OK, so prior to being able to lift with the 45's on the bar, I always put the bar on the bottom rung of the squat rack with the safety bars off. This put the bar at EXACTLY the same level as if I had 45's on it. Well, now I lift with 45's, but I find myself still using the same setup and instead of 45's I am just using the 35's and 25's, etc. to make the right weight.
Why? Because if I try to use 45's, I can't seem to find an easy way to get the damn things ON the bar. I'm trying to lift the oly bar with one hand, slide the 45 on with the other, and it just seems to be so hard! No problem with the lighter plates because I've got that slight elevation off the floor, so the floor isn't getting in the way! Am I doing something wrong, or is it as I suspect -- my superior uncoordination is rearing its ugly head...and I was so excited to get to the big wheels, too.
OK, off to the gym to deadlift with 35's + 25's + 10's, etc, even though I CAN use 45's!
The bar on the floor is hard to load for me too... have you considered putting it on the rack (maybe one hole higher than plate height) and loading it, then lifting it (like a rack pull) and taking 2 steps back, then lower it to the floor to start your set...?
^^^ that's what I do. And then when I do my work sets and have more it's not a problem because the plates are smaller than the 45s and slide on no prob, without needing to return it to the hooks.
Actually, I load the weigh with the hooks/bar up fairly high, at rack pull height, so that I get that bit of CNS warning that you get by starting with the weight from a stronger position.
Are you saying that you are loading the 45s with the bar on the rack and can't get the big wheels to slide on?
Or you cannot load the bar from the floor?
Because if you're loading on the rack, just move up a notch, load the bar and then move to the floor like the ladies said.
If you're loading from the floor, that's a different kettle of fish.
The bar on the floor is hard to load for me too... have you considered putting it on the rack (maybe one hole higher than plate height) and loading it, then lifting it (like a rack pull) and taking 2 steps back, then lower it to the floor to start your set...?
^^^ That's exactly what I was going to suggest. At powerlifting meets, they have a contraption that lifts the bar off the floor for quick loading. Unfortunately, most commercial gyms don't think something like this is worth the investment, because they need the Smith machine instead.
Jane, my set up at home does not allow me to easily do a rack pull set up, so I load from the floor and I agree it is a challenge. I get the first on one no problem, just rest one end of the bar on the floor, straddle the other end and hold it between my knees and slide the plate over the end, then carefully lower. Then I do the same with the other side. I only ever have 1 -45 on each side, and load up the rest of the weight with 35s, 25s, etc. Once that first set of 45s is on, the rest is easy.
But if your set up allows what Bytsi describes, that's what I would do!
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Jane, my set up at home does not allow me to easily do a rack pull set up, so I load from the floor and I agree it is a challenge. I get the first on one no problem, just rest one end of the bar on the floor, straddle the other end and hold it between my knees and slide the plate over the end, then carefully lower. Then I do the same with the other side. I only ever have 1 -45 on each side, and load up the rest of the weight with 35s, 25s, etc. Once that first set of 45s is on, the rest is easy.
But if your set up allows what Bytsi describes, that's what I would do!
That seems hard. With the bar on the floor I stand the 45 on end and angle it in slightly towards the bar. Lift the bar up to the hole and slide it in. Lift the other side of the bar and slide the weight on the end.
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Huh...I have always just loaded it on a rack prior to bringing down to the floor. I have loaded on the floor on rare occasions, but usually have access to either a regular squat rack or the handles on the safety bars that stick outside the power rack.
Are you having problems getting the first set of 45's on, or just the second and onward?
After I get the first pair of 45's, I usually slide a thin plate, 2.5s or 5s, underneath the 45 that's already there. This elevates the plates slightly and allows me to easily add additional 45s.
If you're having problems getting the first set of 45s on, then I would suggest using the squat rack/power rack as others have recommended. My only alteration would be to place the bar rather high, close to lockout, so you only have to do a mini-rackpull and a deadlift eccentric instead of doing an almost-full deadlift to get the bar off the rack and on the ground. After it's on the ground, I would do what I suggested above.
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the easiest way to load/unload multiple 45s is to roll the bar w/ the plate closest to the bar up on on a 2.5lb plate and just unload the other plates.
If you're doing one plate, just set the plate upright on the floor, and just get the tip of the bar inside the plate. Then just slide the plate on that way.
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I don't think this is a stupid question at all. I really, really like using the DL platform or even the squat racks for this reason to DL. You can set the bars low down and load the plates when the bar is not on the floor then step backwards and do the exercise. I just returned from a weeklong adventure at a college and they had a 135lb setup on a stage all the time for folks. Everyone just walked up and used it to do sets here and there. It was so nice....
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Miss Jane, I loved your question and got a chuckle out of it, because I bitch at the bar a lot when I am loading and unloading. I am too damn stubborn to do it any other way than to lift each end of the bar with one hand and slide the plates with the other. And once I have the first set of 45's on, I have often cheated and used 35's and 25's and 10's to add weight, especially when I am on a strict rest period. LOL
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That seems hard. With the bar on the floor I stand the 45 on end and angle it in slightly towards the bar. Lift the bar up to the hole and slide it in. Lift the other side of the bar and slide the weight on the end.
That's what I do. Hm. Never thought of it any other way I guess. Of course I don't usually use multiple sets of 45s like these guys either.
I'm sure a very stupid deadlift question...
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