ALBOB said:
What kind of weights are you using for squats and deads?
I don't ask that as a sign of disrespect, but it does make a difference. If I'm using anywhere near my max for squats and/or deads, it's not very likely I'm going to get the full effect of both if I try to do them both on the same day.
Look, I'm not saying it can't be done. As a matter of fact, I did it when I first started lifting. I found, and most others have found, that it's very difficult to get the full benefit of BOTH exercises if you try to do them in the same session. Anyone able to do a max squat routine and a max deadlift routine in the same workout is an animal that 90+% of the lifting world would be jealous of.
I did have a recent discussion about this, but, even though I agree with you, I believe the opposition has some valid points.
-Take a look at powerlifting competitions - they certainly do max attempts with the three big lifts on the same day.
-Take a look at olympic lifters - they put C&Js, snatches and front squats all in the same workouts and use very heavy weights.
-Many people are able to successfully do this on a regular basis while seeing some kind of progress.
Of course, I have things to say about each of those points. First, there is typically a very long range of time between two different exercises for any one person in a powerlifting event (depending on how large it is, how it's organized, etc). Second, olympic lifters are terrible examples because they're the most elite lifters in the world - if they couldn't handle the workouts, they wouldn't be competing. To the last example, yes, certain people are capable of doing it. But are they using heavy weights? What are their RIs? Their ROMs? Their goals, supplements, etc?
Personally, I feel like separating the lifts has more support than putting them together. Think of Westside. They don't even do squats and deadlifts in the same week (heavy) as far as I know, nonetheless the same workout, and if Westside can't be considered a powerlifting authority, who can? I realize it's not the only authority, but you can't argue with the results it's produced. If putting the lifts on the same day were better, wouldn't Simmons have done that? I certainly think he has at least tried it in all his years of coaching and that he's found better results with separate days. Why else would the program be how it is?
In conclusion, yes, some people are probably fully capable of putting two extremely like movements in the same day with high intensity, decent RIs, full ROMs and are able to do it all naturally. But just because it's possible doesn't mean everyone is going to be successful in doing it, and I prefer to separate those lifts. I'm sure someone's going to get unnecessarily angry about this post, as is usually the case, but that's okay. It's simply a friendly discussion in my eyes and I'm interested in hearing everyone's points.
