I am trying to figure out how often to do deadlifts. I have never stuck with them consistently in weight training (probably because they hard), but I want to make a real effort to make them a primary exercise for me. If I workout 3-4x a week, would deadlifts twice a week be appropriate? I know my body can't handle 3x a week for deads (recovery wise). Any advice?
I think it really depends on the routine you are following. I am doing Starr's 5x5 right now, so I deadlift once a week. I have done deads twice a week in the past. There are variations you can do, also, rather than doing conventionals each and every workout.
At least once a week, I try to get in at least 2 deadlift variations a week. For example, I'm doing one day of 9x4 conventional deads and one day with 4x8 stiff-legged deads. It's going good so far.
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You can deadlift a lot if you're new and not lifting close to what you're body could really handle. You might only be able to lift 195, for instance, but you're body COULD lift more, it just doesn't know how yet.
You can deadlift a lot if you use vastly different rep ranges, too.
The more taxing a lift is, the less you should do it. But, if you're rarely coming close to a max lift, how taxing is it?
NROL has you doing a lot of deadlift variations, but they aren't so CNS intensive in the fat loss routines. Higher reps.
I'd say it's safer to limit it once a week. Do other things that are similar (RDLs, Squats, Rack Pulls, etc.) on other days.
If you've never really done them (assuming you're not a squat stud or big time strongman\o-lifter) you're not going to be lifting enough to really "worry" about. Go for 1-2 sets 2-3 times a week for a little while. Force your body\mind to learn the lift.
I think it really depends on the routine you are following. I am doing Starr's 5x5 right now, so I deadlift once a week. I have done deads twice a week in the past. There are variations you can do, also, rather than doing conventionals each and every workout.
SInce I am starting this routine on Monday I will have to say, "ditto".
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Full deadlifts, maybe once every 2 months right now. Usually some sort of easier variation once or twice a week (rack pull, front squat, good morning).
As far as deadllifts go, mine is ok, and this works for me. If it stops working, ill change it.
Thanks for the replies! I think I will start with once a week for now....I should add that I will be doing them with DB's, so they might be a little easier.
I do heavy conventional deads once/week. I also do some other DL variation during a different workout in the same week. (SLDLs, snatch grip DLs, cleans, etc...) I also think about what else I have going on during the week. Since I've wakeboarded Fri, Sat, and again today I probably won't DL this week at all.
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How often do you do deadlifts?
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