You’d probably never notice it. My bands aren’t always aligned equally when I use them.
Fair point, Jack and Snapper. I plan on trying out the bands tonight and will report back. The EFS tension chart for the mini bands suggests that for every two inches of stretch, about 3 lbs of tension is added to the bar. So an inch discrepancy in one band probably makes hardly a pound of difference.
The EFS folks did say that the bands are supposed to be taken from the same lot so that the lengths are the same, which likely didn’t happen with my order. So I appreciate them making it right.
Friday night training using my new mini-bands. Fun!
5/3/1 Wave 5, Week 4 - Sumo Deadlift Deload
Sumo Deadlift
Off of 45# plates and using two mini bands anchored by my feet
95# 3 x 5
115# 3 x 5
From floor, using the bands
135# 1 x 3 ← I stopped here, genuflecting to the Gods of the Deload. See it for yourself, if you’d like:
This was really interesting, my first time using bands on deadlifts. I was unable to figure out how to anchor the bands using dumbbells. Putting the dumbbells slightly in front of the bar caused the bar to almost pull forward out of my hands - scary. So I looped the bands under my feet and that seemed to work fine after fiddling with foot and band placement for a few sets.
Two of these mini bands, stretched out to about 27 inches, should put an additional 50 lbs. or so of tension on the bar at the top of my deadlift according to the chart on the EliteFTS website. I’ll be honest: it didn’t feel like it. On my last set, I was really hoping to experience what 185 lbs. might feel like at the top because that is 10 lbs. more than I’ve ever actually pulled. Honestly, that wasn’t crazy challenging. I have never failed a pull after getting the weight off the ground. Now I know that if I can break 185, I can definitely lock it out.
I went light this first time in order to safely learn how to use the bands. Next time working with bands I’ll spend my time starting at 135 lbs. and work on pulling explosively and faster off the floor.
BTW, as predicted I did not notice the 1 inch difference in the bands.
Back raises
25 lb. dumbbell behind head
1 x 15 (rep PR +2) 2 x 12
supersetted with
Neutral grip pullups
1 x 5, 2 x 3
5 is one more than I’ve been getting. I was threatening myself with pulling out my band to assist, and didn’t need to follow through.
That was really cool to watch! But I wonder how its going to work with your feet on the bands once there’s more weight on the bar.
Also, notice what else you did - or didn’t do - reset completely. If you can stay with your feet on the bands, I bet that will take care of that detail.
Those deads looked great btw, and your arms are jacked! Looking good kimba.
5 neutral pullups? Dangit, that’s 1 more than my max! I’m going to try to catch you missy, just watch.
HA - nice form too! and you stayed tight without resetting and standing up
Masch, I have no idea what I’ll do about the bands when the weight gets heavier. I’m going by trial and error on this situation. And, I don’t stand up to reset when the weight is easy. Only when I’m struggling. Thanks for the arm props…I’m pretty darn happy with 'em. PULLUPS! COME AND GET ME!
George, thanks for the comment. We’ll see what the form/reset situation looks like with actual heavy weight.
Interesting way to use the bands. I put my bands around the outside of the collars.
And just to clarify. I’ve only used bands suspended from the top, so theoretically that’s training the lockout like Ouroboro said. However, I find that having the weight increase as the bar goes up teaches acceleration. You break the weight off the floor and have to accelerate in order to lock it out. It teaches you to become more explosive with the lift or else you fail halfway.
I tend to be one who fails at the floor not halfway up or at lockout. So I don’t think adding more weight at the bottom does anything for me.
First thing first, nice deadlifting. Secondly, your arms are looking jacked. Also love the way the weights make the camera shake when they hit the floor.
I am now intrigued about what sort of results you’ll get using bands. I need to get bands for push ups to help my shoulders.
Congrats on the PR.
[quote]kpsnap wrote:
Interesting way to use the bands. I put my bands around the outside of the collars.
And just to clarify. I’ve only used bands suspended from the top, so theoretically that’s training the lockout like Ouroboro said. However, I find that having the weight increase as the bar goes up teaches acceleration. You break the weight off the floor and have to accelerate in order to lock it out. It teaches you to become more explosive with the lift or else you fail halfway.
I tend to be one who fails at the floor not halfway up or at lockout. So I don’t think adding more weight at the bottom does anything for me.[/quote]
The “weight” or resistance increases as you pull the bar up whether you are pulling against bands or using them for assistance. When the bands are assisting, they are loaded at the bottom. When you are pulling against bands, they are loaded at the top. The only difference is the amount of lead that you start with. When pulling against bands you start with less lead, when pulling with bands, you start with more. But either way the tension is heaviest at the top of the lift. Training with or against bands serves the same basic purpose but with a different type of feel.
you’ll get it figured out Kimba!!
