I entered the gym, later than normal, as I had got caught up in a bunch of work earlier. I was feeling pretty good and wondering what exercises I would do today.
Then it popped into my mind…
“You can deadlift 505 today.”
Deadlifting more than 500 lbs. has been a goal of mine for over a year now. I’ve made progress on it only to get sidetracked a number of times over that year.
But now I was more serious about it. I had run my 17 Steps to 100% Goal Setting Success so I knew it would happen sooner or later.
And now my intuition was telling me today could be the day…
But I didn’t believe it. Not at first.
Two days ago I had done 225 lb. Jefferson deadlifts for a total of 74 reps in just over 9 minutes. Then yesterday I was doing partial deadlifts on the plateau buster. Four doubles of 615 lbs. in 8 minutes.
Surely I can’t set a new 20 lb. lifetime max (previous max of 485 on 6/10/11) after doing some forms of deadlifts the past two days.
But I decided to at least give it the benefit of the doubt. I grab 135 on the bar and pulled it up. Felt good. Okay. 225, same thing. 315 was good too.
Maybe it is possible?
Since I’ve been deadlifting a while I’ve noticed a pattern. Whenever I set a new max I first pull lighter weights for more reps than I’ve done before.
At 405 I only did 4 reps but could have easily done 6, if not more.
At 455 I did a triple.
Wow, I think it actually will happen.
I loaded the bar up to 505.
This was only the second time ever I’d be attempting this weight. I had tried it once before at the Tactical Strength Challenge. It didn’t budge off the floor then.
I don’t psych up in the normal sense but I started to do some advanced mental and energy training tactics on myself. Its what my friends Bud Jeffries and Chuck Halbakken affectionately refer to as “voodoo” or “black magic”.
Specifically I was using what I’m calling the ‘Holy Sh!t This Is Powerful Technique’. I’ve still got more testing to do with this before I unleash it to the world but I think the name says a lot. 
I set the camera recording. Used a energy power installation and anchor to stack even more strength on top.
Then I got ready to do the lift…
Here is the video and I’ll give you a play by play below.
It started moving so I was off to a good start.
Once I was past my knees the involuntary shaking began. I’ve only had this happen twice before in my life when it comes to deadlifting. One time before I missed a new max back at 455. The second time I was successful with 485. Usually if the weight is too heavy I don’t get it past the knees.
At this point, it being a goal for so long, I was thinking in my mind, “You’ve gotten this far, just finish it!”
It was more than my body wanted to handle. But in this case my mind forced it and I locked it out.
Sure, I would have liked to have done it easier, and I will in the future. But true maxes seldom are pretty. (And I’m sure to get all kinds of hate mail about my form. At this point I’m used to it, but it works for me.)
There were a lot of things that went into making this possible. I’ve briefly outlined some of them here.
But right now I want to highlight the mental training aspect of it. No one is teaching this, yet it is one of the most powerful allies you have that can be added on top of whatever you’re currently doing.
And if a skinny guy like me, who grew up so weak I couldn’t do a pushup, can now deadlift over 500 lbs, you can accomplish your goals too.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to deadlift. If you want to excel at kettlebells, bodyweight training or feats of strength…
If you’re looking to shed some fat, or add on muscle…
If you just want the added edge in your sport…
This package deal will be pull down shortly. In fact I only have 5 left in stock.
There are techniques to unlock the powers of your mind, which will allow you to better unlock the powers of your body.
Use them and you will become more powerful. I guarantee it!
In strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Barbells and Dumbbells, Bio Feedback, Lifting Technique, Mental Training, Recovery, Videos by on Aug 8th, 2011. 7 Comments. 
The other day while training I decided to shoot this video for you of a new personal record in the partial deadlift.
Now you might be wondering what I’m using to do this pull. It’s the Strongergrip Plateau Buster Swing Handle which you can read more about and see another video of here.
I really like doing heavy pulls on this thing, even more so than the barbell (and since my barbell recently broke I don’t have that option until I replace it). I feel this one a bit more in the quads but especially in the upper back.
Considering the last time I max out on this I did 685 and I needed straps for that I’m quite happy. Now all I need to do is buy some more plates so that I can lift more.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Barbells and Dumbbells, Partials, Videos by on Jul 29th, 2011. 4 Comments.
Here’s another update in my progress with biofeedback training. If you missed the others, here is part 1 and part 2.
I’ve been testing so many times I’m starting to not always need it. Sometimes I can just feel what I’m going to do and then it happens. Even without testing I can often feel, in the movement itself, whether it would be great to do then. But when my intuition isn’t giving me a clear answer I can always test.
For example, the other day I just ‘knew’ I was going to set a new max in the deadlift. I got 425 lbs. That’s 20 lbs. better than I had done before.
But let’s back up and give you examples from my training. Here’s my deadlifting for about 40 days. These are by no means the only exercise I’ve done in that time but I’ve pulled the numbers from my training log to show you what’s going on.
