So you want to lift that heavy object...

We recently cut down a 50 year old tree at my camp. We all worked like busy little worker bees to get the debris cleaned up. The guys were able to chunk the big old trunk into manageable pieces but they are still quite heavy

I hear all the time people saying they "can't lift" something because they are afraid they will hurt their back. I also read and hear people give advice about lifting with their legs and not their back. While this is true, when I see people demonstrate how they lift, the mechanics are not quite right.

We are supposed to move. Our backs are supposed to bend. If we are strong enough we should be able to lift a heavy object without injuring ourselves...and yes, your back will bend a little.

Actually, it's more of a hip hinge than a 'back bend' but I tend to see people try to squat in fear of their back moving. Don't get me wrong, I think the squat pattern is an important one in life too and working to re-obtain the full ass to grass mobility we had as a toddler is great.  However, it isn't the most efficient way, from a basic physics standpoint, to lift something heavy. (Check out this Girls Gone Strong blog for ways to improve your squat).

Learning to hinge your hips, such as in a dead lifting pattern, can help you to maintain form and protect your back while lifting something heavy. In this video, Dr. Kathy Dooley demonstrates how to do a hip hinge and a way to practice it without weight. (PS..that kettle bell is 48 kg...or about 106 lbs.)

When in doubt, if you haven't been training, you haven't moved this way in a LONG time, and you can't push the object by yourself, grab a friend and get some help. Moving heavy stuff is always more fun when you have a workout partner 😃