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Over 40? How to "let go" of your PAST accomplishments so you can succeed TODAY?

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1- Restore your joint health  https://go.chasingstrength.com/sore-joint-solution-e/ 2- Swing programming to increase VO2max (and also burn body fat) https://salutis.kartra.com/page/SWING-HARD-2 3- Snatch programming for hitting Snatch Tests  https://cart.chasingstrength.com/ksk2 4- Total body strength & conditioning  https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-maximorum-e/ 5- All of the above, while stripping off unwanted body fat  https://go.chasingstrength.com/burn-sa3/ Many of us guys live in the “used to coulds" or “back in the day.” When we think of who we are, we’re the guy who “back in the day” “used to” [insert whatever physical pinnacle you reached]. And for some, if not many, it becomes hard to get or stay motivated when it seems we’ve fallen so far from what we used to be - who we once were. It can be a painful reminder. Know what I mean? For example, a little over 25 years ago - a literal lifetime ago - I qualified for the USA Weightlifting National Cha...

How much rest and how many reps is “Optimal” for “MAX GAINZ!”...?

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“Done-For-You” Clean + Press Program: https://salutis.kartra.com/page/oWP219 “Done-For-You” Clean + Press, Front Squat, & Snatch Program: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iC1c5rQw-8peRsy-6Wj3QDSFSq3m89LU-vuVM5uvb9o/ How much should you rest between sets? How many reps are enough? These are questions I routinely get in my email inbox. And here’s the simplest answer I can give you: The higher the load or effort relative to your repetition maximum (RM) - regardless of what it is, the more you should / will need to rest between sets and the less reps you’ll be able to do per set. “Yeah, but is EMOM good?” “And how many sets should I get in a workout?” Again, see the bold print above. Said differently:  The general rule of thumb is, the lighter the weight relative to your maximum, the more reps you’ll be able to do per training session, and the less you’ll need to rest between sets. This is why I generally recommend two different training RMs for people: 4-5RM = Pure Strength 10R...

Hard vs. Smart Workouts vs. Hard AND Smart Workouts… ?

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I’ve put 20 of my best Double Kettlebell Complex PROGRAMS (NOT workouts) in here. https://cart.chasingstrength.com/hard3b Do you remember the hardest workout you’ve ever done? I’m not sure I do, but here was one, circa 1996: 10 sets of 10 reps with the Barbell Back Squat - yup, good ol’ GVT - German Volume Training. Instead of the prescribed 60 seconds of rest between sets, I took a luxurious 2 whole minutes because 60 seconds of rest between sets of 10 at 60% of your 1RM sounded like pure insanity. So, I put 60% - 315lbs - on the bar and hacked away. I got through 6 sets before my legs started to seize up. So I did what any self-professed meathead would do: Drop to 275 for the 2 sets - sets 7 and 8. “Shockingly” the same thing happened. So I finished my last two sets using 225lb. Predictably - or hindsight being 20/20: I could barely walk for about 3 days Getting in and out of chairs made me clench my teeth My legs were sore TO THE TOUCH for about the same tired period It took me a fu...

How to add Squats to your kettlebell workouts if you have “Issues”?

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1- Take These Core Stability Tests: https://salutis.kartra.com/page/DgM583 2- Rebuild Your Core Strength – Systematic Core Stability and Core Strength Work https://salutis.kartra.com/page/systematic-core-training 3- How To Perform, Troubleshoot, and Master the Goblet Squat (Goblet Squat programming included) https://salutis.kartra.com/page/BIG-6-w-bonus 4- How To Perform, Troubleshoot, and Master the Double Front Squat (Can program the Double Front Squat using the main program provided) https://salutis.kartra.com/page/strong-ts How to add Squats to your kettlebell workouts if you have “Issues”? … Lower back issues? Or hip issues? Or knee issues? I’ve had all 3 at one point or another over the last 35 years so I empathize if you fall into this category. I’ve also overcome each of them. (Thankfully!) So, when “Z” emailed me and asked the following, I thought my response would be helpful to you too. “Hello Geoff, Thanks again for all your great work. I'm currently following the Giant ...

Kettlebell FOMO…? (“I'm usually sore in other areas than my shoulders.”)

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Single Kettlebell Technique Mastery - Use ‘THE BIG 6’ for singles here. https://salutis.kartra.com/page/BIG-6-w-bonus Double Kettlebell Technique Mastery - Use Kettlebell STRONG! for doubles here.   https://salutis.kartra.com/page/strong-ts Both come with multiple training programs so that you can implement what you learn immediately. If you want a single KB exercise program that has a lot of variety because you just like variety, this one will do the trick. It pulls off fat and makes you stronger at the same time. https://go.chasingstrength.com/burn-sa3   And if you want more than “just” Clean + Presses or “just” Snatches… This program uses the Double Clean, Double Press, Double Front Squat, and Single Snatch. https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-maximorum-e And if you like feeling like you’ve been beaten all over by a 2 by 4 after your training sessions, this set of programs is right up your alley. ;-)  https://cart.chasingstrength.com/hard3b   I’m not su...

Which Is BETTER - 2 Days vs. 3 days a Week to Train a Lift?

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Here’s a 3-day/week double KB program built off “Specialized Variety” https://salutis.kartra.com/page/giant-x Here’s a 3-day/week single KB program that has LOTS of variety in it https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-burn/ Here’s a 4-day/week single & double KB program that uses the “Light-Heavy” split https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-maximorum-e/ Here’s a 5-day/week single and double KB program that takes your from “easy” to “hard” over the course of one year  https://salutis.kartra.com/page/Iyq450 Which Is BETTER - 2 Days vs. 3 days a Week to Train a Lift? Ever wonder how often to train a lift? There’s a good post about this over on the StrongFirst forum. Essentially, the OP wondered if training a lift 2x a week is better than 3x a lift. And that’s because, due to life’s circumstances, he got mentally burned out from training a lift 3x a week.  Well, that’s certainly one of the reasons why to switch from 3x a week to 2x a week - mental fatigue.  For som...

What about the chest?

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- Restore Your Shoulder Function:  https://go.chasingstrength.com/sjs-e-shoulder/ - Kettlebell & Bodyweight Program Using Parallel Dips to Build Your Chest  https://go.chasingstrength.com/rebuilt-after-40/   Growing up, THE “Manhood Test” Lift was always the Bench Press. “How much ya bench?” was a common question. It's even part of our common "meathead" vernacular. The Bench Press is pretty good at building up your chest (the pecs). It’s also good at destroying shoulders if you use it too much (along with one gajillion Push Ups). Worse, (maybe?) is when you do too much chest work and you look like you have a pair of breasts. ( True story: One of my old friends took his shirt off, and my jaw almost hit the ground because he’d done so much chest work, he literally looked like he had a pair of breasts.) But, kettlebell work? Not so much. But because we’ve been so conditioned by bodybuilding, we think we need to always train the chest. Hence, this email Chris from German...