Beginner Starting Deadlift Weight

[jdmalm123]

Originally Posted by glwanabe

A typical response that I read often is that lifting to heavy to soon leads to serious form issues. The E guru's warn of the to be feared, rounded back issue.

I think it's blown out of proportion myself. Do you think Cavemen worried about form when they caught females and slung them over thdeir shoulders?

Heck no! They just picked them up, and carried them home. They of course had to drag the bigger ones. This has evelved into todays current strongman competition. Except they don't use women any more.

I mostly agree, but most cavemen led a rigorous life from day one and did the equivalent of hard training every day their entire lives. The average client, couch potato or newb often does not have the physical base to jump into deadlifts.

I thought I did and still blew out two discs squatting 200#. If I had a good base, then form was the issue. If my form was good then I didn't have the core strength. (In my case, I rounded at the bottom of an ATG squat due to poor hip mobility.)

My point is, before we assume too much, ask yourself if you want to prescribe an exercise intensity that puts someone into the hospital?

Of course, the better answer is too err on the side of caution and work up through a scheduled progression. That will provide safer more rewarding training for all new lifters. Some lifters could make bigger jumps, but some can't. Can you tell the difference at a glance?

Originally Posted by jwood

I think 135 is a great starting point. Any less than that can be put in the racks, but most people I have seen are fine starting with 135. I personally think it is a good idea to squat for a little while before deadlifting. Once you have pretty good squat form, then learn the deadlift. I don;t like to teach serious beginners too much at one time, focus on one thing at a time. Once they have squatted a little bit, then deadlifting 135 probably will not be a problem. Form first and then they can move up in weight.

Maybe this is just the way I learned it, but I squatted for probably a few months before ever even attempting a deadlift. And then I was fine starting at weights around 185-200.

It's a good philosophy. Many would argue that the squat is more technical and harder to master than the dead lift...

[jwood]

I would agree that the squat is more difficult and more technical but it is also the king of all lifts. I think it should be mastered first, once you start squatting everything falls into place.

[kman025]

did not read whole thread.... i started around 185.....

if you can not manage 135 your F'd in general.... unless very young or a woman.

just saying, unless you've been bed ridden from birth, you should be able to get a plate.

[big valsalva]

Originally Posted by kman025

did not read whole thread.... i started around 185.....

if you can not manage 135 your F'd in general.... unless very young or a woman.

just saying, unless you've been bed ridden from birth, you should be able to get a plate.

Agreed, you should be able to manage that. It's a good place to start because of the bar height and such. Face it, once you get 135, the bar ain't getting any higher or lower.. I think though that it would be cool to see training plates used for younger or weaker trainees. I'm thinking of investing in a pair of 10 pounders once my daughters are ready to get serious. They can be used to train power cleans and rows also.