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getting lightheaded while deadlifting

ObsidianMist

so yeah. is that normal/common? it doesn't happen with any other exercises I do (squat, bench, overhead press, bentover row), just deadlift. I always have a protein smoothie before the gym so I don't think it's a needing to eat issue.

if it's relevant, I'm a 31 year old female, 110lbs, been doing stronglifts 5x5 for 4.5 months and am currently deadlifting 150lbs... although yesterday I got so lightheaded lifting that much that I deloaded down to 145. am I just trying to lift too much? should I deload more and work my way back up?

Replies

unknown

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Gallowmere1984

DopeItUp wrote: »

This is the first time I've seen or heard of people talking about doing equal deadlift reps for each "side". Is there a reason for that? Why not just find what's the most comfortable/powerful and stick to it? I don't think I've done a single deadlift with my left hand supinated in three years.

I would agree with this. Once you start getting heavier, you're going to notice that supination will feel great with one hand, and just wonky and terrible with the other. Forcing yourself to keep doing it "just because" seems like a pretty good way to encourage a bicep tear. My idea of mixed grip is double overhand until I feel like the bar is close to slipping, and then going right-hand supinated on all heavier sets. Heh.

stealthq

DopeItUp wrote: »

This is the first time I've seen or heard of people talking about doing equal deadlift reps for each "side". Is there a reason for that? Why not just find what's the most comfortable/powerful and stick to it? I don't think I've done a single deadlift with my left hand supinated in three years.

Supposedly, it creates muscle imbalances. Doesn't seem to be much consensus on whether it's a significant functional issue or not. I have seen recs to alternate mixed grip each set, not each rep. On the other hand, for competitive powerlifters I've seen recommendations to always use the same grip - something about max training for the grip you're going to use in competition.

Not a concern for me, yet. I still use a regular grip.

unknown

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unknown

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SonyaCele

GuitarJerry wrote: »

I don't agree that controlling the bar on the way down is part of the move. That's not true. You can do it if you want to. But, you get no points for controlling it on the way down. It is an upward movement only in terms of powerlifting. No one cares how it gets back to the floor. Just wanted to correct that misconception.

Also, when lifting heavy, I would sometimes get a little light headed. Deadlifting is big business. uses every muscle in your body.

most, if not all, powerlifting federations consider this a failed lift : "Allowing the bar to return to the platform without maintaining control with both hands (i.e., releasing the bar from the palms of the hand)."

so yes people do care how it gets back to the floor. you must maintain control of the bar on the descent.

DopeItUp

SonyaCele wrote: »

GuitarJerry wrote: »

I don't agree that controlling the bar on the way down is part of the move. That's not true. You can do it if you want to. But, you get no points for controlling it on the way down. It is an upward movement only in terms of powerlifting. No one cares how it gets back to the floor. Just wanted to correct that misconception.

Also, when lifting heavy, I would sometimes get a little light headed. Deadlifting is big business. uses every muscle in your body.

most, if not all, powerlifting federations consider this a failed lift : "Allowing the bar to return to the platform without maintaining control with both hands (i.e., releasing the bar from the palms of the hand)."

so yes people do care how it gets back to the floor. you must maintain control of the bar on the descent.

Of course, but there's a difference in lowering the bar quickly with minimal effort and lowering it slowly and controlled. The latter is pretty much begging for a back injury at heavier weights, IMO.

SonyaCele

yeah but either way , the bar is under control, you can't just drop the bar or even really let it slam onto the ground at the speed of gravity. somewhere between dropping the bar and lowering it slow, you can find your happy space to control the bar on the way down with minimal effort but still in control. Point being you can't just just the bar slam crashing down onto the platform . you can still have control, with minimal effort

ObsidianMist

LazSommer wrote: »

ObsidianMist wrote: »

LazSommer wrote: »

ObsidianMist wrote: »

LazSommer wrote: »

ObsidianMist wrote: »

yeah I do mixed grip.