Deadlifting a light weight for reps
4-25 BB Deadlift 225 x 12,12,14,12,12 in 10 minutes
4-28 BB Deadlift 315 x 5,6,5 in 5 minutes
5-1 Rack Pull 605 x 3 singles
5-5 Trap Bar Deadlift 430 x 1
5-6 BB Deadlift 225 x 15,15,12,12,12 in 8 minutes
5-11 Rack Pull 505 x 4,4,4,4
5-12 BB Deadlift 405 x 1
5-13 BB Deadlift 225 x 17
5-17 Trap Bar Deadlift 275 x 11,12,11,12,11 in 14 min
5-20 BB Deadlift 315 x 7,6,6 in 4 min
5-22 BB Deadlift 225 x 16,18,15 in 7 min
5-25 BB Deadlift 365 x 3,4,4 in 5 min
5-29 One Hand Deadlift 185 x 3 singles
5-30 BB Deadlift 425 x 1
Here’s the analysis. Looking at this you can see the weight used waving up and down. Though my goal is to pull more for a single, just cause that’s what I want to do, I’m not only doing singles. Nor am I doing 5×5 or high reps or any consistent rep scheme. I’m simply following what works for me that day.
If it’s a lighter weight I do more reps. If its heavier I do less. But at no time am I going all out. I could probably gut out double the numbers on those higher reps sets if I wanted to. I could also probably have gone higher when I maxed each time, but I’m happy with what I got.
You’ll also notice the variety of movements. I go for the barbell deadlift when it tests well as that’s my current goal. Sometimes variations will test better like doing a partial or using the trap bar where I can handle more weight. (My best ever with the trap bar was 435 but I’m guessing the next time I max it’ll be way up.)
Then there’s the frequency of my deadlifts. Looking over it I’m usually doing some form of deadlifts 2 or 3 times a week, though again there is no consistent pattern. I can do it this often because I’m never even close to burning out. There was no week off before this max. And there is no week off or de-load program. I’ll just be following the same “program” until the next max.
Deadlifts are going really well right now. So are my other exercise, though having done this analysis I see some directions I can test in, and work with that may make progress even faster.
How’s your progress?
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. It looks like the DVD’s that show you how to do all this and more still are available but in short supply. All I’m saying is you should try biofeedback training out. If it doesn’t work for you fine, give it up and go back to what you were doing. But if it does work, just imagine where it can take you. I’m making faster progress, easier than ever before and feeling great doing it. You can join me…
My bonus is still available for anyone who orders and forward me their receipt.
Filed under Barbells and Dumbbells, Bio Feedback, Lifting Technique, Recovery, Workouts by on Jun 2nd, 2010. 2 Comments.
Just finished a new article that covers the power rack and partials. One of my newest training tools and training methods.
Read it and then start doing it.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Barbells and Dumbbells, Partials by on Apr 30th, 2010. Comment.
Some all new Feats of Strength have been added to the index. While there is more to be added every single one listed on that page has been filled out to some degree.
Weight Supports
In strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Feats of Strength by on Apr 5th, 2010. Comment.
I just moved into a new house. It’s great. Tons of room and space for everything.
This picture here is of my temporary gym…if you can call it that. Really its just all my weights and tools piled in a place that’s kind of out of the way.
My Temporary Gym
In order to get the setup I desire and to avoid the elements (I hear there’s suppose to be thunderstorms here tonight) I’ll have to do some construction.
There’s two points to this. The first is that in no way am I going to wait for that time to train. Even if I had no weights I could get the job done just using my own body. Even if I didn’t have a large gym or yard to train in. For a long time I trained in my bedroom in a few square feet of space. You can’t let any excuse get in your way.
But the second point is contrary to the first. My goal is to become one of the strongest people in the world. I’ve never stated that in exact terms here but if you’ve been following me for awhile you may have guessed as much.
In order for that goal to come true, I must train not only hard but effectively. To do the best job I need certain tools. For example to build incredible brute strength, I plan on adding heavy partials to my training. For that I need a power rack and am therefore getting one soon. I want the BEST setup I can possibly have. If a single tool or technique can help me reach my goals better or faster it would be stupid of me not to obtain it.
If you have a goal you need to do certain things in order to reach it.
Another goal of mine is to grow my business. So another thing my new house has is a dedicated room for my office. To use a colloquial term, by pimping out my office this will allow me to further increase my productivity and get more done. I’m talking about a second desk for more workspace, a second computer monitor for more digital workspace, and a huge whiteboard wall for mapping out projects.
Just like before, I certainly didn’t start this way. I started my websites with a small laptop (running out of my bedroom again) on a wireless connection “borrowed” from a neighbor.
You can’t let anything stand in your way. But once you get going you owe it to yourself to give yourself everything you want and desire in order to reach your goals.
Do you agree with me? What are your goals that you can rearrange your life for? Comment below.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. I’ll be doing my first workout in this new house in just a bit. I know it’ll be a good one.
Filed under Barbells and Dumbbells, Bodyweight Exercise by on Mar 3rd, 2010. 12 Comments.
