Finally! (In this case, a beltless double-bodyweight deadlift) 

Book a Session Now
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

While the premise of the deadlift seems so basic — pick up something kinda heavy, put it down with some control, and don’t wreck yourself in the process — it’s actually something that I’ve invested a lot of time in learning. Here’s some of what me helped achieve a defining line between what I consider “regular strong” and “actually strong.”

  • Start. Doesn’t have to be grandiose or sweeping. Just start.
  • Be stubborn and patient, and expect ups and downs during the learning process. Have a coherent plan.
  • But stay smart, and be ready to adjust the plan as necessary.
  • Focus on the process, not the outcome as an end goal. My 2022 New Year’s post alludes to this, and my recent nutrition coach certification materials further clarified the concept of process goals vs performance goals.
  • At the same time, keep yourself on target with check-ins and measurable benchmarks. (For me, this has been essentially annual trips to a powerlifting meet, while moving up the 100-kg lift from the third attempt (2022) to the second one (2024) to the first one, which immediately preceded my successful double-bodyweight lift yesterday.)
  • Look for support from many sources. If I were to thank all everyone who I’ve been able to learn from and who has provided encouragement, it would be more ridiculous than a long Academy Awards speech. There are so many people who have been there for me. There’s also a ton of knowledge available to sift through for a cue that “clicks” or a key word that resonates.
  • Work on the less obvious weaknesses. For me, this included not just physical training, but also confidence training to overcome self-limiting beliefs.
  • Stay open to possibilities! This is how I actually topped meeting my intended goal of the second lift with another PR for the evening.

So there we go. We all have day-to-day obligations, and I hope that you are also able to find a way to move yourself toward a big dream or two of your own. Please be in touch if I can be part of helping you transform your own personal barriers into personal bests.