deadlifts are bad for you?

teinepalagi

A personal trainer at my gym told me I shouldn't be doing deadlifts because everybody who does them has crappy form and I'm just asking for an injury. She told me (and I quote) "there are other ways for 'women' to strengthen their back".

She had a couple of other things to say about women bulking up with weightlifting that I didn't care for either.

but I have been worried that I'm doing the deadlifts wrong (my back muscles are sore, but my back doesn't HURT).

Any thoughts?

Phrak

complete crap, deadlifts are one of the most functional exercises around. Watch some videos about form.. I would not skip them, In fact they are my favorite lift.

Jules2Be

Tried them last week...i think it was love at first rep.

TauTheBull

A personal trainer at my gym told me I shouldn't be doing deadlifts because everybody who does them has crappy form and I'm just asking for an injury. She told me (and I quote) "there are other ways for 'women' to strengthen their back".

She had a couple of other things to say about women bulking up with weightlifting that I didn't care for either.

but I have been worried that I'm doing the deadlifts wrong (my back muscles are sore, but my back doesn't HURT).

Any thoughts?

Fire that trainer at once... The deadlift is probably the best exercise to build overall muscle and strength. I agree that form is an issue but that's because of ego more then execution!

BrianSharpe

If she's concerned about people's "crappy form" and injuries I'm surprised she didn't volunteer to demonstrate correct form (and correct form is important) - maybe she doesn't know herself.........

LabRat529

The trainer is full of crap, obviously.

But that said, deadlifts can be hard on the back if you do them wrong. Find someone in the know to watch you lift. Make sure you're not rounding your shoulders and/or back. Keep your abs tight to protect that spine. The main thrust for the lift should be coming from your quads and hamstrings. You shouldn't really be lifting with your back.

Someone with more experience might have better things to say I'm still pretty new to this lifting thing. However, I like deadlifts. They're one of my favorite lifts.

Yanicka1

That is bull****.

Go to YouTube and look at tutorials.

Wow that make me mad. I love my deadlifts

dad106

Your back should be sore.. as the primary muscles they work is the lower the back. The first time I did with my trainer, my back had a total WTF moment.

While I love PT's(I wouldn't trade mine for the world!) not all are the greatest. and if you don't like what she had to say, then see if you can talk to someone else.

LadyIntrepid

Well..... i threw my back out BADLY doing deadlifts. Emergency room bad. But the fact of the matter is that it was way way too much weight for me, my core wasn't strong enough to handle it, and I'm guessing I didn't bend my knees and POP! And you know what? I knew it was too much weight for me but there were other women handling it without a problem and I let my ego rule, not my body.

AND -- I'm doing deadlifts again. With way less weight, proper form, bracing my now stronger abs, and getting my darn ego out of the way. The bottom line is that deadlifts aren't bad in and of themselves. Like any exercise, you should do what you can handle, push it a little but not too much, and listen to your body.

Qarol

Bad form and you can certainly injure yourself. But it's not all that hard to master good form.

Acg67

Deadlifts!

Yanicka1

Deadlifts!

Love it

amsparky

Time for a new trainer!

I just hit triple digits with my dead lift this week. Go slow, progressively increase the weight and take your time. They freekin rock!!

teinepalagi

Thanks! I kind thought she was full of crap.....but just making sure.......

Dan112358

Deadlifts!

Someone get that kid to pee in a cup. I'm actually a little bit scared of him!

Arrache

Just dont go too heavy and do them slow, remember to work your lower back too. If you have a weak back, you can get injured. I've been doing deadlifts for years, and I have a bad back but that isnt the cause. Shouldnt she be the one to teach you about form???

Also, the myth about woman bulking up is just that. If you have alot of fat, you will feel like your bulky but if you have low body weight, you will look toned. Weight training is the best thing for women who want to lose fat, try a Body Pump class at your gym or something similar. Do that 3 days a week, you will get there without a personal trainer....

Good luck

ishtar13

I did hurt my back on deads a few years ago, but it was because I my form was bad.

This time, I started really low and worked on form while very slowly increasing the weight. I'm at 115 lbs now.

