The Road To A 600 LB Deadlift

As of late, I’ve received numerous inquiries as to what my individual goals are in
the weight room. It’s a fair point of curiosity when one considers the myriad of
stresses that are already present in my life. From running a results-oriented,
private strength and conditioning facility that caters to over 120 members locally
and tens of clients that live outside of the province, to employing a small,
passionate, growing group of driven coaches, to prioritizing self development
relative to my individual knowledge as a coach, it doesn’t seem like there would
be enough energy, let alone enough time to squeeze in anything else.

Although time is often a limiting factor in my world (and I’d be lying if I claimed to
not feel the incredible pressure of deadlines on a daily basis), by no means is it a
valid excuse to not prioritize my own physical development in the weight room.
I often consider one of my favourite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson which
states: “What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.” I
have adopted a true belief in this powerful statement and I strive to incorporate
this creed into the planning of my days. This allows me to make sincere choices
in leadership that go hand-in-hand with my roles as business owner, health
coach entrepreneur, and most importantly as a friend through consistent action –
through daily example.

Who would want to learn to get strong from someone who is physically weak?

Who would want to be coached on improved eating habits from someone who
regularly eats fast food and bonbons?

What sense does it make to expect from others, anything that I first wouldn’t
expect of myself?

Some might consider this to be an extreme approach, but it’s a moral code that I
live by and one that aligns well with my individual values.
To build off of this mindset as a coach, I frequently encourage our clients to focus
on long-term improvement and the importance of prioritizing measurable
progress in the weight room over time.

As I’ve begun to share some of my own training clips and insights into my own
individual workout sessions, curiosity has peaked and individuals have reached
out wondering what I am personally working towards. Recognizing that I am such
a firm believer in leading by example, it makes the most sense to also share with
clients what my personal aims are. Not wishing to appear boastful, my purpose in
sharing is to inspire and, to a degree, create a level of accountability that is
valuable (even to someone such as myself who holds others accountable day in
and day out)!

My current training goals centre primarily around the squat / deadlift / bench
press respectively.

These are the 3 lifts that I use to measure my strength output over time. I pivot
from these lifts and prioritize weak points, all while modifying training approaches
/ structure. Mixed in with the above regimen, I experiment with varying rep
ranges / schemes, training frequencies and exercise selection. Overall, I know
that I can come back to these lifts and determine if what I’m working on in the
gym is proving to be progressive or regressive simply by my ability to execute
these lifts with a greater load.

My previous bests in the gym were as follows:
Bench Press: 345 lbs. x 1 rep
Barbell Squat: 470 lbs. x 1 rep
Deadlift: 515 lbs. x 1 rep

My current aims are as follows:
Bench Press: 385 lbs. x 1 rep
Barbell Squat: 500 lbs. x 1 rep
Deadlift: 600 lbs. x 1 rep

I am projecting that the barbell squat will be the first of all the lifts to reach the
current aim of 500 lbs. x 1 rep. If all goes according to plan, it should take
approximately 6 months of training to successfully achieve. I surmise that the
bench press and deadlift will both take me to my 26 th birthday in July of 2020.
What is imperative to me is that I always consider longevity when training.
Although I might have the physical ability to rush progressions, hit PR’s (before
I’ve built a solid foundation of strength to confidently achieve them) and further,
to deviate from the plan to please my ego, I fully recognize that one of the best
ways to get really, really strong is to employ patient and methodical progressions
over time.

I personally aspire to have the ability to train hard and train heavy when I’m 90
years old. If that means taking an extra 4 months to achieve a new milestone,
that is perfectly acceptable to me!

Napoleon Hill states: “Patience, persistence and perspiration make an
unbeatable combination for success.” To that quote, allow me to add another
alliteration statement that covers my ‘modus operandi’ – ‘consistency and
commitment’. Now get out there and set your own goals, achieve your own
personal bests and with each measure of progress, take pride in the process!

Coach Ben