"big" exercises at what point in workout

pwd

By big exercises, I mean deadlifts and squats specifically, and compound lifts in general.
Is it better to do big exercises at the beginning of a workout, so you can put the most effort into them
Or is it better to leave them until the end so you have enough strength left to do other exercises properly.
If you are drinking a pwo drink, does doing the most intnse exercise at the end make it more effective?

I tend to train enthusiastically for a couple of months at a time and then stop.
I'm at the start of one of my enthusiastic periods now.
Last time I trained I did the big exercises at the start. I found that with deadlifts I was too ****ed to train very hard after doing them - especially finding that my grip was too tired to do much. So my upper back didn't develop as well as it might have, since I scheduled the exercises for it after deadlifts in the same workout.

Dragan

Do them first. The benefit of a good session of squatting, deadlifting, benching etc is hard to replicate with other movements.

Compound movements are respected for a reason, they make you big and strong if you put the effort in.

As for energy, maybe look at changing your diet and including more carbs in the meal before you train?

rubadub

I think I saw squats recommended at the start since they kick start your growth hormones or something, then all the other exercises benefit from this.

Colm_OReilly

What other exercises are you doing?

Defo agree with Dragan on this one - the major exercises are the primary workout, the others are just desert.

pwd

same day as deadlift: assited wide grip pullup, rowing motion, a machine that doubles as a pec dec that works the back of the shoulders, biceps curl, improvised grip training like hanging from a chinup bar with hands half-open.

Same day as squat: hamstring curl, leg extension, slow seated calf raise, outer hip machine.

Same day as bench: chest pulleys (forgotten the proper name), pec dec, triceps extension, dips, shoulder raise (raising dumbells away sideways), abdominal exercises

Find if I do deadlift first, that my grip is too tired for using as heavy weights as I'd like for the rowing motion and chinup.

I do 5 sets of 6 on most exercises. Do more reps with the calves.

Colm_OReilly

Dude,

Unless you're a competitive bodybuilder and you need to work out your proportions for the next season, give up a lot of that crap.

Lift heavier on the deadlifts and squats. Add in standing presses, push presses, push jerks and a mix of the Oly Lifts (Power Cleans, Hang Cleans, Muscle Snatches, Snatch Balances) Mix up the Squat (Overhead, front, back)

You could do weighted Pull ups, weighted dips, ring dips, muscle ups (if you have somewhere to hang rings I'd advise getting them - they're awesome!)

Skip, row, bike, run.

All these things will work out healthier for you, and get you closer to a 300 style body than calf raises and tricep kickbacks.

I'm glad to see you're doing the major lifts, but there's more than enough variety in the functional lifts to keep you happy and occupied.

All the best,
Colm