Here is my latest deadlifting lift. This is me attempting to lift a big 210 lbs. which was a successful lift.

Admittedly I’ve been still trying to get the form down perfectly. Somebody once said I needed to bend my knees more which I did here and somebody once said I needed to line my shoulders up with my shoes so my arms can be perfectly straight on the bar which I also did here. Next time I do deadlifts, I’ll film myself sideways to see if I got the form down.

I’m still trying to get the form down by watching deadlift tutorials through youtube. Perfect form in weightlifting is vital. It must be taking very seriously and I’m trying.

Enjoy the video. I love deadlifting. It’s the best barbell workout for sure, in my opinion. Benching would be my second favorite barbell workout, squats would be my last. I’m trying to like barbell squats more, it’s hard to get into but I’ll get used to it.

Kev

Ya know, one thing I’ve noticed about bodybuilding over the years of my life is that the bench is a pretty debatable workout. The bench press definitely does have a love and hate relationship with everybody. You either like it or you don’t. The bench press maybe the king of all workouts but it isn’t for everybody, I guess. For some reason there are a lot of people that like to bash the bench press and at the same time there are those out there that love it too.

There are lifters on bodybuilding forums, blogs and websites who loves to criticize the bench press. The most common arguments they make about the bench press is that they think it’s overrated and they also make claims that the bench doesn’t give you a strong chest development. I think the reason that I avoided the bench press is because admittedly, I was a bit naive and fell for the critics bullshit about the bench press. They also don’t like the bench press ’cause it gives them injuries a lot and shit.

So they claim that the bench doesn’t give them bigger pecs. Well one reason for that is bad genetics and they could be doing the bench wrong. If you do the bench correctly, you can hit the chest pretty hard. I’ve gotten back into bench pressing full time and been doing it for a few weeks now. I got back into benching ’cause of my first powerlifting meet that I did on Aug. 31st. So for that reason, I’ve gotten back into benching full time.

People think that bench can give you a lot of injuries well, you can get a lot of injuries with all other workouts too. The bench can be easy and safe as long as you know what you’re doing. You can still do bench, you don’t have to lift heavy all the time. Just lift the weights that feel comfortable for you and you don’t have to lift to failure to ensure that you don’t get injured.

Yeah, I know that the bench got a lot of negative flack over the years but it can be a great workout. I’ve grown into loving it. I have felt my chest getting stronger and getting little development.

Ya know, that’s the thing with bodybuilding. Some workouts are gonna get some haters — mostly the bench and the smith machine. I have no problem with the bench and the smith machine. There’s always gonna be crybabies and haters in the bodybuilding industry so just ignore them and do whatever you want to do in the gym.

I think the bench is great now and I think it will help improve my chest greatly. I do want get a big giant chest and the bench could help get me there for sure. Those that trash the bench just don’t know what they’re talking about. Usually lifters who trash the bench don’t have a great chest themselves so just ignore them.

If you want to bench then do it. I’m guilty of talking negative about the bench in the past but no more. I love it now!

Kev

My bodyfat definitely’s gotta be pretty low by now. I’m seeing visible abs, visible chest pecs and my arms are getting pretty veiny. Feels real good. I haven’t measured my bodyfat percentage but I’m going to look into doing that soon. There’s a friend of mine who’s a personal trainer at the gym I go to and I’ll probably get her to do it for me ’cause I’m dying to see where my bodyfat percentage is right now. Last time I measured it was about 16% but that was a long time ago when I first started bodybuilding. I haven’t measured my bodyfat in a long long time and I want to get it done again just to see where it’s at. I’m predicting my bodyfat would be around 10% -14% around there. Maybe I’m even below 10% right now, you just never know. I think I pretty much have a good six pack going which was the goal.

I could get lower in bodyfat, though and I’m working on it. I just made my nutrition a lot more strict again. To lower bodyfat isn’t hard. All you gotta do is eliminate all sugary drinks, eliminate alcohol and just drink water only. I’m going to do just that from now on and avoid Gatorade drinks completely. I’ve also been eating high protein and low carb stuff; however, you don’t wan to avoid carbs completely. You still gotta have complex-carbs like fruits and vegetables. You gotta have your whole wheat too and I get the whole wheat mostly from oatmeal and 100% natural bread which is the only bread I eat (I avoid white bread like the plague, trust me). You gotta have good fats too like natural peanut butter, peanuts like almonds and things like that. I’ve been avoiding ice cream more at least I’m trying to but going to avoid it completely now I think. I love ice cream, I have it as a cheat meal once in a while now but I’m going to ditch it completely, I think.

I’ve also been doing a lot more exercising at the gym than weight training. I’ve been doing yoga, stretching exercises, cardio like the treadmill and elliptical machine. I do a lot of bike riding but I think I’m going to start walking everyday ’cause that would help. Even through the fall and winter, I’m going to start walking outside every day. If it’s too cold out then I’ll go to the gym to do treadmill or elliptical. I already do a lot of walking but I think I’m going to do it everyday, I think.

I’m working very hard to become the best shape of my life and just about there, I think. Got more work to do and I’m working on it. Building muscle and losing fat is my goal.

