Maggie's Farm

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.

Our Recent Essays Behind the Front Page

Much Sorry with Delays
Birth, Death and All That Stuff in Between
How to Honor Labor Day, Every Day
My Yom Kippur Miracle (Repost from 2010)
Good intro to fly casting
Peach update, with pie
NYC update
Easy for you to say: To the elites on mass immigration
For NYC on 9/11, Sailors' Snug Harbor
Pickled Peaches
Water Shoes
Labor Costs in U.S.
Your "identity"
Good news about The Great Courses
Uses of Hot Pepper Jelly/Sauce, Chutneys, and Jams
A Saturday Drive to Litchfield County, CT
How to Pick a Kayak
Civilized: Fruit forks and knives
Loads of kayaking on Cape Cod
Psychology Experiments' Questionable Results

Categories


All categories

Quicksearch

Links

Blog Administration

Open login screen

RSS Readers

Add to Google

Subscribe with Bloglines

Wednesday, September 30. 2020

Your Posterior Chain, with shirts


Deads strengthen the "posterior chain," from neck to the soles of your feet. We tend to view deads as a legs exertion, but no, not only. That's why they are an invaluable totaly body exertion.


That posterior chain of muscles is what it makes it possible to be bipedal and to stand up straight instead of slouching. It's counterbalanced by various anterior muscle groups, expecially the abs.



I am no body-builder guy, but after 4 years of including deads in my routine twice weekly (pushing the weights, admittedly, but gradually with high-rep days and low rep days), I can no longer button my dress shirts. 2" more. That's crazy, not what I wanted but it just happened. Brooks Brothers shirts ain't cheap, and I fairly often wear jacket and tie at work, especially for meetings when it is expected. I don't have a single dress shirt that I can button now.


Deads are the single best way, and most efficient way, to stay sturdy after age 40.  



Posted by Bird Dog in Physical Fitness at 15:43 | Comments (8) | Trackbacks (0)

Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

Been doing deadlifts for about 3 years now, switched to using a trap bar about 18 months ago or so. Can't say I've put on 2 inches of muscle, but definitely have a stronger back. I've recently added pullups, but I'm still not good at them. Very recently added loaded carries (farmers walk, sandbag carry, suitcase carry) which is definitely a full body workout.

I mostly feel the deadlifts in my lower back but, as you say, they cover all anterior muscles.
#1 Hamlet's Fool on 2020-09-30 17:07 (Reply)
D'oh! I meant to say "cover all posterior muscles" but hit "send" before I edited.
#1.1 Hamlet's Fool on 2020-09-30 17:09 (Reply)
Is there a safe way to do these exercises for people in their late 70's?
#2 Apple pie on 2020-09-30 23:48 (Reply)
Of course. Obviously need to be careful and conservative with the weights and pay strict attention to form. A good coach would be invaluable.

Here are some resources to get you going. It's never too late.

The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40

Have a 2020 Vision: Be an Athlete of Aging!

The Deadlift Prescription
#2.1 RJP on 2020-10-01 00:18 (Reply)
Not doubt about it, the deadlift and squat are the king and queen of exercises. Of course, we can debate which is which, but you absolutely can't go wrong doing either (or better yet, both).

You wrote "...not what I wanted ...". I don't think I've ever seen that before, a grown man upset that his muscles are too big. :-) I feel for you though. Pretty much none of my shirts from four years ago fit me now and it's hard to find slacks that fit my waist, butt, and thighs at the same time. But I'm in Arizona so I'm in shorts pretty much all the time, especially in these work-from-home times.

You use "sturdy" a lot. Why are you so averse to "strong"?
#3 RJP on 2020-10-01 00:29 (Reply)
If nothing else, use of sturdy vs. strong is good marketing to get seniors doing weights. It worked for me.
#3.1 journeyman on 2020-10-01 07:56 (Reply)
"Sturdy"is a good thing. I''ll never have bulging muscles, and have no need for them.
#3.1.1 BD on 2020-10-01 10:03 (Reply)
QUOTE:
Helping People With Dementia Exercise Their Right to Vote


And, just how informed on the issues is the typical person with dementia.
#4 BillH on 2020-10-01 10:42 (Reply)

Add Comment
(Your e-mail will not show in your comment)

By commenting on this site you agree to the site rules listed here. Email
addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for email notifications.

Quick reference guide: [i] italics [/i], [b] bold [/b], [u] underline [/u],
[url] (web address) [/url]. More tips here.

Enclosing asterisks marks text as bold (*word*), underscore are made via _word_.
E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.
CAPTCHA

BBCode format allowed
 
 
A Chris Southern Consulting website.