or deads are competitive power lifters.

    And athletes actually. There is considerable relationship between improvement in the squat and improvement in things like vertical jump and speed.

    Fair point.

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