Are Deadlifts The Best Bodybuilding Exercise?

By Author: Sean Nalewanyj
Total Articles: 53
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Are you perhaps looking to pack on some serious muscle mass? Do you want to build a rock-solid physique and have everyone look at you with respect?

In this article, I'm going to talk to you about the best bodybuilding exercise that will help you to achieve that powerful body quicker than you ever thought possible.

No, it's not a bench press or a barbell curl. It doesn't involve cables or chrome machines. Don't expect a Swiss ball or any other ridiculous gadgets.

For this exercise, the best bodybuilding exercise around, you just need a barbell and a flat surface. Put as much weight as you can handle onto the bar, keep your back straight, and pick it up off the ground.

Easy, isn't it?

Well, that's why it's the king of all upper body exercises: the deadlift. If you're looking to pile as much lean muscle mass onto your frame as humanly possible in the shortest period of time, the deadlift is the best bodybuilding exercise for you.

That was the good news.

The bad part is that deadlifts are certainly one of the most painful exercises you can ever experience. If you do them properly, ...
... deadlifts will leave you lightheaded, a little queasy, and gasping for air, and ultimately will have you wishing you weren't a member of the gym at all.

As long as you want results, you're going to have to stick with it because it's the best bodybuilding exercise you can do.

This is the best bodybuilding exercise to work you from finger to neck to toe. The high intensity nature of this basic lift makes it the best bodybuilding exercise to force your body to secrete higher amounts of powerful anabolic substances such as testosterone and growth hormone. Your body will experience a "spill over effect," resulting in total body strength and size gains.

The deadlift has several different variations, but I am going to focus on the basic, bent-legged version.

Check out the correct technique...

Your feet need to be shoulder-width apart, while you grab the bar just outside the span of your legs. You can either grip the bar with one palm facing in and one palm facing out, or with an overhand grip. Opt for the grip that you're comfortable with.

The movement should begin from a low, squat position, keeping the bar positioned close to your shins. Lift the weight off of the ground by driving upward with your legs, and be sure to keep your abs tight, back flat, and head looking up. Your goal is to get to a standing position with the weight.

Follow the same path as when you lifted it to lower the weight back down. Take a moment to set the plates on the ground, regroup, and take a deep breath, before you pull the weight back up. Keep going until your legs reach muscular failure or your form deteriorates.

Remember to maintain proper form when performing this exercise. You should be able to handle a reasonable amount of weight here, and this increases your chance of injury.

You need to keep your back flat at all times and keep that weight close to your body. Keep your abs tight as well, as this will minimize the stress on your lower back. Practice this lift using only light weights to master the form, and then focus on going heavy.

I recommend performing deadlifts once a week for 1 to 2 all-out sets.

As for the number of reps to perform for each set

Since deadlifts are the best bodybuilding exercise, they will show results no matter what rep range you use.

Some people go as high as 20 reps, but I recommend you stick with 5 to 7. Do what works for you.
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