Question about deadlifts

spingirl605
spingirl605 Posts: 181 Member
edited November 17 in Fitness and Exercise
So I'm just getting back into Wendler, and I had a question about my deadlift. Because I'm not yet at the point of putting 45lb plates on the bar, when the bar is on the ground it's obviously too low. I've been using the safety rails at their lowest point and lifting from there. It brings the bar just below my knee instead of mid-shin. Do you think I'm still doing a proper deadlift from here? I asked the trainer behind the desk, but I don't really trust his opinion since he's never heard of Wendler or Stronglifts...lol

It has been suggested to put 45lb plates flat on the floor and resting the bar on these, but I find it's still too low. It brings it just above my ankles at this height, and it's very cumbersome to do...

Thanks everyone!

Replies

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Stack a couple 45 plates on the floor until you find the right height.
  • dracaene
    dracaene Posts: 21 Member
    or stack some tiers from a "step". They are usually more plentiful than 45 plates, to get to the right height. I think I used 4 on each side.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited April 2017
    dracaene wrote: »
    or stack some tiers from a "step". They are usually more plentiful than 45 plates, to get to the right height. I think I used 4 on each side.

    True. Depends on how many 45 plates your gym has, and how many people need them.
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
    Before my gym got bumper plates I used the stacks you add to steps to bring the bar up high enough. Perhaps you could suggest your gym gets bumper plates, even now I'm lifting 90kg+ my warm up sets are below 60kg and without the bumper plates the warm ups were a pain in the butt
  • spingirl605
    spingirl605 Posts: 181 Member
    My gym does have bumper plates, but they are in the crossfit room, and it seems every time I go work out, there's a class going on. But I do like the idea of the step risers. I'll have to look and see if there are any laying around in the weight room...

    I'm gathering by all your advice, the security rails are too high to get a proper deadlift going...Excellent! I will try to figure something out...
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    45 lb plates are 18" in diameter. I'd aim for trying to get the bar close to where it would be with that (so around 9" off the ground.) Just below your knees is too high and would be considered a rack pull more than a deadlift.
  • spingirl605
    spingirl605 Posts: 181 Member
    Ahhh...perfect! Didn't know what a rack pull was. Thanks so much!
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    spingirl605 wrote: »
    Ahhh...perfect! Didn't know what a rack pull was. Thanks so much!

    There's really nothing wrong with rack pulls but (if I remember correctly) you can lift more weight with them than with a deadlift. So even if you got to 135 with a rack pull, you might not be able to deadlift that amount. I have only done them a couple of times so I don't know how well they do or do not translate into deadlifts. They are very similar but just not the same :)
  • Lizarking
    Lizarking Posts: 507 Member
    As an aside, are you doing 5/3/1? Typically it benefits intermediate/advanced lifters more.
  • spingirl605
    spingirl605 Posts: 181 Member
    I am doing 5/3/1...It's my second go at it. The first time I did it, my schedule was a little bit different, and I could work out in the crossfit room, so I did use the bumper plates. When I couldn't get into the crossfit room, I would use the safety bars on the squat rack (like I was doing this time). I had such amazing success overall with 5/3/1 and was disappointed when I had to stop (I had a life changing event happen in my life). So now I'm back, but starting at the beginning again. I just got back and did them off the safety bar and did 95lbs. I'm in cylcle 1, week 2...lol
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    Lizarking wrote: »
    As an aside, are you doing 5/3/1? Typically it benefits intermediate/advanced lifters more.

    Second this. Something like Starting Strength or Stronglifts where you add weight every workout/week would benefit a beginner better than 5/3/1, where you increase weight once a month/cycle.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    spingirl605 wrote: »
    So I'm just getting back into Wendler, and I had a question about my deadlift. Because I'm not yet at the point of putting 45lb plates on the bar, when the bar is on the ground it's obviously too low. I've been using the safety rails at their lowest point and lifting from there. It brings the bar just below my knee instead of mid-shin. Do you think I'm still doing a proper deadlift from here? I asked the trainer behind the desk, but I don't really trust his opinion since he's never heard of Wendler or Stronglifts...lol

    It has been suggested to put 45lb plates flat on the floor and resting the bar on these, but I find it's still too low. It brings it just above my ankles at this height, and it's very cumbersome to do...

    Thanks everyone!

    I've used plates and the steps. I've also made plates out of plywood for people to use in friendly gyms.
  • spingirl605
    spingirl605 Posts: 181 Member
    I did do Stronglifts before getting back to Wendler. I didn't have as much fun with it, and I lost interest. I really enjoy Wendler's program. I think I was up to cycle 8 last time I quit...
  • Lizarking
    Lizarking Posts: 507 Member
    ^ 5/3/1 you do is vastly superior to any other program you won't do!

    I agree it's a much more enjoyable workout.
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