In his office and on his weekly radio show, James Sorrell, M.D., helps people tackle heavy issues. In the gym, the UNMC assistant professor of psychiatry tackles heavy weights.
A recent Friday afternoon found Dr. Sorrell in Omaha’s Big Iron Gym positioned under a weight bar loaded with more than 400 pounds. His trainer, Becca Swanson, urged him to think “strong.” Moments later, with AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” blasting in the background, Dr. Sorrell placed the weight back on the racks after successfully “squatting” it.
For Dr. Sorrell, Friday is squat day. On other days of the week, he will do bench presses and deadlifts, the two other lifts that are done in competitive powerlifting.
 |
James Sorrell, M.D., squats more than 400 pounds during a recent workout at Omaha’s Big Iron Gym. Dr. Sorrell holds a world record for 181-pound males aged 45 to 49 with a 430 pound bench press. |
A former distance runner, Dr. Sorrell began powerlifting on a tip from Ira Fox, M.D., UNMC’s McLaughlin Professor of Surgery.
“I wanted to get rid of my gut and was thinking about trying different kinds of workouts,” said Dr. Sorrell, who hosts the radio show, “Sunday Night Shrink Rap,” on Omaha radio station KQCH-FM (94.1). “Ira urged me to try a workout with Becca, whom he had been working with.”
After a few workouts, he was hooked and a few months later he competed in his first powerlifting competition.
Now he is one of the top lifters at local, regional and national events. Dr. Sorrell holds the world record for bench press in the 181-pound weight class for 45 to 49 year olds with a 430-pound lift he completed at a meet in Baton Rouge, La., last year.
He recently bench pressed 460 pounds in a workout, which he said leaves him feeling very confident heading in the Amateur American Powerlifting Federation Nationals next month in Monroe, La.
Powerlifting lifts are fairly self explanatory — squats involve squatting down and then standing back up with a weighted bar; the bench press is performed with lifters lying on their backs, lowering the bar to their chests and then pressing it back up; and deadlifts are performed when lifters pick up weighted bars off the ground.
To go along with his 430-pound bench press, Dr. Sorrell has successfully completed a 551-pound squat and 430-pound deadlift in competition.
At some meets, the weight of each lifter’s heaviest successful squat, bench press and deadlift are added up to make the lifter’s total. The lifter with the highest total in his or her weight class wins. Other meets are lift specific, such as bench-press competitions.
While it sounds simple enough, learning how to get stronger safely takes help, Dr. Sorrell said.
His weekly workout regimen consists of four days of lifting with Swanson and Rick Hussey, who owns Big Iron Gym. In Swanson, who has several world powerlifting records herself — including a 551-pound bench press — Dr. Sorrell has arguably the strongest woman in the world as his trainer. (EDITOR’S NOTE: UNMC Today suggests not arguing with Becca Swanson.)
 |
Dr. Sorrell takes a minute to concentrate between exercises during a recent powerlifting workout. He will compete in the Amateur American Powerlifting Federation Nationals next month in Monroe, La. |
“I really enjoy the individual aspect of this sport. At some point it eventually becomes just about me and the weight,” he said. “But getting stronger also is a team effort. You need help to get strong without hurting yourself in the process.”
Dr. Sorrell’s basic goal in powerlifting is to stay in shape, but, he said, watching the weights pile up on the bar is pretty cool.
“The bench is my best lift and I think 500 pounds is doable in the near future,” he said. “My squat goal is 650 and I want to hit 500 on the deadlift as well. A 1,600-pound plus total would be a thrill at my age.”
Click here to go to a blog that allows readers to comment about this story.