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I am an advanced trainee who has been training seriously for several years, and I′m currently doing the athletes routine. I did regular deadlifts for many years, stopped because of a bad lower back, and recently started doing trap bar deadlifts. With average recovery to begin, plus being near my genetic potential, deadlifts of any type at this point seem to be too draining for me even on this brief routine. Plus, I don′t think they′re giving me the kind of benefits they did years ago. It seems like they′re now just a big drain on my recovery ability. Is there anyone out there not doing any form of deadlifts in the consolidated routine? I might replace them with shrugs alternated with machine rows. Anyone doing something similar?

Thanks
Hammer

Hi Hammer,

I`m doing dumbbell deadlifts, which are more like squats however, just like trap bar ones, because they spare the lower back very much. I`m very happy with that exercise so far, since my working weight has jumped by 23% in just three workouts.

Be sure you`re not the only one having problems with deads. Hit4life, who used to post on this forum, said once that he had never had great results with them, and that he had been advised by Mike to drop that movement and do just squats, pulldowns and dips, each on a separate workout. He also said that deadlifts vere dangerous for the lower back, which I have experienced myself (fortunately, without permanent consequances). Since you said you were advanced, and I know you`re right because of the impressive weights you use, maybe you should also switch to that routine. Those three exercises (squats, pulldowns and dips) cover the whole body and make deadlifts redunadant. There is not a single muscle, which deads are applied for, that isn`t hit by those three movements. Even the lower back and traps. I believe that such a super-consolidation program, with a proper application of the advanced techniques and adequate regulation of frequency, can take you to your full genetic potential.

Of course, you can replace deads with shrugs and go on with the Athletes` routine. But, again, I think that your traps will receive enough stimulation from squats, pulldowns amd even dips.

Be strong(er),

Superhik

Hey Superhik

Yeah, I think my body is headed toward some type of pulldown-squat-dip routine. Except I don′t do squats any more because of my back, so I do leg presses. For now, though, I might just replace deadlifts with shrugs since I really want to focus on bringing up my traps. They′re ok, but I want them to stand out a little more. It is interesting to note that none of Mentzer′s back routines that were mentioned in his books included deadlifts. In the Wisdom of Mike Mentzer, his most productive training routine ever has him doing the pullover-pulldown superset and barbell rows. Yet he touted deadlifts highly in his years as a personal trainer. I find it curious.

Hammer

Did Mentzer ever use deadlifts during his training days? I′m actually thinking of sticking with trap bar deads, just maybe doing them once every fourth workout. They still have a great affect on my traps and shoulders.

personally i′ll never cut out deads entirely from my training. It was a mistake i′ve made in the past but never again.
i think it really is the most productive exercise but can be overdone which may lead to injury. i am planning on cycling deads in a few weeks to where i do them only every 4th workout, as opposed to every other one right now. gonna try that for 4 cycles (8 weeks) through my modified consolidated routine and then most likely go back to what i have going now. i am curious how my strength on deads will hold up only doing them once a month for 2 straight months.

FWIW, i think barbell or T-bar rows are a better replacement for deads than shrugs.

regards,
B&G;