We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
We're convinced it is the single most comprehensive strength exercise that exists, stressing every muscle in the posterior chain from your heels to your neck - but including your core and forearms too. The large number of muscles engaged is why it is so difficult and fatiguing when pushing the weight.
It's especially valuable for those over age 45.
I've heard people say that you can injure yourself doing them. Not at all, if done right. In fact, not doing deadlifts is more of an invitation to back problems, overall weakness, and sloppy posture. I hate doing them so much I call them Dreadlifts. (Mrs. BD loves the challenge of Deads, but I dread it.) When you hate an exercise, it tells you that you need it because YOU'RE WEAK. Happily, after 9 months I am approaching my final, realistic weight goal for Deads after which I will stay with that, trying to increase my reps. I do not have a weight-lifting physique - a runner's build - but I give it my all. The alternative is to get weaker and, eventually, frail with fragile bones. Postpone that.
Deadlift is not about building conspicuous muscle for the beach or for sleeveless dresses - it's about building and maintaining functionality and agility. It's really just "Picking things up off the floor."
(Fitness in middle age and beyond = Strength, Balance, Cardio, and General Endurance. Most efficient and simple exercises for the Strength component are Deads, Barbell squats, Pull-ups, Bench press, Rows, Planks, Push-Ups, maybe military presses too. Doing sets of those once a week, pushing towards realistic goals, will postpone physical frailty until some disease gets you. Pull-ups are my weakest, just not there yet, dammit. I am disgusted by any of my weaknesses, physical or mental. Mens sana in corpore sano.)
