SELF HEALTH + HEALING

Deadlift day is my favorite day.

When my story came out in July of 2011, I said that I’m simply happier on days that I deadlift – and that holds true to this day.  There’s really nothing more satisfying than picking up a ton of weight off the floor and holding it in your hands.

John Paul Sigmarsson, the Icelandic Strongman/Powerlifter once said (while deadlifting 1005 lbs), “There is no reason to be alive if you can’t do deadlift.”

Now, that may be a bit extreme, but deadlifting is truly a romantic lift.

On deadlift day, I don’t need assistance or a spotter – it’s just me, the barbell, and the weight.  I love nothing more than to put my headphones in, put on a favorite playlist, and focus on nothing but me and that weight.

But even with so much going for it, many people are afraid of the deadlift and avoid it at all costs, citing fear of injury.

Have you ever heard of a barbell or dumbbell? If you don't know, they are the scary metal objects Arnold Schwarzenegger embraced so endearingly in the popular documentary "Pumping Iron." When most people think of weight lifting they visualize the imagery portrayed in this film -- oversized hyper-masculine bodybuilders yelling in agony, aggressively attempting to lift heavy weights. With this connotation in mind many people are fearful of the weight room.

As a personal trainer I see people sign up daily for gym memberships. Unfortunately- from the very first day through several New Year's resolutions later, most of them never actually make it to the weight room floor. That's the section where the good old-fashioned barbells and dumbbells are.

Want to lose weight? Then throw away the pills and powders. Strength training is the miracle weight loss aid you've been searching for. Here's why...

Strength Training Pays Eternal Fat Loss Dividends

Unlike traditional cardio, strength training’s fat loss effects don’t end once your workout does. That’s because muscle is nearly 4 times more metabolically active than fat tissue [1]. Both dedicated cardio and strength training burn calories during your workout, but cardio’s calorie burning effects end shortly after you stop exercising.