500 lb Deadlift Over 50: Why I Chose UNODIR (The First Max Effort Log)

I was staring at the hex bar today—a chunk of iron I haven’t seriously loaded in months—and I had to pause. My long-term target is a 500 lb Deadlift Over 50 by mid-December, and today's first max effort benchmark is 350 lbs. The truth is, uncertainty makes the effort interesting. It’s a rush, but it's not a rush I trust. In my old life of detachment, the only certainty was chaos. Now, I fight for measurable certainty. The physical risk under the bar is preferable to the passive unknown I left behind under the bridge. The physical cost is high, but the mental cost of quitting is higher. It is firmly my belief that there is a lie in circulation about aging and what is possible to do athletically. For example in my 50's  I hex bar deadlifted 440 pds at a homeless shelter. This after never having deadlifted in my life. 

UNODIR: Granting Myself Permission to Work (The Internal Cure)

Gym culture hates people who film. The world loves people who ask permission. But I have a self-imposed acronym for this mission: UNODIR: Unless Otherwise Directed.

This isn't vanity. This is my internal pre-approval for action. I'm not filming for performance; I'm logging the work that funds my future. If someone gives me a capricious denial, I already have permission from the only authority that matters—the will to rebuild. This is the choice that separates the life of dependency from the life of purpose. This philosophy is the foundation of the Internal Cure I sought.

Why the Hex Bar is Non-Negotiable for Lifters Over 50

I'm 50 and fighting a COPD risk. I chose the hex bar not because it’s easy, but because it offers injury avoidance, which is paramount when you are no longer young. It lets me load heavy while minimizing stress on the lower back and reducing the sheer forces on the spine. My body is a work in progress, and the hex bar is the right tool for the repair job. It allows me to use a neutral grip and hit my quads and glutes hard, directly supporting my cardio goals from the daily bike commute.

Grit Economics: Creatine and the Scientific Investment

I trade plasma for cash to run this operation, so every supplement dollar is scrutinized. I put 20 grams of creatine in my morning green tea today. Why? Because Creatine is not a supplement; it’s a proven investment. It's one of the few compounds backed by serious study.

It's part of the honest transaction: high-impact effort supported by low-cost, scientifically proven tools. The brands I use are budget-friendly and linked below for my fellow budget rebuilders.

Conclusion and the Memorable Takeaway

I chose the hex bar, the camera, and the difficult road because luck is not a strategy when your life has high stakes. I choose to fight, even if I have to give myself permission to film the war. Call to Action: What is your UNODIR moment? Let me know in the comments below. Join the Rebuilding List to get the free Pagg Mindset Checklist!