You are your form are looking so purdy!
Snap, it’s interesting that you fail at the same point as I do - floor. With this band set up, the weight is light off the floor and heavy at the top, so I can work on explosiveness. I’m looking to turn my turtle-like crawl off the floor into energizer-bunny-like fastitude.
Joe, thanks for the kind words. My arms thank you for saying hai. I love it when the camera shakes too! But I’m trying to be quieter, ergo the mats on the floor.
Jack, you are making eminent sense.
Betty, I just love your postive outlook! We are definitely going to out-smart these weights.
On an unrelated note, this was an outstanding work week for me. Winning is so much better than losing. And apparently I’m a world-class gloater.
[quote]kimbakimba wrote:
On an unrelated note, this was an outstanding work week for me. Winning is so much better than losing. And apparently I’m a world-class gloater.[/quote]
Celebrate your wins! It’s only gloating if you dance on their graves…(whoops, did i say that out loud…)
love deads look lovely Kimba 
Kimba, those are some lovely looking deads, I must say.
All your hard work and persistence has paid off in a great way. Good thinking, anchoring the bands with your feet.
Nothing wrong with gloating. In fact samck talk should be an Olympic sport.
George, you are funny! No dead people in this particular one, though.
N., you are inspiring me to deadlift in short-shorts. Except that I don’t own any.
Skye, thanks! My next trick will be to push out the baseline of where my form breaks down. Its not 135, but its before 175…
Joe, I’m really not good at the smack talk. I prefer to crush my opponents with the power of my mind. 
With legs like yours, I can’t believe you don’t own any short shorts. What’s the deal?
[quote]kpsnap wrote:
With legs like yours, I can’t believe you don’t own any short shorts. What’s the deal?[/quote]
Seriously Kimba. Get those shorts already and own those legs of yours. Especially now that summer is upon our beautiful country. We need to bask in the glory that is summer for too briefly is it’s stay.
I’m also willin to bet the sunshine will stick aorund past september if you give it a good reason too. Just sayin
nice deads kimba!! I have never tried using bands or anything like that.
but I also can’t sumo deadlift…haha
_Mel
Snapper, I had to think about your question. I always wear yoga pants to the gym, and favor capri pants for casual summer wear. The reason is that my legs are my LEAST favorite body part. I have a biggish scar from a bike accident on the back of my left knee, my calves aren’t great (although lots better than they used to be) and I’ve got a bow-legged situation going on.
That said, and keeping in mind that I have a bad Lululemon addiction, I could probably get behind these:
http://shop.lululemon.com/Reverse_Groove_Short/pd/c/580/np/580/p/1222.html
N., I don’t want to jinx the weather (remember last "summer’). If I buy shorts and it turns cold again, I don’t want the blame.
Mel, thanks! The only reason you “can’t” pull sumo is because you probably haven’t tried it. You are FOR SURE strong enough to dominate a sumo pull.
Today’s training was a deload day that I tried to turn into a rehab exercise day.
5/3/1 - Wave 5, Week 4 - Squat and Bench Deload
Squat (3 risers/step)
48# 1 x 5
60# 1 x 5
72# 1 x 5
Like a doofus, I forgot my camera and couldn’t video to check on the pulling to the right. It felt OK, and the weights were certainly too light to cause a problem. Onwards to a rehab exercise:
Front Squats with offset feet and one dumbbell switched between right and left shoulder
15# dumbbell 4 x 10 <–all positions
17.5# dumbbell 4 x 10 <–all positions
This rehab exercise is surprisingly difficult for me to keep from pulling right and caving my knees. However, I’m making progress – I started out last week at 10# and I’m moving towards my 12 kg kettlebell.
Bench Press
45# 2 x 5
51# 1 x 5
Yawn.
Dips
BW + 10 lbs. on dip belt 3 x 10
Finished the last set pretty strong with 5 more reps than last week. YAY.
Bulgarian split squats (barefoot with strict knee tracking)
17.5s 2 x 10
supersetted with
Decline pushups (feet on bench)
2 x 11 <–rep PR +1, that last one on each set was UGLY.
I was somewhat unrecovered from Friday’s training today, probably due to the 2.5 hour bike ride on Saturday. Did another 1.5 hour bike ride today after the gym. Then between my husband and I we polished off 1 lb. of grilled swordfish and a salad, plus I downed two pieces of sprouted wheat bread with a bit of whipped cream cheese on it.
Now I’m REALLY hungry.