Deadlifts the best overall body exercise

[inflated]

It was a toss up at our gym, but after lots of arguing we concluded that deadlifts are the overall best exercise.
1. Its possible to lift very heavy w/o a spotter.
2. With good form its a fairly safe exercise.
3. Its a natural testosterone booster
4. Deadlifts will help increase strength in other lifts
5. Deadlifts are great mass builder

Feel free to add your opinion, squats were close as the best exercise, however they scored low when it comes to safety, but they are a great mass builder as well.

[wolfotehmoon]

Well, considering good form is so important, can someone post a vid of it? Possibly some tips, too(e.g. "Keep your head up, try to push your hips out")?

[xythan_shadow]

A bunch of scientists that research this stuff have said that deadlifts are the best overall exercise followed by squats. But always remember to do them with good form. Because your body is using so many different muscles, you have a higher chance of injury if you don't do it right.

[yobdior]

Who defines 'best' though? They do strengthen the posterior chain, and are great for overall fitness/strength in multiple muscles, but I find the extreme compound nature of the exercise isn't particularly great for bodybuilding purposes, especially as it knocks so much energy out of me and prevents me from really working specific muscles. Now I just do them occasionally for fun or a challenge. I prefer goodmornings and glute-ham raises for the posterior chain. Squats, however, I do love.

[suma]

Originally Posted by inflated

It was a toss up at our gym, but after lots of arguing we concluded that deadlifts are the overall best exercise.
1. [COLOR=red]Its possible to lift very heavy w/o a spotter.[/COLOR]
2. With good form its a fairly safe exercise.
3. Its a natural testosterone booster
4. Deadlifts will help increase strength in other lifts
5. Deadlifts are great mass builder

Feel free to add your opinion, squats were close as the best exercise, however they scored low when it comes to safety, but they are a great mass builder as well.

that's the main advantage deads have over squats.

[inflated]

Originally Posted by suma

that's the main advantage deads have over squats.

Also no squat racks are needed, just a strong floor. Deadlifts have most of the benefits of squats w/o the need for spotters or racks.

[wolfotehmoon]

...Form, guys? Plx?

[13 of Spades]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exer...rbell+Deadlift

Here's where I learned how to deadlift. But if you don't know how to do it, start with light weights until you can get it down and feel the muscles in your legs working--not solely your back.

[inflated]

Originally Posted by 13 of Spades

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exer...rbell+Deadlift

Here's where I learned how to deadlift. But if you don't know how to do it, start with light weights until you can get it down and feel the muscles in your legs working--not solely your back.

That is a good source for learning the proper form.

[digger]

I highly recommend this book:

Amazon.com: Starting Strength (2nd edition): Mark Rippetoe, Lon...
It covers deadlifts, squats, and bench.

[hyooge]

And, if you've got long legs, you can try the "Sumo Deadlift."

Just search for it on this page - it's about halfway down. It's my absolute favorite movement:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/drobson101.htm

If your gym allows it, try deadlifting barefoot. For me, it's much easier to maintain proper form and really feel the movement.

[omelissokomos]

Originally Posted by digger

I highly recommend this book.

Having read it recently myself, so do I.

[Spooky]

Originally Posted by digger

I highly recommend this book:

Amazon.com: Starting Strength (2nd edition): Mark Rippetoe, Lon Kilgore: Books

It covers deadlifts, squats, and bench.

Yeah, I personally have not read that one, but everyone says its like the bible of free weights.

I'm thinking about buying it myself.

[WhoDunIt]

Good tips, I'm taking hte next week off from lifting, but just may have to try those when I get back into that part of the gym!

[Spooky]

Originally Posted by inflated

It was a toss up at our gym, but after lots of arguing we concluded that deadlifts are the overall best exercise.
1. Its possible to lift very heavy w/o a spotter.
2. With good form its a fairly safe exercise.
3. Its a natural testosterone booster
4. Deadlifts will help increase strength in other lifts
5. Deadlifts are great mass builder

Feel free to add your opinion, squats were close as the best exercise, however they scored low when it comes to safety, but they are a great mass builder as well.

Yeah, with the exception of number 1, I would generally agree. And with the exception of number 1, all of the others could apply to squats as well. Although, personally, I feel that squats give me the best work out. Lifts just don't do it for me, even though it is a part of my routine.

[massingUP]

As a long-legged guy, I particularly like deadlifts as they force me to get down nice and low when I'm starting off the floor -- though I actually perform the "regular" deadlift rather than the sumo-style. And they help me build the strength I need in my lower back/erectors to go lower when I squat, which I need to do.

As everyone else has mentioned, form is key, but I feel "safer" lifting heavy on deadlifts than I do on squats. And there's something intensely satisfying about it as a movement.

In terms of bodybuilding, I agree that it's not a great BBing exercise in terms of shaping -- but it's a fantastic mass-builder and I use it whenever I'm looking to add additional thickness (which is most of the time, to be honest - though I do try to mix it up). And it can be a great exercise to organize a full strength/mass routine around for 4-6 weeks before going into a more classic BBing routine for 4-6 weeks of shaping, etc.

[inflated]

Funny thing is that the best deadlifters are short guys with arms that are fairly long for their height. They are a great mass builder --second to squats but they beat out squats in that you do not need spotters when you lift heavy weights. Squats are still the best overall exercise but many people fear them or use dangerous form--lifting heavy weight requires spotters.