Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!Oiky wrote: ↑Yesterday, 11:52That's it, nice, 200kg is still a good pull for a mess around. I haven't deadlifted for a few months now, been doing RDL's and back extensions instead.SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 09:30No compound movements for me, those days are long gone. I had a mess about with deadlift last week to see what it was like but went to 200kg and thought I’m not risking this malarkey. My training is very measured, I go at least once a day tho and twice at weekends.
Still squatting and benching, but I use a lot more machines as well nowadays than I've ever done, both the plate loaded and pin loaded Hammer Strength ones, do prefer free weights and probably always will but it's not one or the other for me, just do both, they all have their place.
Porky's Corner
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SeanBrennan
- Bantamweight
- Posts: 9685
- Joined: 12 Feb 2022, 12:45
Re: Porky's Corner
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smiling assassin
- Light Heavyweight
- Posts: 3200
- Joined: 05 Jan 2012, 13:12
Re: Porky's Corner
Sean a 200kg deadlift as a mess around, how much do you weigh? I got 155kg last week and felt like hemanSeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 13:20Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!Oiky wrote: ↑Yesterday, 11:52That's it, nice, 200kg is still a good pull for a mess around. I haven't deadlifted for a few months now, been doing RDL's and back extensions instead.SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 09:30
No compound movements for me, those days are long gone. I had a mess about with deadlift last week to see what it was like but went to 200kg and thought I’m not risking this malarkey. My training is very measured, I go at least once a day tho and twice at weekends.
Still squatting and benching, but I use a lot more machines as well nowadays than I've ever done, both the plate loaded and pin loaded Hammer Strength ones, do prefer free weights and probably always will but it's not one or the other for me, just do both, they all have their place.
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SeanBrennan
- Bantamweight
- Posts: 9685
- Joined: 12 Feb 2022, 12:45
Re: Porky's Corner
It’s muscle memory mate I used to pull 300kg plus. I paid Andy Bolton to coach my form when I competed so much of it is technique, most people deadlift without activating their glutes. It’s mainly form not strength mate so I won’t pretend I’m strong. I don’t know what I weigh as I stopped weighing myself in January. I’ve put some muscle back on by increasing my protein a little (I was always a hyper responder to training and protein. And gear but those days are long gone as I like being alive). I probably weigh 14 stone something. I used to weigh 23 stone when I competed.smiling assassin wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:11Sean a 200kg deadlift as a mess around, how much do you weigh? I got 155kg last week and felt like hemanSeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 13:20Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!Oiky wrote: ↑Yesterday, 11:52
That's it, nice, 200kg is still a good pull for a mess around. I haven't deadlifted for a few months now, been doing RDL's and back extensions instead.
Still squatting and benching, but I use a lot more machines as well nowadays than I've ever done, both the plate loaded and pin loaded Hammer Strength ones, do prefer free weights and probably always will but it's not one or the other for me, just do both, they all have their place.. Il never get anywhere near 200kg
And 155kg is an excellent deadlift. I only did it for a laugh as my mate Rudie is getting into strongman so I was helping him with pulling his hips through to get the weight up quickly and not wobble or injure himself. Happy to message on training advice just drop me a message buddy or email me [email protected]. My advice is rubbish but free
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smiling assassin
- Light Heavyweight
- Posts: 3200
- Joined: 05 Jan 2012, 13:12
Re: Porky's Corner
Top man Sean thanks very much mate much appreciate that. Don’t put yourself down, form or not lifting 200kg is a strong as an oxSeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:31It’s muscle memory mate I used to pull 300kg plus. I paid Andy Bolton to coach my form when I competed so much of it is technique, most people deadlift without activating their glutes. It’s mainly form not strength mate so I won’t pretend I’m strong. I don’t know what I weigh as I stopped weighing myself in January. I’ve put some muscle back on by increasing my protein a little (I was always a hyper responder to training and protein. And gear but those days are long gone as I like being alive). I probably weigh 14 stone something. I used to weigh 23 stone when I competed.smiling assassin wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:11Sean a 200kg deadlift as a mess around, how much do you weigh? I got 155kg last week and felt like hemanSeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 13:20
Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!. Il never get anywhere near 200kg
And 155kg is an excellent deadlift. I only did it for a laugh as my mate Rudie is getting into strongman so I was helping him with pulling his hips through to get the weight up quickly and not wobble or injure himself. Happy to message on training advice just drop me a message buddy or email me [email protected]. My advice is rubbish but free
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SeanBrennan
- Bantamweight
- Posts: 9685
- Joined: 12 Feb 2022, 12:45
Re: Porky's Corner
You’re welcome and thanks a lot mate.smiling assassin wrote: ↑Yesterday, 15:11Top man Sean thanks very much mate much appreciate that. Don’t put yourself down, form or not lifting 200kg is a strong as an oxSeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:31It’s muscle memory mate I used to pull 300kg plus. I paid Andy Bolton to coach my form when I competed so much of it is technique, most people deadlift without activating their glutes. It’s mainly form not strength mate so I won’t pretend I’m strong. I don’t know what I weigh as I stopped weighing myself in January. I’ve put some muscle back on by increasing my protein a little (I was always a hyper responder to training and protein. And gear but those days are long gone as I like being alive). I probably weigh 14 stone something. I used to weigh 23 stone when I competed.smiling assassin wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:11
Sean a 200kg deadlift as a mess around, how much do you weigh? I got 155kg last week and felt like heman. Il never get anywhere near 200kg
And 155kg is an excellent deadlift. I only did it for a laugh as my mate Rudie is getting into strongman so I was helping him with pulling his hips through to get the weight up quickly and not wobble or injure himself. Happy to message on training advice just drop me a message buddy or email me [email protected]. My advice is rubbish but free
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johnmanchester
- Light Flyweight
- Posts: 257
- Joined: 12 May 2025, 04:36
Re: Porky's Corner
I feel the same. Riddled with injuries, had a few surgeries, will never complain about paying NISeanBrennan wrote: ↑06 Jun 2026, 04:44 I caused all this through abusing my body so I’m super grateful and felt embarrassed for using NHS resources after having multiple surgeries for damage caused by competing in strongman and powerlifting again all self inflicted. Let’s just say I never mind paying NI.