So you switch your hands mid set? how would 3 sets of two give you equal reps for each grip?

okay. so I get set up for a set of 2 reps. do one rep, switch grip, do other rep. therefore after I've completed 3x2, I've done 3 reps with each grip. as opposed to if I only did 1x5, I would do 3 reps with one grip and only 2 with the other.

Do you do double overhand on your warm-ups out of curiosity?

no, I do mixed grip always.

Everyone is different but you seem worried about equal grip strength. Most only use mixed if they are sure their grip is the only thing that will cause them to fail the lift. A "normal" grip is better for your grip strength and the lift itself if you can handle it.

I'm not worried about strength it's just an irrational compulsive thing for me to want it to be equal.

ObsidianMist

LazSommer wrote: »

ObsidianMist wrote: »

SonyaCele wrote: »

ObsidianMist wrote: »

SonyaCele wrote: »

heavy is realtive so the number doesnt matter, but how many reps are you doing, that will give you an idea of if its heavy or not. if you are able to do more than 3 or 5 , then its not really heavy.
Also you can try doing your deadlifts earlier in your workout before you are exhausted. They are a big compound lift take a whole lot of energy. I do deadlifts only once a week , directly after squats

well I just always do a warmup of one set of 2 reps, and then 3 sets of 2 reps at the full weight. it's just slightly modified from stronglifts because the 5 reps thing bugged me, I prefer an even number so that I can do an equal amount with each grip lol. I'm positive I could do more than that but that's not what the program calls for. I generally increase my weight every time I'm at the gym though.

I used to do my deadlifts somewhere in the middle of my workout but one of the personal trainers at my gym was giving me some tips on my form one day and advised that I should always do deadlifts last, and that's actually what stronglifts calls for as well. besides, I don't get exhausted. I take appropriate breaks between sets to calm my heart rate. if I raced through it I would probably get exhausted but I would also perform much more poorly.

thats not really the greatest of advice, deadlifts are a compound lift and should be done closer to the beginning of the workout. If i recall, stronglifts just has you doing just the compound lifts, and deads are the last of the compounds. But they would not be after accessory exercises if you are doing them. They go before. However, it all just depends on goals and programing and then personal preference , But to say "always do deadlifts last" is um well kinda ignorant. Gym trainers... ugh.... they scare me.

but I don't do any sort of accessory exercises. I just do the 5 compound exercises included in the stronglifts program.

Deadlifts are very taxing, and heavy squats beforehand leave you already less than 100% when you get to deadlifts. It's not bad to do them last but if you're struggling or looking to push DL it's advisable to not have them be the last of your major compounds for that day.

I'm not struggling physically, it's just the lightheadedness, which has improved.

ObsidianMist

DopeItUp wrote: »

This is the first time I've seen or heard of people talking about doing equal deadlift reps for each "side". Is there a reason for that? Why not just find what's the most comfortable/powerful and stick to it? I don't think I've done a single deadlift with my left hand supinated in three years.

mixed grip was what I originally read about when starting this program, and now I just have an irrational compulsion to do an equal number with each grip. I have a few OCD-esque compulsions like that in my life, it's just the way I am.

SonyaCele

ObsidianMist wrote: »

DopeItUp wrote: »

This is the first time I've seen or heard of people talking about doing equal deadlift reps for each "side". Is there a reason for that? Why not just find what's the most comfortable/powerful and stick to it? I don't think I've done a single deadlift with my left hand supinated in three years.

mixed grip was what I originally read about when starting this program, and now I just have an irrational compulsion to do an equal number with each grip. I have a few OCD-esque compulsions like that in my life, it's just the way I am.

so here is my opinion on switching mixed grip. although DL are a full body workout, you are only as strong as your weakest link. You have huge leg muscles and lats, and glutes, core etc. Your arms and grip most likely are your weakest link, so once you find the strongest grip position you have you should then stick with that grip so you can work on your other bigger muscles instead of letting them be held back by a weak grip. Though deads can increase your grip strength, there are also other exercises you can do to isolate those muscles and work on them specifically, so my opinion is to not let a weak grip slow down your deadlift progress. Find the best grip that provides you the best DL strength and stick with that. The other thing about switching reverse grip, at least for me, is that i get so focused on the lift and that max DL that if i switch grip it completely throws my chakras out of balance and i fall apart, And for me max DL is my goal rather than ocd symetry . thats just me, but i totally get the OCD thing also..

