UPDATED Jun 7 I made an appointment with a body-builder/trainer to teach me the

[bike man]

Last edited Fri Jun 7, 2013, 05:23 PM - Edit history (1)

proper technique for the dead lift.

Because of my age, I think a few dollars to make sure I can do it relatively injury-free is money well spent.

My daughter might go with me. She has been consistent in showing up for workouts. When I told her what 'we' are doing, her response was "Have you seen him without a shirt? He'll kill us!"

[Inkfreak]

1. Goooood idea

I was lucky enough to have a buddy who went to school to be a pf instructor. Even with his help in the beginning I managed to hurt my back doing dead lifts. Horrible pain. Luckily it was only a temp injury. I do alot of them now in my routine. Fantastic core exercise. Good luck!

[bike man]

2. Saw Scott today, and we did bent over row, squat, and dead lift. We were both surprised

at my deadlift (185 lbs, 5 reps), and squat (using barbell/squat rack rather than Smith machine, at 135 lbs, 7 reps).

Bent over row is one of the exercises that is on my regular schedule at 45 lbs, and I did 75 today with only moderate difficulty.

With some improvement, I can be competitive in the Senior Olympics in bench press and dead lift in the 70+ age category.

Daughter went, and we even got some training in spotting technique.

Money well spent. Might spend some more.

[Denninmi]

3. Impressive.

I can't lift nearly that much. I had hoped to be able to bench press 100 by now, but I till struggle at 85 some days. I have only done dead lifts at about 60 and squats with a 20 kilo kettle bell.

I have spent quite a bit on trainers in the past 6 months but found it money very well spent.

[bike man]

4. Thanks. I do a lot of reps, with weights about 50 - 60% of max, and that seems to be

the formula for me. One shoulder is bad (I sometimes sleep with a heating pad on it), and ortho surgeon said window of opportunity for repair closed about 10 years ago. They can clean the joint out, but can't do anything about the two rotator cuff muscles that are torn loose (and have atrophied 90%). He also expressed surprise I can lift that arm. AND, the long head bicep tendon (same arm) is torn about 75% through.

So, most days it's many reps, low weights. On the days when the pain is minimal, I add some weights.

Don't give up on the bench press. 18 months ago I was using the bare bar (45 lbs), and last week got 175 lbs 5 reps. And slept with the heating pad that night

[bike man]

5. An update on progress. Today I did 7 reps on bench press w/ 180 lbs. It looks like

I'll reach my goal of 200 lbs by Christmas.

[Bay Boy]

6. When you say

your goal is 200 by Christmas do you mean 7 reps of 200? Because if your goal is a single rep of 200 I'm sure you can do it already.

[bike man]

7. 1 at 200. For the last year I've only been increasing wgt when I could get 6 with the current

wgt. My wgt increases have been 5 lb increments, keeping a wgt as long as it takes to get that magical 6.

Too much too soon makes me worry about injury.

[Bay Boy]

8. According to this one rep calculator

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/other7.htm

you should be able to do one rep at 216 pounds right now.

[bike man]

10. I use another site that shows the same thing. However, I'm going real slow due to

damage to muscles in shoulder/upper arm some of which orthopedic surgeon says cannot be repaired.

No lubrication in joint, and spurs have formed (this can be cleaned up)
Long head bicep tendon torn nearly in two (surright geon said he'd just snip it the rest of the way, or we can wait and let it tear spontaneously)
Supraspinitus and infraspinatus tendons torn in two, both muscles atrophied 90% (said the window of opportunity for repair of this closed 10 years ago.

After MRI, my doctor sent me to ortho specialist, who sent me to ortho surgeon. They all said the same thing.

So, I'm doing more reps with wgts I can handle/control, keeping body weight down to 200, but can't do anything about the aging. Pain is manageable with OTC pain remedies, liniments, and heating pad.

Appreciate your confidence in me, and the kind words.

[Bay Boy]

9. You don't need a trainer when Peter Griffin is available...

...to give free advice on lifting.

Remember the key is: "lift with your lower back in a jerking twisting motion".

[bike man]

11. This was a good week. Deadlift at 210, 2 sets of 5, barbell flat bench press at 185, 1 set of 6,

and barbell incline bench press at 145, 1 set of 7.

Nothing hurts.

[Denninmi]

12. Envious ... But in a good way.

My progress has been slow. Had some medical problems, anemia and I have to see a cardiologist this week for tests. I haven't been able to break my threshold on bench press, and at times I have to lower the weight. Can't do dead lifts at all, I get dizzy when I bend like that. But I have made progress in other areas, can now run a solid mile on good days, and it came quickly just in the past 2-3 weeks.

[bike man]

13. I discovered (actually, rediscovered) that running is not for me. After running 5K with daughters

and others (6 in our group, three generations), I limped for nearly a week.

Take it slow on weights. Backing up is not bad. Anything you don't pick up today will still be there tomorrow for another go.

[Denninmi]

14. I know.

I took 47 years to get myself in bad shape, it's only been about 9 months since I decided to turn it around.

I have had zero pain issues running so far. Had that muscle injury last winter but it is completely healed. I think I could really get into running ... Maybe I'll be like Forest Gump and just keep running. Time will tell.