NHS is an unreal service and I am sad to see it being slowly privatised
One of the many reasons Reform are a Trojan Horse from a working class perspective is that Reform are pure "unrestricted business" party and would privatise the NHS first chance they got.
Re: Porky's Corner
Whereas Labour and the Tories only outsource NHS services to the private sector.johnmanchester wrote: ↑Today, 04:42I feel the same. Riddled with injuries, had a few surgeries, will never complain about paying NISeanBrennan wrote: ↑06 Jun 2026, 04:44 I caused all this through abusing my body so I’m super grateful and felt embarrassed for using NHS resources after having multiple surgeries for damage caused by competing in strongman and powerlifting again all self inflicted. Let’s just say I never mind paying NI.
NHS is an unreal service and I am sad to see it being slowly privatised
One of the many reasons Reform are a Trojan Horse from a working class perspective is that Reform are pure "unrestricted business" party and would privatise the NHS first chance they got.
We are just numbers on a calculator
Re: Porky's Corner
Yeah maxing too much is where a lot of people go wrong with strength training I feel? Especially amongst normal gym goers, I said to a pal of mine competitive powerlifters probably max out 3 times a year, and that's at meetsSeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 13:20Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!Oiky wrote: ↑Yesterday, 11:52That's it, nice, 200kg is still a good pull for a mess around. I haven't deadlifted for a few months now, been doing RDL's and back extensions instead.SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 09:30
No compound movements for me, those days are long gone. I had a mess about with deadlift last week to see what it was like but went to 200kg and thought I’m not risking this malarkey. My training is very measured, I go at least once a day tho and twice at weekends.
Still squatting and benching, but I use a lot more machines as well nowadays than I've ever done, both the plate loaded and pin loaded Hammer Strength ones, do prefer free weights and probably always will but it's not one or the other for me, just do both, they all have their place.
Lot's of people struggle with flat bench don't they in the end, the plate loaded hammer strength flat press is a great alternative for benching imo ,much prefer it to a smith machine, always hated smith machines, people say about the bench being rigid and too much of a fixed path for the shoulders but for me that's the smith machine, feels horrible.
Re: Porky's Corner
Yes 200kg for a mess around and considering what you've been through is a great pull, and that's very true about technique, that's why you can see big lumps (which to be fair are probably more hypertrohpy based) with a terrible deadlift and then you can get someone who is a lot smaller and leaner but strong as f*ck, it's about manipulating your leverages and the CNS adjustment over time providing you dont burn it out. You can add KG's to any of the compound lifts by getting your technique better, the approach to building muscle and building strength are totally different for me imo, making a light, or lighter, weight feel heavy is key for building muscle but getting a weight from point A to point B that's about the best technique possible and you're CNS firing on all cyclindersSeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:31It’s muscle memory mate I used to pull 300kg plus. I paid Andy Bolton to coach my form when I competed so much of it is technique, most people deadlift without activating their glutes. It’s mainly form not strength mate so I won’t pretend I’m strong. I don’t know what I weigh as I stopped weighing myself in January. I’ve put some muscle back on by increasing my protein a little (I was always a hyper responder to training and protein. And gear but those days are long gone as I like being alive). I probably weigh 14 stone something. I used to weigh 23 stone when I competed.smiling assassin wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:11Sean a 200kg deadlift as a mess around, how much do you weigh? I got 155kg last week and felt like hemanSeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 13:20
Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!. Il never get anywhere near 200kg
And 155kg is an excellent deadlift. I only did it for a laugh as my mate Rudie is getting into strongman so I was helping him with pulling his hips through to get the weight up quickly and not wobble or injure himself. Happy to message on training advice just drop me a message buddy or email me [email protected]. My advice is rubbish but free
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johnmanchester
- Light Flyweight
- Posts: 257
- Joined: 12 May 2025, 04:36
Re: Porky's Corner
yeah the thing is for strictly bodybuilding purposes it's not how much weight you're lifting it's how much you can actually feel the muscle you're targeting working, you want to be spreading the load as little as possiblejohnmanchester wrote: ↑Today, 05:39That's an interesting concept. Never thought of it like that before.
for power and strength purposes it doesn't matter, it's a compound movement so every link in the chain needs to be working and strong