Hi everybody!
First of, I'm Francesco from Vergato (Province of Bologna), IT. I like to write. A LOT. I remember the good old Sherdog Forum days... Ah, good times... So don't be surprised or, even worse, angry with me, please! Also, my english is far, FAR from perfect.
I think it's only fair to introduce my story with kettlebells in general and Simple&Sinister in particular: I started self-taught kettlebell training in late 2013, a few months after dropping out of Martial Art practice which I had been doing consistently for four years, because I was bored to death by dumbells and "regular" training. I purchased my first 16 kg bell and started swinging after self-teaching myself how to. Around April 2014 I made the huge mistake of speeding up things and buying a second bell: this led to also thinking ahead of my body capabilities (which are STILL very modest) and trying things I was million years far from ready to do, and consequentially completely shut down training all at once. From this time (around June 2014 which coincided with my 30th birthday) to September 2015, I did absolutely nothing to keep up with the what I call “The 30 Years Old Syndrome”. I noticed that I happily never gave a dime about what my uncle (a lifetime amateur athlete with many marathons under his belt and still able to kick my butt) who always worried about “health after thirties”, but I should have. I gained weight, was always fatigued and looked worst than ever: I had to do something. I dusted off my kettlebells, got into more serious, always self-taught training and sky rocketed my body composition back to acceptable. Around February 2016 I ordered a 24 kg bell and got to know it. I’ve been suffering from scoliosis since a was a kid, so, while I was able to keep a 16 kg in place, I thought it would be advisable to contact a school friend of mine which is an SFG II and SFL certified coach (along with many, MANY other certs that touch almost every aspect of physical training) and receive training (Let me brag for a moment and tell you he was surprised by my technique being always self taught!
)
It was a turning point. Alessandro COMPLETELY changed my way not only of training with kettlebells, but also the idea of getting results: I switched from the “I train to look good” mentality to the “I PRACTICE to get STRONG” one. He tweaked little things that had an impact so great on my lifts, I could hardly believe. I never, ever tried a TGU because in self training I found it very dangerous and was unaware of the shear quality of this movement and the billions benefits it carries over to almost every other exercise with kettlebells, but now it has grown to become my favorite lift. I’m now into my fourth week of Simple&Sinister, I’m able to maintain both the swing and TGU time requirement with the following progression: for the single hand swings (being my strongest and safer lift, I like to start on my weakest side, the left one) 1L/1R 16 kg X 3, 1L/1R 24 kg X 2 (I’d also like to point out that I have smaller than average hands and my 24 kg bell’s got a very thick handle that affects my swings, with the ones provided in my friend’s gym it becomes much easier - I ordered a pair), for the get ups 1R/1L X 1 16 kg, 1R/1L 24 kg X 1, 1R/1L 16 kg X 3.
The WTH effects are the:
1. Rapid strength gain - I really feel like my daily physical activities are getting easier by the day;
2. Moderate muscle hypertrophy - my body tones up as the get ups amass and the swing count keeps getting higher;
3. Moderate fat loss - this isn’t as nearly as quick as the one I was observing during my running protocol, still it’s here and visible.
4. Readiness after practice - one hour after practice I can still press (my weakest lift) decently.
5. Overall self awareness - I increasingly feel like I’m “in control” of my body and, for the first time ever in my life, I think I’m underestimating it;
6. Eating like a pig, without FEELING like a pig - as a good Italian as I am, this is by far the most incredible result: when I decide to “cheat” I can eat whatever I want in VERY large quantities and yet don’t feel the numbness I felt before discovering the Strong First method.
7. TGU performances - I was nothing less than amazed as I parked the bell after my first set of two 24 kg TGUs (which happened on Easter), considering I did the first one ever less than a month ago.
Told you I like to write.
Have a nice day!