WhiskyTango
Level 2 Valued Member
Just curious if anyone has read this book and what you took away from it. Thanks!!
No I haven't read it. I was just looking for something new to read and was curious. I have read Starting Strength and most of Pavels stuff. I am 50 and have let myself go the last few years. I was in excellent shape up until about 45. If you read my other post you will see that Anna suggested a program for my availability to barbells and a cage. I have started that program and feel good about it. I just love to read motivating stuff even if it does echo tried and true programming such as SS, SF, and S&S.@WhiskyTango Have you read it? Or thinking about reading it? What do you think about it? How do you think it compares to Easy Strength or the SFL programs? I'm personally biased against anything that defines limits or appeals to chronological age standards, so I wouldn't look at it, but I imagine this helps them market the book to the group they're trying to reach.
I have read it. It is a good read, and there are a lot of good insights for anybody who trains, or is, in the 40+ population (but especially 60+), and having a medical doctor advocate strength training is refreshing!
There is a huge bias for barbell training and Rip's programming, which is not surprising, as Doc John Sullivan and Andy Baker are Starting strength coaches.
As much a I agree with the training principles they present, I would be less strict on modalities and programming than they are in the book. They give examples that are compliant with their system. Fair enough. We can still see agree on principles and apply StrongFirst approach (with different programming, and less fixed on barbells).
That clarified, most of the conclusion are very consistent with what we preach at StrongFirst: the best thing people of a certain age can do to have a better life is to strength train. You have to be StrongFirst. Then, if you like it, you can also run and do other stuff. But take care of your strength first.
My personal experience has been that relaxed walking, which get my pulse to around 100, is plenty of cardio. By whatever measures I have - my ability to walk for an hour or more, blood pressure, body composition, blood work/profile, I'm healthy, and although I have lately added a little bit of running to my program, it's truly a little - about 1/4 mile, a few times a week, at a comfortable pace. I enjoy how running seems to "shake out" tightness in my shoulders, encourages my t-spine to loosen up a bit, and the like.My opinion is the cardio is no harm, 2-3x week LISS + 1-2 HIIT/power sessions up to 90% HRmax is good for everyone
I have no need for any interval/HIIT type of work - my pulse goes up plenty when I do a set of deadlifts, thank you.
@MikeTheBear, I don't exactly need cardio, either, that I can tell, anyway. All my numbers are good, my resting pulse is low - I'm not sure, other than something needed by a sport that I don't play, more cardio in any form would do me.If you've read our discussions about Kenneth Jay's Cardio Code then you should know why a high heart rate after strength training is not exactly "cardio."
No, we cannot, but I don't think we can say for sure just walking isn't enough. It's definitely something in the way of cardio, just below the MAF threshold but clearly also above a resting pace and, as such, I think it's safe to say it has benefit.Can we for sure say that those things don't have a big impact on your physiology and that for another person without that background "just" walking wouldn't be enough?
I have no need for any interval/HIIT type of work - my pulse goes up plenty when I do a set of deadlifts, thank you.
JMO.
-S-
Another area 'Barbell Prescription' does not address is the deload technique. 'Tactical Barbell' (a fantastic book- along with 'Ageless Athlete') cover 'deloads' in detail. Many 'older' or masters athletes greatly benefit from deload periods. I was surprised that this area was not covered in Barbell Prescription.