Superb Strength

July 12, 2015 –

We are all in a hurry, fast isn’t fast enough in some cases. “HURRY UP!”, I had a friend enjoying a “wall-sit” today when he literally yelled at the clock on the wall to “hurry up!” Time doesn’t speed up for anyone. The point is that most people are in a hurry when it comes to their health and fitness. When I meet somebody for the first time to develop a training program or review fitness goals the underlying concern is almost always, “How much time will it take to reach my goals?”. Well, there is a shortcut of sorts that can help you reach your goals faster, and it is the Deadlift. The deadlift is an amazing exercise!

Deadlifts are the most efficient way to develop muscle and overall body strength. Here are some of the reasons why;

Nothing is as efficient at making the entire body find intensity in one movement. The squat is the most popular activity when it comes to weightlifting, but for ALL body (or dynamic) strength the deadlift is king. From the hands to the feet, every muscle works to stabilize its facilitating joints. It’s the leverage system at its finest!

The short learning curve and adaptability make the deadlift a great choice for athletes. They don’t have to practice the exercise over and over before they can actually load up some weight and see meaningful improvements in strength, muscle mass, and overall performance in a short time frame.

The body by design brings us into the fetal position over time, the origin and insertion of our muscular system actually brings our body into a flexed position like a tight little ball for protection. What the deadlift does is reverse that tendency by utilizing our extension muscles or posterior chain (the back of the body). For those of you who have trained the “mirror muscles” (front of your body) incorporating the deadlift is a great way to bring balance and posture back to your physique. There is NO better way to prevent and be resilient to injury.

If you program your deadlift training sensibly, it will make you a lot STRONGER from head to toe. In particular – your glutes, hamstrings, entire back, core, forearms and grip will get stronger. Nothing better for sports and mobility!

But before you start lifting heavy weights or attempting deadlifts make sure your mechanics are functioning properly. When it comes to heavy lifting or resistance training, doing it incorrectly will train the wrong muscles to do the right job, thus creating dysfunction and possible injury. Get some help. Let F.I.T. show you how to make the movements safe, fun, and progressive. Got STRENGTH? Let us help.

In good health,

Bob

“The deadlift also serves as a way to train the mind to do things that are hard.”

– Mark Rippetoe