ObsidianMist

I honestly don't feel like either of the 2 grips are any stronger or weaker than the other. I don't have an issue with my grip. it was just the lightheadedness that was starting to become an issue.

I also don't know why or how you would assume my arms and grip are weak, or that I have huge leg muscles? lol

switching grip doesn't throw me at all, since I take a few seconds between reps anyways.

SonyaCele

your post just got way off topic , like most posts do.

sunnybeaches105

The point of breathing deep and then holding your breath is to protect your spine. Make sure you breath at the bottom of the lift, not at the top. You can release some air during the Valsalva maneuver on the way down, but the point is to keep your core and spine tight. Also, work to breathe in deep and expand, to the extent you can, 360 degrees around your middle.

ObsidianMist

SonyaCele wrote: »

your post just got way off topic , like most posts do.

such truth

DopeItUp

ObsidianMist wrote: »

DopeItUp wrote: »

This is the first time I've seen or heard of people talking about doing equal deadlift reps for each "side". Is there a reason for that? Why not just find what's the most comfortable/powerful and stick to it? I don't think I've done a single deadlift with my left hand supinated in three years.

mixed grip was what I originally read about when starting this program, and now I just have an irrational compulsion to do an equal number with each grip. I have a few OCD-esque compulsions like that in my life, it's just the way I am.

That's fair. One suggestion - why not train deadlifts 2x a week and switch arms for the different days. That sounds less annoying, maybe? Just a thought.

sunnybeaches105

As for grip method, try the hook grip. It took me a while to train myself to use it, but it keeps the shoulders even and it is very strong.

ca67e-hookgrip.jpg?w=320&h=320

jessef593

I almost puked for the first time doing a pull today if that counts haha

ObsidianMist

DopeItUp wrote: »

ObsidianMist wrote: »

DopeItUp wrote: »

This is the first time I've seen or heard of people talking about doing equal deadlift reps for each "side". Is there a reason for that? Why not just find what's the most comfortable/powerful and stick to it? I don't think I've done a single deadlift with my left hand supinated in three years.

mixed grip was what I originally read about when starting this program, and now I just have an irrational compulsion to do an equal number with each grip. I have a few OCD-esque compulsions like that in my life, it's just the way I am.

That's fair. One suggestion - why not train deadlifts 2x a week and switch arms for the different days. That sounds less annoying, maybe? Just a thought.

I don't find anything annoying about using mixed grip. I honestly don't know why everyone is so fixated on this lol.

ObsidianMist

sunnybeaches105 wrote: »

As for grip method, try the hook grip. It took me a while to train myself to use it, but it keeps the shoulders even and it is very strong.

I.... don't need a new grip method?

honestly is anybody actually reading this? I only asked about lightheadedness

I'm getting so confused by this thread

ObsidianMist

jessef593 wrote: »

I almost puked for the first time doing a pull today if that counts haha

haha I don't know if it "counts" but it sounds unpleasant.

at my gym the door to the men's changeroom is just off the main weight area with the squat racks and such and one time I was doing my thing and this guy came running through the room into the changeroom area and I wondered if it was a puke issue. he came walking back out probably 20 minutes later

sunnybeaches105

ObsidianMist wrote: »

sunnybeaches105 wrote: »

As for grip method, try the hook grip. It took me a while to train myself to use it, but it keeps the shoulders even and it is very strong.

I.... don't need a new grip method?

honestly is anybody actually reading this? I only asked about lightheadedness

I'm getting so confused by this thread

Oh, you think we are still answering your question? (jk) Seriously though, the grip point came up and there are other people reading these threads. And no, if your grip is working for you then you probably don't need to switch.