Almost fainted while deadlifting yesterday

[MAGICFATSO]

So, I was supposed to do 2 sets of 5 reps @ 100lbs.

 

I did that fine, and then increased to 120lbs and did 2 reps, and everything turned blurry and I froze and did my best to not faint. Luckily I didn't, but I don't know why that happened.

 

Is this supposed to happen? Did I push it too far? Should I increase volume and do lighter weight romanian deadlifts?

[SpecialSundae]

Were you breathing between reps? Had you eaten beforehand?

[MAGICFATSO]

Yes, I have had lunch an hour and a half before training. I breathe at the starting position and hold my breath until the end of the repetition to maintain core stability. I am quite sure that my form sucks anyway, I'll try to upload a video soon so you can critique my technique (that would be incredibly helpful!).

 

I have a lot of trouble at the starting position.

1) Feet should be 1 inch away from the bar, I do that ok.

2) When I get into the starting position, my shins should touch the bar without moving it, but they don't. If I try to touch the bar with my shins, then I have to sink my butt as if I was at the bottom position of a squat...

[Hermione Gainser]

Sometimes that happens. It could be from a few things - what SS mentioned, blood pressure wonkiness, the fact that DL is a really freaking intense exercise... etc.  I don't think you need to drop weight.  If it starts to happen all the time you should be concerned. Otherwise, don't worry too much. 

 

When this happens to me I find if I squat or sit down it dissipates quickly (by squat I mean, squat down, not do a squat).  Get low, get little and make sure you're in a place where if you do faint you won't hurt yourself. 

[SpecialSundae]

I have a lot of trouble at the starting position.

1) Feet should be 1 inch away from the bar, I do that ok.

2) When I get into the starting position, my shins should touch the bar without moving it, but they don't. If I try to touch the bar with my shins, then I have to sink my butt as if I was at the bottom position of a squat...

The bar should be over mid-foot rather than past the end of the toes. Is that what you meant?

[MAGICFATSO]

Oh, maybe I'm starting too far away from the bar. I place it 1-2 inches away from my legs, I have not been thinking about the bar being over mid-foot. 

 

Before I start the rep, I raise my butt and try to load my hamstrings, is this ok?

I mean, I try to take out all the movement where I am not lifting, so that when I begin my rep I am at the point where the only movement left is deadlifting the bar.

 

Thanks for the tips! Always eager to learn form the best

[SpecialSundae]

It sounds like you have the right idea, but form videos are definitely a good plan.

And my deadlifts aren't particularly good. I just try to be helpful when I can.

[Why not?]

Before I start the rep, I raise my butt and try to load my hamstrings, is this ok?

 

Yes. You have to do this. As far as the bar position goes, like SS said, you want the bar over mid-foot. I put it right around the top of my laces, maybe slightly in front of that point. I then let my shins just barely touch the bar.

[MAGICFATSO]

One last question, what's the position of the scapula? I think that I'm retracting them as I would on the bench press, and they hurt today.

[SpecialSundae]

Should be back and down. Someone suggested that it should feel like they're being pulled towards the opposite ass cheek.

I sometimes pull them too far back rather than down and that can hurt.

[TMedina]

The *shins* should be about an inch from the bar, not the feet.

 

Deadlifts, as others have said, is an intense exercise.  More than almost any other, a deadlift will leave me winded and gasping.  If you're doing full sets of what is a full body exercise, you're going to get winded, and then light-headed, and then nauseous.  Especially starting out for the first time.

 

After you complete a set, step back and catch your breath.  For that matter, make sure you catch your breath between reps, as SS noted.

[wildross]

Squat fairies and deadlift fairies (ie, stars and light headedness) are pretty common on reps that are approaching your (current) max.  

 

There are lots of ways to deal with it, but mostly its practice and breathing....and make sure you are away from anything really hard like the dumbbell rack.  There are some scary youtubes with folks crashing into things, etc.  This is one reason at meets that there will be a spotter behind someone doing a deadlift.

[Discon]

I started getting dizzy doing DL after going on a cut. Sometimes I'd get it at 70-80 % of my working weight, but not at working weight. It's odd.

How's your calorie intake?

[Papa Raf C]

Often happens to me when I get myself pumped for a lift. It doesn't even have to be really at the level that I'm really amped up. Nowadays, I make sure I'm all yoga and calm before any lift.

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[Gainsdalf the Whey]

For very intense lifts where you have to give it your all, this happens. I believe it happens due to blood pressure spikes during that effort and then blood rushing to your head as you complete it and put the bar down. We call it squat fairies when it happens for that lift as there tend to be little floating lights. Anyway, it's completely normal for very intense sets. Just be aware of it beind a possiblity, and put yourself in a position to not get hurt if you fall down. I tend to sit down on the safety bar of the squat rack with my hands on my knees if it happens after squats. For deadlifts, I have my bench near by at home that I'll sit on, or I'll just take a knee if I'm in the gym. Don't wanna be these guys:

 

 

I started getting dizzy doing DL after going on a cut. Sometimes I'd get it at 70-80 % of my working weight, but not at working weight. It's odd.
How's your calorie intake?

 

This is due to a blood sugar drop from not having enough calories/carbs, which is a seperate issue from above. I get it too, and try to avoid it by focusing my carbs to the few hours before my workout and even during my workout when I'm on a cut.

[MAGICFATSO]

Okay then, good to know! I switched back to romanian DLs anyway, I felt my lower back was doing most of the work, but since I didn't end up with paralizing pain, I though my form was ok. I asked a friend to "coach me" and tell me if I was rounding my back. Turns out I totally was, so I'm Romanian deadlifting my way to strong hamstrings so I can give heavy deadlifts an honest shot! I don't want to get to heavier weights with bad form and visit SNAP CITY

[TMedina]

Oh man, I cringed on that first gif.  Head first into the dumbbell rack?  Owwww...

[wildross]

Oh man, I cringed on that first gif. Head first into the dumbbell rack? Owwww...

I think of that one almost every time I pull heavy

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[Discon]

This is due to a blood sugar drop from not having enough calories/carbs, which is a seperate issue from above. I get it too, and try to avoid it by focusing my carbs to the few hours before my workout and even during my workout when I'm on a cut.

I'm diabetic (type 1), so I'm very sure it's not because of low blood sugar.