BigRich822

It is one of the best mass building exercises you can do. I would recommend everyone to do them. If he is a personal trainer he should have showed you proper form instead of telling you not to do them. I am a personal trainer as well and would never advise my clients to not do them. I just show them how to do it the right way so they dont hurt themselves

Jynus

hey you ever finds yourself in life needing to pick up something off the floor? Like say your child? Or groceries?

ZOMG, you just did a deadlift, you're lucky you didn't have your spine shoot through your *kitten*!! Good thing your trainer wasn't around to see you play with your child, or things mighta got real...

Hope you learned your lesson. Next time you see ANYTHING on the floor that you need to lifted, just remember your trainers advice and just leave it there. Risking your back is not worth it.

Phrak

My tips for deadlifting:

1. No more then 5 reps a set, add more sets if you want to do more reps. People get sloppy and loose with higher reps which cause injury.
2. Take a deep breath at the start, push your stomach outwards, and try to flex your *kitten* into your spine.
3. Try to keep your chest in line with your arms, if possible.

monty619

the deadlift is the best exercise ever invented... my back development took off after incorporating deadlifts into my routine and i no longer have back pain any more from now having a stronger back and core... you should probably fire ur personal trainer for this type of blasphemy against deadlifts. i would recomend not doing deadlifts only if you have a pre existing back injury and it hurts to do the movement (same goes for squats).. not because you are a woman.

deninevi

That PT is full of crap! DLs rock!

LesterBlackstone

Deadlifts!

Think you're too young for ILS? Think again.

tigerblood78

I love deadlifts. I know I've done enough when I pee blood.(just kidding)

sleepytexan

If deadlifts were easy, they'd be called "ellipticals".

(stolen from Lift Big Eat Big). ha ha.

Ditch the trainer, watch some videos for proper form, and go.

Just hit 135# on Sunday -- got to put on the BIG plates, AND exceeded my body weight. YES!

lodicox7

As someone with chronic back problems who cannot do heavy core lifting as a result, my initial reaction is to listen to her. The fact of the matter is you can study form over and over again and practice until you develop great muscle memory in your reps, but all it takes is ONE wrong move and you are done. Like, forever kind of done.

I've been involved with sports my entire life. I rowed collegiately and understood the extreme importance of proper form on a rowing machine. Didn't matter. I made one wrong move and I've paid for it ever since, and I will for the rest of my life. Granted, I later found out I have a congenital vertebral defect that contributes to excess stress on joints in my spine. However, as an X-ray technologist, I know that vertebral defects are extremely common and most people do not know they have them. The fact of the matter is, most people who are at high risk for back injuries have no clue until it's too late.

This may come across as overly dramatic, but if you've never experienced true back pain then you wouldn't understand. I personally believe these kinds of exercises aren't worth the risk. Get a new trainer if you want, but I'd actually respect the advice of someone who recognizes the lasting effects of back injuries and that no one ever truly masters 'good form'.

LesterBlackstone

My tips for deadlifting:

1. No more then 5 reps a set, add more sets if you want to do more reps. People get sloppy and loose with higher reps which cause injury.
2. Take a deep breath at the start, push your stomach outwards, and try to flex your *kitten* into your spine.
3. Try to keep your chest in line with your arms, if possible.

All good advice here.

Also: Until you're strong enough to lift with "big boy" plates, place the bar on something to bring them up to the proper height (step-bench risers work well).

Have someone knowledgeable watch your form. It takes awhile to develop body awareness -- you may thing you're keeping your back straight, when it's actually rounded.

JNick77

A personal trainer at my gym told me I shouldn't be doing deadlifts because everybody who does them has crappy form and I'm just asking for an injury. She told me (and I quote) "there are other ways for 'women' to strengthen their back".

She had a couple of other things to say about women bulking up with weightlifting that I didn't care for either.

but I have been worried that I'm doing the deadlifts wrong (my back muscles are sore, but my back doesn't HURT).

Any thoughts?

Yes, people that have bad form will likely hurt their self. That's why you learn proper form and do them right. DL's are a great exercise. And they work your legs more than any other body part although your back, core, arms, shoulders, do come into play.