Build Backs Better

ByKeva Silversmith

Throwing out my back while deadlifting used to be a once-a-year proposition. When I found the Starting Strength guide for deadlifting a decade ago, I was delighted to learn some thoughtful benchmarks for form. Instead of just grunting max weight off the floor, I had cues for how to set up my deadlift, such as:…

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Walking the Extra Mile: Carrying My Own Weights to the Gym

ByKeva Silversmith

For reasons still unknown to me, some manufacturers of barbell plates design them with 12-sides, rather than as a wheel. Even more strangely, some gyms, like mine, actually buy them. One theory is that edged barbell plates make deadlifting impossible. As a result, members are prevented from rattling windows with the crash of falling iron….