In defence of Starting Strength
Came a question from a reader: === Hey Phil, I’ve been watching more of Rips videos for guidance on form etc (thanks for the tip). I recently read his ‘starting strength’ program and theory – it seems super (maybe overly?) simple, and his whole ‘do sets of 5, add weight every session’ philosophy doesn’t align […]
How chasing the strength to lift a house can make you look worse
Many years ago, when my self-worth was still intrinsically linked to how much I could squat, I was fortunate enough to receive a reality check from the late, great Don Styler. We got to talking about training when I asked him what his best ever squat was. His response? “Oh, about 400lbs” (That’s 180kg or […]
When to avoid maximal lifting
As fun as it is to slap a bunch of plates on the bar and see how strong you really are, there are occasions when doing so is Very Stupid. Behold some examples: * You’ve got pain in one or more joints or muscles (even those not directly involved in the lift you’re looking to […]
Nasty habit even I cannot fully vanquish
Nasty habit I used to have was basing my weights on what I’ve since called an “aspirational max”. An “aspirational max” is a figure I’ve pulled out of my backside, based on either what I think I should be able to lift or an actual lift I’ve made at some point in the dim and […]
Shoulder-related musings
Something that has long baffled me is why so many pay so little attention to their shoulders. To illustrate the point, a common split I’ve encountered over the years goes: A) Chest and Triceps, B) Back and Biceps C) Legs and Shoulders Another, equally egregious example: A) Chest and shoulders B) Back C) Legs D) […]
How not to lose new personal bets within weeks of setting them
One valid concern about following any sort of “peaking” or “specialisation” routine is loss of strength, muscularity, cardiorespiratory fitness or any other hard-won result that is not the specific focus of the programme. Even weight gain is a worry, particularly when pursuing new one rep maxes in the core lifts. As I said, it’s a […]
Strange squat variation with tremendous “real world” carryover
“I don’t do Zercher squats because I’m not in prison” So remarked strength training legend Jim Wendler (I’m not sure of the original source of the quote, but I am certain it was him who said it – according to Google it’s in one of his books). His is a fair comment considering that conventional […]
Potentially why nothing you try works
If you’re interested in getting stronger and more in shape, you’re going to have to put more weight on the bar at some point. Woah. Truly, a profound revelation. I jest… I jest… … kinda. Because, when you train in the same place for long enough, you will notice the vast majority of people around […]
How to set a suite of new PRs in the next six weeks
All you need to do is follow the programme in my short eBook called “The Six Week Peak”. Nothing is guaranteed, of course, and any PRs you do set are unlikely to be world-shattering (you’ll shoot for 2.5kg, maybe a smidgen more if you are truly ready to try). But the advantages of “little wins” […]
How to build up your baseline
A common misconception is that “extreme” training regimes don’t work. Quite the contrary, they do. As a matter of fact, they can work exceptionally well in certain cases. To wit, it’s perfectly possible to get significantly leaner, stronger, more muscular, or even some combination of the three in as little as 8-12 weeks. But… You’ll […]