Thanksgiving Q&A - #442

<div> <div>Matt Reynolds, Niki Sims, and CJ Gotcher join up to answer your lifting and lifestyle questions. They cover wrist wraps and wrist straps for deadlifting, upper body pulling exercises for novices, BJJ, hiking & rucking, stuffing or dressing, and more in this fun but informative holiday Q&A.<br /> <strong><br /> Wrist Wraps & Lifting Straps for Deadlifts<br /></strong></div> <div>If you're having wrist issues, don't hesitate to use wrist wraps for your lifts. <a href="https://youtu.be/nwLqZLbvtoI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wrist wraps</a> for deadlifts, however, should not really help.</div> <div><br /> During the deadlift your wrists are in tension, not compression. Use the wrist wraps on all your lifts where your wrists are in compression, even the squat.<br /> <br /></div> <div><a href="https://youtu.be/BEkC01Mn1K0" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noreferrer">Lifting straps</a>, however, are fine if you're having grip issues.<br /> <br /></div> <div><strong>Upper Body Pulling Exercises for Novices<br /></strong></div> <div>Our <a href="https://youtu.be/34LJX-arUo8" target= "_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Best Exercises for Strength video</a> discusses the main 4 lifts to get stronger. We still stand by this.<br /> <br /></div> <div>Lifters, however, add some type of upper body pulling exercise early on as a lifter, some adding them as they begin their novice program. It partly depends on their goals and current situation.<br /> <br /></div> <div>Some people may really want to get their first bodyweight pull-up. There is no reason to weight, and this may be a good situation to have a lifter move to a 4-day split routine as a novice.<br /> <br /></div> <div>Others may be in the military or a similar situation, and may need to maintain or improve their chin-up or pull-up performance.<br /> <br /></div> <div>Others, however, may be true beginners with little to no experience in the gym. Focusing on the main four lifts for them is enough. As they get stronger and their technique improves,