90 Pounds In 4 Years?
Ah, yes...the good ol' days...when I could actually move significant amounts of weight.
I bought The Purposeful Primitive last weekend and have been transported back in time to a time when I trained, ate, slept, and occasionally went to class. Arguably college was the best time of my life training wise. I graduated high school in June of 1990 weighing approximately 165lbs. Just after Christmas break my senior year of college--February 1994, I weighed in at 252lbs. That's approximately 90lbs in 4 years. It's amazing what testosterone surging through a young male with plentiful food and little stress can do to physically transform a boy into a man.
Almost 15 years later, I weigh approximately 220lbs, and have been re-inspired by Marty Gallagher's magnum opus to train similarly to the way I did all those years ago. Only this time, I will use kettlebells. I'm sick and tired of hearing people say the kettlebell is a tool primarily used as a means to acquire strength-endurance.
Pish-posh.
Just because that's the way it's used in GS or the way you use it, doesn't mean I have to use it that way. You can do anything you want with a kettlebell. It's all in the size of the bell(s) and the loading parameters you choose. Nothing more. Nothing less.
I'm going to divert my training from the intent of my last post, and rebuild myself using Old School methods. I'll pry open my shoulders and hips to allow myself back under the bar and my intent is to pack on usable muscle--about 20lbs of it using only kettlebells over the next 12 weeks. As I said, it's all in the way you design the program. I believe the KB is superior in all ways to a dumbbell and in many ways to a barbell. It's the way the bell sits in the hand--it recruits more musculature.
I'll be on the platform once a week for a low volume Olympic lift and low volume barbell squat session.
The plan will look like this:
Tuesday: Day 1, KB
Thursday: Day 2, KB
Saturday: Day 3, KB
Sunday: Day 4, Olympic lifts
Just about all the work will be done on Days 1-3. Day 4 is just to keep a touch on the barbell and to measure progress.
This is a major change for my training as I haven't engaged in this particular style of training for 10 years--since summer of '98 and of course, I didn't have KBs then.
I think this will be a very valuable experiment as I've been lifting weights now for 19 years--and touched them 20 years ago. If I can make good gains on this program I'm putting together, anybody should be able to. The next 12 weeks will tell.
I forgot to mention, I started this program on the 1st of July. I've gained 4lbs since then. I'm on my way.
I bought The Purposeful Primitive last weekend and have been transported back in time to a time when I trained, ate, slept, and occasionally went to class. Arguably college was the best time of my life training wise. I graduated high school in June of 1990 weighing approximately 165lbs. Just after Christmas break my senior year of college--February 1994, I weighed in at 252lbs. That's approximately 90lbs in 4 years. It's amazing what testosterone surging through a young male with plentiful food and little stress can do to physically transform a boy into a man.
Almost 15 years later, I weigh approximately 220lbs, and have been re-inspired by Marty Gallagher's magnum opus to train similarly to the way I did all those years ago. Only this time, I will use kettlebells. I'm sick and tired of hearing people say the kettlebell is a tool primarily used as a means to acquire strength-endurance.
Pish-posh.
Just because that's the way it's used in GS or the way you use it, doesn't mean I have to use it that way. You can do anything you want with a kettlebell. It's all in the size of the bell(s) and the loading parameters you choose. Nothing more. Nothing less.
I'm going to divert my training from the intent of my last post, and rebuild myself using Old School methods. I'll pry open my shoulders and hips to allow myself back under the bar and my intent is to pack on usable muscle--about 20lbs of it using only kettlebells over the next 12 weeks. As I said, it's all in the way you design the program. I believe the KB is superior in all ways to a dumbbell and in many ways to a barbell. It's the way the bell sits in the hand--it recruits more musculature.
I'll be on the platform once a week for a low volume Olympic lift and low volume barbell squat session.
The plan will look like this:
Tuesday: Day 1, KB
Thursday: Day 2, KB
Saturday: Day 3, KB
Sunday: Day 4, Olympic lifts
Just about all the work will be done on Days 1-3. Day 4 is just to keep a touch on the barbell and to measure progress.
This is a major change for my training as I haven't engaged in this particular style of training for 10 years--since summer of '98 and of course, I didn't have KBs then.
I think this will be a very valuable experiment as I've been lifting weights now for 19 years--and touched them 20 years ago. If I can make good gains on this program I'm putting together, anybody should be able to. The next 12 weeks will tell.
I forgot to mention, I started this program on the 1st of July. I've gained 4lbs since then. I'm on my way.
posted by Geoff Neupert at
3:26 PM
7 Comments:
hey geoff great blog
do you think Ollie or Powerlifting is better for gaining a big vertical?
ive heard arguments from both ends.
which should i focus on if i play my sport regularly? (basketball)
ta
jon from DD forum
Jon--both and neither--it depends on your weaknesses. If your power is lacking, some Oly. If your strength is lacking, some powerlifting.
For you, being a basketball player, probably, and this is just a guess cause I haven't done any testing with you, deadlifts and squats for low reps, and high speed/overspeed KB swings will probably do the trick.
The key of course is to measure first.
Hope that helps.
yes!! pish-posh...hahaha!! kb's have done wonders for my strength!! i have gotten stronger across the board with a regimen of 80% kb's as my training!! i totally agree that kb's feed strength gains and not just endurance-strength!!! good stuff!! later, alan
One thing I found compelling throughout TPP is the amazing simplicity to all of the programs which moved these athletes to the top of their game.
It really made me rethink...well, everything.
See you in August,
BJ
Dude this might be the best program layout I have seen you do for yourself.
Regardless of the goals or results I think this will be good for you body.
Troy
Geoff, I'm living proof you can gain size and strength with nothing but a kettlebell and a will. It's the tool I have used 90% of the time for the last 5 years. Occasional Pullups and Push-ups in the mix...
Oh, I've gained 15 lbs of muscle in the last 3 months with just kettlebells. You'll blow through 20 lbs. You know how to eat!
Happy Growing!
Thanks for the update Geoff. Excited to hear how it going for ya!
Rock on
Mike N
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