[quote]Synthetickiller wrote:
Deadlift:
You have to really reach down once. Trying to re-set up is not going to help. You want to just go down and grab the barn in one motion to keep yourself tight.
Arch your back more and get the hips lower, but not “low” like in a squat, and get your chest out as well. You want to sit back a little so you load your hips and press with your legs instead of pulling with your back.
Basically, grab the bar and stay tight w/ good form and dip the hips a little before pulling and try to sit back a tad to use your legs and not your back.
You’re also too far forward and when you start to pull heavy weight, you’ll either injury yourself or the weight will get too far out infront of you and you’ll miss an easy weight. You look good for at least 185 if not 205 if you get your form under control[/quote]
Thanks for taking the time to give your input. I’ve read your advice many times on the board.
I think you’re right on all counts here and you’ve pretty much told me what Eric has and what I know after seeing myself. I do need to get my hips lower, arch lower and keep my chest out more (like Buckeye Girl also suggested) and I do lift with my lower back instead of legs.
I did feel like I was falling forward too. That was the first time I’d ever done all three lifts on one day and I was pretty spent by then. My gym doesn’t have anywhere to load the bar either so if you have any ideas there, love to hear them! It sucks loading it on the ground. It’s more tiring than lifting it.
[quote]
Squat:
Your squat form looks much better than deadlift.
If you can shift your butt back first instead of half way down, you’ll have a little more spring in your squat.
To me, it looks like you just need to get stronger. Squats are hard to work with at first. I always hated squats, so if you are frustrated, I understand.
Also, if your upper back feels tight, don’t grip the bar so close together, bring your hands out. If you have no issues, don’t change your set up. there’s no real right way to get up, just whatever works. [/quote]
I’ll try that, thank you. Yes, I am just plain weak with squats now and once again, you’ve pretty much reiterated what I’ve been told. To me, the squat is the hardest lift (as in the one I have to think about the most while I set up). They are very frustrating!
I think you’re right about moving my hands out too. I usually keep them out farther but someone suggested bringing them in so I did. It just hurts my wrists (which hurt already, hence the wraps).
[quote]
Bench:
Looks to me like you need a lot more lat strength for the bottom portion of your bench. Your lockout looks good. DB pressses, rows, anything that’ll help w/ stability and upper back strength will greatly improve your bench. You look like you fail off the chest more so than lock out? I could be wrong, but it looks that way to me.[/quote]
My lats are weak and if I can’t get a weight up, I pin myself. I think you’re dead-on there.
[quote]Bench set up. If you want to get up correctly…
Get on the bench, grab the bar w/ a reverse grip, pull yourself as close to the bar as you can, pull your butt in towards your head as possible, tighten your shoulder blades together to form a solid base and stay tight.
You should be able to cut out an inch that way at least. You can get used to if if you try.[/quote]
Perhaps I will practice setting up around the house. I have a (crappy) bench here but I can do that periodically throughout the day. I need to cut out as much as I can. I’m fairly tall and have very long arms and legs. To cut out any ROM would be a dream.
Ha! No gator arms, no. Yes, I feel more weak when I widen my grip.
Awesome that you stopped by and took all that time to give me your input. I hope you’ll stick around and comment when you can. It’s really appreciated:)
