Deadlifts. First rep is the hardest.

[Blane]

I have been lifting for years but just started Deadlifting in March thanks to this board. They are progressing nicely, I recently did a set of 455x5. My question, and I wonder if anyone else has this problem, is that my first rep in a set is always by far the hardest. Is this normal? Even my first pull at 315 when warming up is difficult, yet I can rep out a solid set of 12 after that.

Today I was warming up and got to 365 and I noticed my first warm up rep was extremely difficult. I almost did not get the pull. I changed my workout to 10 sets of 1 at 365 and the lifts, strangely, progressively, got easier.

Stats (because I know they will be asked) 5'9" 240 20%

Please do not take offense to this question...Do you allow the weights to stop moving completly at the bottom of the movement? Or do you allow the weights to bounce off of the ground into your next rep?

if you bounce the weight. there is your answer.

 

[drsketch]

my first rep is usually the hardest on most of my lifts(arms, legs, chest, etc) especially on the 4-5th set

 

[dabuffguy]

my first rep is usually the hardest on most of my lifts(arms, legs, chest, etc) especially on the 4-5th set

for DB press, the first rep has always been the hardest for me to get up. and of course the last one too.

 

[DaveTSI]

i am the same way, after the first rep i get in the groove better and technique takes over, its nothing to be concerned about. and as far as the brace/belt goes, dont wear one unless your injured or going extremely heavy, if you can do it for 5 reps you dont need a belt.

 

[highlander555]

Dude, the belt easily comes a crutch. Unless you're doing max effort attempts, why wouldn't you want to work out all the stabalizing muscles that you can? If you're using propper form, injury shouldn't be an issue on sub-max lifts.

 

[Endo MD]

Please do not take offense to this question...Do you allow the weights to stop moving completly at the bottom of the movement? Or do you allow the weights to bounce off of the ground into your next rep?

if you bounce the weight. there is your answer.

I let the weight come to a stop. I think if I bounced that kind of weight at my gym they'd kick me out. I get strange enough looks just for using the bicep rack for my squats.

 

[enigma4dub]

I let the weight come to a stop. I think if I bounced that kind of weight at my gym they'd kick me out. I get strange enough looks just for using the bicep rack for my squats.

lol

 

[LucSulla]

i let the weight come to a stop. I think if i bounced that kind of weight at my gym they'd kick me out. I get strange enough looks just for using the bicep rack for my squats.

zing!

 

[*The_West*]

I get strange enough looks just for using the bicep rack for my squats.

 

[Big_BK]

Dave is bang on the money. I listened to him a while ago when i hit a plateau and dropped my belt from everything. You get alot more beat up from your workouts and tire faster but after a week or 2 you are used to it and start getting alot stronger. I really only use my belt for max attempts now and in competition. In training i have tried to do as much as i can beltless. I just hit a new PR yesterday as well, 455 for a single standing on 100lb plates no belt.