I had a subscriber ask this question:
"Is it possible to build strength, put on muscle and burn off fat if I don't have a power rack and I only have access to a barbell? Not even an Olympic barbell, but one of those old crappy cement filled barbell sets"
I know exactly the weights this guy is talking about. I think most of us grew up with them right? They were basically cement weights covered in plastic, and over time the plastic busted up and the cement started to get busted underneath remember?
I believe I'm showing my age :)
To cut a long story short...
YES! You can build strength and power with archaic equipment!
You just need somebody to teach you exactly how. Fortunately you met me. And thank heavens I just read a large amount of Dan John's awe-inspiring "From the Ground Up".
In this excellent little ebook Dan John describes the "Rapid Ascent Program", which consists of three exercises:
1. Pull Move
2. Push Press
3. Front Squat/Press
And here's how you did the program (from his book):
"The program was very simple. First, groups of four boys were given a bar. The bars were weighted from very lightmaybe 25 poundsup to perhaps close to 100 pounds. Each cohort of boys would lift one at a time, put the bar down, then the next boy would lift. The four would constantly move from lifter to watcherthe bar never stopped. The three sets (explained in just a moment) would not take very longin fact, sometimes it was hard to catch your breath in time for your next set.
The reps were very simple:
* First set: 8 repetitions
* Set Number 2 -- 6 repetitions
* Third set: 4 repetitions
The goal was easy: as soon as you got the entire 18 repetitions (8+6+4), you added weight. If you started with a bar that was extremely light, the subsequent workout, you would be bumped up to the next weight and a stronger group. (For sure, actual variations could include making a whole new group with more weight, tooor all that necessary to make the group work together)."
Sounds simple doesn't it?
That's the beauty of this program!
You don't need lots of equipment to build a hard body with muscles of steel... all while increasing your cardiovascular fitness and knocking out fat.
What you DO need is a little "do or die" point of view. You should make a decision you certainly WANT to attain your fitness goals, then you'll find a way to make use of whatever equipment you have available to make it happen.
I love program in view of the fact that it follows the DoubleYourGains' philosophy of training movement patterns rather than a bunch of exercises. The Rapid Ascent program has a press move (military press), a pull move (power clean), a squat move (front squat) and an explosive/hamstring move (power clean).
How to carry out the "Rapid Ascent" program for cardio and fat loss:
Coach Dan emphasizes that you could also obtain a great cardio workout and knockout some fat:
"To "hurry up" the trainingas if it was required, there were times when Mr. Freeman advised bringing together the Power Clean and Military Pressesone clean and one press, repeated for a total of eight reps. This was completed with a lighter weight. One could also execute the Front Squats after the clean and presses, too. I have only done this onceand it was an incredible cardiovascular exercise."
Thus if you think you don't have a sufficient equipment to get into top shape and attain your fitness goals you are erroneous. You are erroneous. You are erroneous.
In fact, you don't even need a barbell. You can get underway with the DoubleYourGains' bodyweight program. You can do pullups on your door frame (for extra strong fingers) or just grab the top of a door and go to town (or a tree limb, anything you can hang from, etc) Have faith in me, if THAT workout gets easy for you - you will be a certified STUD.
Then, once you get access to a good Olympic barbell set you can start the DoubleYourGains' 3-5 Program. - 16083
"Is it possible to build strength, put on muscle and burn off fat if I don't have a power rack and I only have access to a barbell? Not even an Olympic barbell, but one of those old crappy cement filled barbell sets"
I know exactly the weights this guy is talking about. I think most of us grew up with them right? They were basically cement weights covered in plastic, and over time the plastic busted up and the cement started to get busted underneath remember?
I believe I'm showing my age :)
To cut a long story short...
YES! You can build strength and power with archaic equipment!
You just need somebody to teach you exactly how. Fortunately you met me. And thank heavens I just read a large amount of Dan John's awe-inspiring "From the Ground Up".
In this excellent little ebook Dan John describes the "Rapid Ascent Program", which consists of three exercises:
1. Pull Move
2. Push Press
3. Front Squat/Press
And here's how you did the program (from his book):
"The program was very simple. First, groups of four boys were given a bar. The bars were weighted from very lightmaybe 25 poundsup to perhaps close to 100 pounds. Each cohort of boys would lift one at a time, put the bar down, then the next boy would lift. The four would constantly move from lifter to watcherthe bar never stopped. The three sets (explained in just a moment) would not take very longin fact, sometimes it was hard to catch your breath in time for your next set.
The reps were very simple:
* First set: 8 repetitions
* Set Number 2 -- 6 repetitions
* Third set: 4 repetitions
The goal was easy: as soon as you got the entire 18 repetitions (8+6+4), you added weight. If you started with a bar that was extremely light, the subsequent workout, you would be bumped up to the next weight and a stronger group. (For sure, actual variations could include making a whole new group with more weight, tooor all that necessary to make the group work together)."
Sounds simple doesn't it?
That's the beauty of this program!
You don't need lots of equipment to build a hard body with muscles of steel... all while increasing your cardiovascular fitness and knocking out fat.
What you DO need is a little "do or die" point of view. You should make a decision you certainly WANT to attain your fitness goals, then you'll find a way to make use of whatever equipment you have available to make it happen.
I love program in view of the fact that it follows the DoubleYourGains' philosophy of training movement patterns rather than a bunch of exercises. The Rapid Ascent program has a press move (military press), a pull move (power clean), a squat move (front squat) and an explosive/hamstring move (power clean).
How to carry out the "Rapid Ascent" program for cardio and fat loss:
Coach Dan emphasizes that you could also obtain a great cardio workout and knockout some fat:
"To "hurry up" the trainingas if it was required, there were times when Mr. Freeman advised bringing together the Power Clean and Military Pressesone clean and one press, repeated for a total of eight reps. This was completed with a lighter weight. One could also execute the Front Squats after the clean and presses, too. I have only done this onceand it was an incredible cardiovascular exercise."
Thus if you think you don't have a sufficient equipment to get into top shape and attain your fitness goals you are erroneous. You are erroneous. You are erroneous.
In fact, you don't even need a barbell. You can get underway with the DoubleYourGains' bodyweight program. You can do pullups on your door frame (for extra strong fingers) or just grab the top of a door and go to town (or a tree limb, anything you can hang from, etc) Have faith in me, if THAT workout gets easy for you - you will be a certified STUD.
Then, once you get access to a good Olympic barbell set you can start the DoubleYourGains' 3-5 Program. - 16083
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