Jon_Frost
Level 5 Valued Member
It always makes me smile when Pavel, or anyone else for that matter, put out a program that gets rave reviews then everyone wants to know how they can change it. The reply is always "follow as written". I'm not a parent, but I remember so vividly my parents telling me to do something, then me wanting to do it differently. I bring this up because I fall into that category. I have been using kettlebells from pretty much the beginning when Pavel first brought them back onto the scene. I have purchased every book, video, or dvd that Pavel has produced with the exception of "Beyond Bodybuilding". I consider him my strength, conditioning, and flexibility guru. Yet, I cannot say I have ever really followed a program to the letter. Or really at all. I like to do snatches, love to do C&J's, hate swings. Not surprisingly I really haven't accomplished anything impressive in the last 12 or more years I've been training with kettlebells. Enter S&S. At 41, 6'2" and a whopping 148lbs I decided I would follow S&S to the letter until I reach the "Sinister" goals. And that's what I am doing. I'm only about 3 weeks in, but I have not yet missed a training session (something I always did before) and am seeing the results already. I started with the 16 for a week, went to the 20kg for a week, and am now using the 24kg. I am seeing a difference in my physique, and have somehow added about 3 or 4 lbs to my frame! I am learning to enjoy swings, which I always hated, and am loving the get up, which I always avoided thinking it wouldn't deliver. Shame it took me sooooo many years to really understand that I don't know more than Pavel, or anyone else when it comes to kettlebell training. I am excited because I truly believe that I will someday be strong enough to do 100 swings and 10 get ups with a 48kg bell. That will be plenty strong for this guy. But I am committed to following the program "as written" to get the results "as written". As much as I want to do pull ups, dips, and presses, I am avoiding them. Simply because they do not fit into my current plan. While some may see the program as limiting or constricting, I find it incredibly liberating. I no longer have to try and plan my workouts. It's all done, and it's always the same. And they are short enough that it's not tedious, it's a "recharge" that I actually look forward to. My point is this, to all of us that want to change or add something to a program that we couldn't possibly have given enough time to know if it works or not, don't! Just follow "as written" until you accomplish something. Then move on, or look for something else. So often I switch a program without accomplishing anything. What's the point? A focused approach as delivered in S&S is, for me, brilliant. I guess I just wasn't ready to listen before
Jon
Jon