Former World’s Strongest Man winner Hafthor Bjornsson made a 595 lbs deadlift look nearly weightless. Despite suffering a horrific pec tear earlier this year, the former champion is back at it. Bjornsson required surgery after the injury, and it took him months to recover. However, the strongman is gradually returning to form. While every heavy lift is a calculated risk, the former boxer knows what he is doing.

The 34-year-old injured himself going all out during a powerlifting competition in his private gym. However, the strongman’s approach to strength training has changed. In his latest video, Bjornsson revealed why he risks injury as he gets back to his previous strength level and what he was doing to mitigate the risk.

The strongman chooses not to lift more weight

Hafthor Bjornsson uploaded some lifts from his exercise session in his latest Instagram post. “270kg (595lbs) beltless deficit deadlifts were on the menu today,” the strongman wrote in the caption. The 2018 WSM champion uploaded three videos of himself deadlifting a whopping 595 lbs. However, that number is nowhere near his 1104 lbs deadlift max.

While the pec tear derailed Bjornsson’s comeback, severely reducing his strength, his goal is to get back to lifting mind-bogglingly weights. Despite that, the strongman showed he could already lift much more weight if he desired. Yet, the strongman was aware that “going to failure every session is a great way to get injured.” So, the 34-year-old doesn’t want to risk another injury.

Bjornsson also revealed that lifting to failure during every session was a “terrible way to get strong.” Besides the deadlifts, the former boxer also uploaded two videos where he filmed himself performing weighted farmer’s walks. The exercise is a staple of strongman competitions and helps strengthen stabilizer muscles in the lower body. However, Bjornsson is taking an even more cautious approach toward upper body exercises.

No big bench press attempts for Hafthor Bjornsson

The former champion tore his pec during a max benchpress attempt. While he has recovered his full range of motion post-surgery, Bjornsson is taking no risks when it comes to upper body pressing movements. In fact, the strongman has avoided all heavy pressing movements that targeted the chest. Instead, he has focused on increasing the shoulder strength.

Read More | Fans Advise Hafþór Björnsson to Take It Easy on Training After Coming Out of Surgery as His Wife Calls Him Strongest Mother******

In his most recent update about upper-body exercises, the strongman lifted a 275 lbs log from three reps, a stark drop from the 440 lbs he used to lift in his prime. The 34-year-old has also trained his chest with light dumbbells post-surgery and avoided heavy barrel chest presses. What did you think about Bjornsson’s 545 lbs deadlift? Tell us in the comments.

Watch this story | From Young Age To Becoming A Beast; Bodybuilding Legend Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Insane Transformation