Whats the benefit of this exercise?

I (male, 40s, body weight in low 200 lbs.) have been doing a routine in which I simultaneously deadlift a pair of 80-85 lb. dumbells and hold them in the up position for 8-10 seconds (or, on accoasion, for as long as possible.) I plan to progress to using heavier weights.

What is the exact benefit of doing such an exercise? Is 8-10 seconds in the up position enough time to do any good? Would holding the weights for as long as possible be a more effective exercise?

Also, is there any advantage in bending the legs at the knee when lifting the weights versus keeping the legs straight?

Thanks for any feedback.

The farmer's walk is one of the great exercises. Pick up dbs and walk arround.

well, you're doing a variation of a deadlift with dumbbells. if you keep your knees straight rather than bent, you will hit your hamstrings a lot more, but will be able to use less weight.

as far as holding them, the longer you hold them, the more you work your grip (duh) and the more you work your upper body, mostly traps.

is it good? sure. beats nothing!

Most people doing the Farmer's Walk prefer to do it for longer than 8-10 seconds.

Try it also one dumbell at a time. As others have mentioned you may walk around instead of standing still, but working one side at a time will really give the sides of your midesction a good workout. One of my favorites is to take my 72 lb. kettlebell outside and walk all the way around the house with it, change hands, and repeat. At my body weight in the low-mid 150's, it's challenging. The kettlebell handle is thicker than that of an Olympic bar although not by that much.

I pick up the weights as I would do a deadlift - butt back and low, head up, lift with the legs while keeping the back arched inward, etc.

I'm wondering if performing the kind of lift I described (pick up a pair of dumbbells and hold while standing for about 10 seconds) has a whole-body ('wholistic'?) benefit in which lots of different muscles throughout the upper and lower body are recruited and developed. Anyone have any comments on this?

this?

indeed

it's a deadlift followed by a farmer's ..er..'stand'

very much whole body workout type thing

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Enormously fast gains can be made in this area. Hold two very heavy dumbbells while lying supine to achieve very similar benefits; the contact with the floor spreads the load evenly throughout the entire body musculature, giving a whole body workout. Turn to the prone position to similarly exercise the other half of the body. Remember to hold dumbbells firmly in order to transmit effort evenly throughout the body. Add extra weight as soon as you feel able - which should be quite soon.

Chewing gum at the same time exercises the much neglected jaw muscles.

John www.fitnwell.net

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