When it comes to nutrition, I’m not going vegan, I’m not doing keto diets, I’m not doing weightwatchers and all that garbage. You don’t need to pay a lot of money for food to get in shape. I keep my healthy nutrition very simple. I’m not a recipe kind of guy where people make silly things like protein cakes, protein pies and protein brownies and all that crap. You get my point?

I’m the kind of guy who wants to stay in shape all year round. I’m not the bulk and cutting guy like a lot of bodybuilders are nowadays. I don’t want to go through that method.

I love working out. It’s my 2nd passion other than music. It’s nice to get all of this positive feedback of what I do. When you get a built and jacked physique and successful at your goals then you need to stay humble about it. There’s no reason to go around acting like you’re a tough guy ’cause you’re jacked, ya know? There’s so many bodybuilders out there with a cocky attitude just because they’re jacked. That’s not me. Just be humble, stay cool and not take yourself so seriously.

I have more workout videos on my Instagram page if you’re interested in seeing them. Enjoy:

https://www.instagram.com/kevbrockmusic/

Kev

Why is it I’m able to deadlift heavy all of a sudden? It’s simply because maybe I already do have strong and big quads! I was looking for deadlifting videos in youtube and came across this excellent video by Jeff Cavaliere who owns the AthleanX youtube channel which is really great.

This guy describes that the deadlift and leg press are both pretty much the same thing which is pretty much true really. The deadlift is a pushing exercise and you use your legs to help push the bar off the floor when doing the deadlift which is pretty similar to the leg press. In reality, the deadlift is a leg press workout. I have noticed that the deadlift is a lot of leg work, though. Yep, so this is why I’m able to deadlift heavy ’cause my legs were already pretty strong.

For the past 10 years or so I’ve been working out, I’ve been doing a lot of leg workouts which was how I was able to get more strength on my legs. Plus doing a lot of cardio over the years… running, jogging, walking and biking will all help me get strength in my legs too.

Ya know, now that I think about it, maybe I shouldn’t give up the leg press at all ’cause it can be pretty useful for deadlifting and squats. I probably won’t ditch the leg press at all then… just gotta correct my form and I’ll probably lift lighter weights on the leg press next time I do leg day this week.

Ya know, I can’t tell my own strength and I even surprise myself when I found out that I could deadlift a whopping 200 lbs. which was incredible. I thought to myself, “If I can deadlift heavy then I could probably squat heavy”. The heaviest I can go on squat for now is 105 lbs. for one rep which is pretty good for someone who is just starting out squatting. I still need to get the form on squats right too and I’m learning. Doing research and studying.

Kev

Ya know, after thinking about trying to work on my form for leg press, I’m thinking of ditching that workout completely. I don’t really need to do barbell squats and leg press on the same leg day. I’ve been noticing that doing both is too much for the quads, ya know? I’ve been reading bodybuilding and fitness forums online and many lifters say that you should do both squats and leg press. I disagree.

If you think about it since I’m gonna do deadlift and barbell squats full time that’s good enough for the legs. Doing research on deadlift, I’ve read that the deadlift targets muscles on the whole body pretty much including the quads and hamstrings. All the leg press targets is mostly the quads and some hamstring, that’s about it. I was never a big fan of the leg press anyways so I’m thinking of ditching it from my leg day routine and just do squats and deadlifts from now on. Both squats and deadlifts work the quads pretty good. Doing squats, deadlifts and leg press all at once… oh man, that’s gonna make your legs really sore all week and my legs are pretty sore right now. Another thing, I think doing too much to your quads is a bit overkill and over training, in my opinion and won’t give you enough growth. So again, doing deadlifts and squats is good enough for my leg work.

Not sure if I’ll give up the leg press for good, I’m only thinking about it. I’m probably gonna end up doing it ’cause I’m afraid doing leg press will weaken my squat work. I think I’ll definitely get way more strength doing squats if I ditch the leg press. I want to get more leg definition and get bigger quads and the squats will do that to you. I’ve also read doing research about squats is that squats also works out the entire body just like the deadlift. Squats and the deadlift are both compound exercises so that means they’re gonna target more than one body part.

It’s interesting. In the past, I was gonna avoid benching, squats and deadlifts but now I’m getting into all three full time for powerlifting competitions. I can lift heavy on deadlift but not yet a heavy lifter on bench and squats but working on it. For bench and squats I can only do 70 lbs. for 4 sets and 10 reps each both exercises, the deadlift I can lift heavier for whatever reason. I used to not be a fan of these workouts but I’ve grown into loving them now.

Thank god my hometown of Greenwich has a gym that allows benching, squats and deadlifting thanks to the Battenkill YMCA. There used to be a different bodybuilding gym that I used to go to in Greenwich before the Battenkill Y but then the YMCA took the other place out.

I want to get more strength and get bigger in size. I think benching, deadlifting and squatting will all help me greatly. Free weights is definitely the way to go… fuck the machines. When I first started lifting, I started out using machines then I made my way to barbells and dumbbells which is what I prefer more.

Kev