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Kettlebell Why is S&S boring?

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there is a big difference between sticking with something despite it being boring and sticking with it because it is boring.
Brett Jones said it very well in IC

"do you deal with the “boredom” of doing the same exercises over and over and over?
First, I would say that results are not boring and that is what we are training for—results."
 
I think the true answer is that there is no magic program for everybody. I'm nostalgic for program minimum programs because it's how I was introduced to structured exercise. It took me a decade now to realize that.

I've always liked Steve Maxwell's outlook on this. Everything works - Machines, kettlebells, barbells and even your own bodyweight. It's about finding what fulfills you and finding what you can do consistently without harming yourself.
I quite enjoy the getups, it was the swings that didn't do it for me
Same. I always loved getups. I do the swings but they just don't make me feel as good or rejuvenated as getups.
 
If I had to choose between chasing an impossibly high bar that I might never reach, or setting it too low, I'd prefer the former.

A lot of the accomplishments I'm proud of were chasing something really hard.
I agree with you! It's good to set Big Hairy Audacious Goals, because it calibrates you in the right direction.

I'm speaking from my own experience. I started kettlebells too late in life.

I ran ROP for 6 months, all the way through and to the 36. Hit the wall. started getting nicked up. Did the 5 minute snatch test and maxed out on the 10 at 165. At 190 lb. could push press the 40 but never strict press, never close.

If the goal is the 48, it better be the all encompassing goal. Nothing else. No Giant, ROP, or anything. OP is a great contributor, but a program hopper.
 
I haven’t been doing resistance training all that long, but a hard lesson I’ve learnt is that boring works for me results wise.

I need a break now and then though, so I try to do blocks on one thing, then blocks of multiple movements.

I haven’t done S&S in a long time, but from doing a lot of just C&P, this morning I felt like trying a 28kg TGU, 24 has been my weight for a long time, and recently added them back in after my main work. It went up nicely.I’m sure that the months of doing boring same old C&P 3x a week made it possible.


I think peoples answers depend on where they’re at in their training. I had to have a break from Strong, which is purely C&P 3 x a week, and have been doing The wolf. After a long stretch of just C&P, doing multiple movements is exciting and new. I’ve got a few weeks to go and I’m starting to get excited about going back to purely C&Ping again haha.

If it works, I don’t care if it’s boring. But if the boredom gets too much, there’s plenty of other programs to do. I suppose my point is there’s benefits to some time spent doing simple boring programs, and you can mix it up when you finish.

Swings I haven’t done for a long time , I know they work and work well, I just prefer other movements. TGU I think work really well for me. Usually do lighter ones with a pause, just as loaded mobility, but sometimes going heavy just because I enjoy them heavy now and then.
 
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Couple more thoughts from me.
If it’s boring and you don’t like being bored, don’t do it. It’s *a* way not *the* way.
If it doesn’t meet your needs don’t do it, or add whatever you need to add so that it does meet your needs. I added some low rep grinds when I was working on timed simple, and after hitting that waypoint I started pursuing other things. (Partly because I don’t have any bell heavier than 32kg.)
 
I know I'm not the only one, but why do we find S&S boring? When I was doing the Giant I looked forward to the clean and press (push press). I never once found it boring. I looked forward to it. S&S on the other hand I dread doing it. I don't know why.
For me, simple and sinister has never been my thing I don’t know why I didn’t enjoy it….but I didn’t it felt
Like a chore…. I love quick and the dead though.
 
Couple more thoughts from me.
If it’s boring and you don’t like being bored, don’t do it. It’s *a* way not *the* way.
If it doesn’t meet your needs don’t do it, or add whatever you need to add so that it does meet your needs. I added some low rep grinds when I was working on timed simple, and after hitting that waypoint I started pursuing other things. (Partly because I don’t have any bell heavier than 32kg.)
Nothing is THE way. Many things are A way. Some things ARE NOT the way.
I liked DJ's Intervention bc it was written with big picture principles instead of being a specific program.

A --> B

"A" is where i realistically am now. "B" is the goal i want to achieve. "-->" is any sound program that will get me there. There are many reasonable roads so pick one that matches your preferences.

Bodybuilder with 500# squat needing to peak for a comp? Yeah, reaching Simple probable not that useful right now.

New, or returning, guy wanting to just get fit & eventally dominate all things KB but getting smoked by the 16kg? Might be a good choice.

Also short on time bc you're a busy working dad & cant make the gym? Sounds even better.

Also has a crazy life so something thats a routine means you don't have to think about it & you get a sense of peace? Perfect.

We all just need to look at our groceries, decide what we want for dinner and pick a proven recipe for it. It's okay that they're different.
 
It's funny you mentioned groceries. I started S&S about a year ago because I felt they had somehow gotten too heavy. Now they aren't anymore, S&S has worked for me
Many diverse examples of training improving life.
 
For me, simple and sinister has never been my thing I don’t know why I didn’t enjoy it….but I didn’t it felt
Like a chore…. I love quick and the dead though.

Personally, I put the blame on the 10 sets of swings.

10 sets of 1 exercise at a constant weight, for me, feels like a chore -- pretty much regardless of the exercise.

10 x 10 sets of squats being another example of drudgery.
 
By no means am I saying this program doesn't work. But...
I found it fun, for a few weeks, then I tried one of those snatch thingies, that's fun.
 
Personally, I put the blame on the 10 sets of swings.

10 sets of 1 exercise at a constant weight, for me, feels like a chore -- pretty much regardless of the exercise.

10 x 10 sets of squats being another example of drudgery.
I guess that could be the beauty of the program. For people just looking to get in shape and absolutely no workout experience, it's the perfect program.
But going to a group training session at the beach to enjoy to sunrise or a spin class with techno music is definitely alot more enjoyable than wrestling a cannonball in your garage.

All the above would be better served strength wise with S+S, but we can't discount the mental health benefits of sharing a sunrise and having a cute trainer being our only social interaction for the week.
 
For me, it's how can I get the most out of this thirty plus minutes?
I exclusively did S&S for 6 months, back when it first came out.
But since then, I usually shoot for 4 or 5 different exercises per training session.
I also tried Q&D and found that I did not like doing 4 sets of 5 reps every 30 seconds.
2 sets of 10 on the minute was fine. But after about 20 minutes, I'm ready to move on.
I'm 56 and I find keeping the total volume a little lower is easier to recover (less injuries), and also more enjoyable.

Al
 
I remember Jim Wendler saying that one of his clients said training was boring. Jim got him to start adding weight and after a week it wasn't so boring any more.

SS you are using the same weight and the same couple of exercises for a long period of time. Exactly the opposite of what Jim did to motivate that guy. So yeah, I can see why some people might say that.
 
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