Three Years Old

So, three years ago today, I was sitting at my computer, reading a friend's blog and thinking to myself that, "I could do this." So, I started punching away at the keys and three years later, surprisingly, I'm still at it. I didn't really think that I'd keep this going as long as I have. Most bloggers stop after a year or so. What can I say? I enjoy doing this and I always have something to say about my training. Plus, I've got a fair amount of people who value what I have to say.

Back then, I was a 100% Bodyweight-only trainer. Now, I train pretty regularly with some king of weight for resistance but I'd say that 65% of my training is still BW stuff. Even with the inclusion of weights into my routines, I still think that BW is the best way to train. The reasons haven't changed from the reasons three years ago: it's the best way to train on the road, regardless of where I end up. It doesn't require too much, if any, equipment to work with.

Considerations like that too often don't figure into people's decision-making when they decide to train. They don't think about how practical this will be to implement and continue with in their lives. Far too often, modalities their practitioners have a way of having a, "my way or the highway," mentality towards keeping in shape.

If I can't get to a gym, I can't train

If I don't have a barbell, a power rack, and at least 400 lbs of weights, I can't train.

In that regard, Bodyweight-based strength training has enormous potential for those who are serious about always having a way to train, get strong, and stay healthy. It's minimalism is suited for the traveler, anyone on a budget, or the hardcore minimalist. That minimalism bleeds over to the times where I use weights to train. I don't use much fancy equipment when I go for weighted exercises. I have one 16 KG kettlebell and a nice set of dumbbells that my dad gave me for Christmas but the weights that I use most often are my tool backpack (more on that in the future) and rocks.

BW strength training just needs more of a shot of creativity. There's too much of the notion that the only progression in BW is more and more repetitions. This notion limits BW's effectiveness for training and keeps those who are serious about being comprehensively strong from using it as much. What I've always tried to do was to show that there are indeed ways of making BW much, much harder to do while not using a set-up that is so specialized, and expensive, that my readers couldn't do themselves. I want this to be the place where you can get an idea, push away from the keyboard, and start training immediately, if you so choose.

So far, it's been a winning combination. I thank everyone for stopping by over the past three years. I'm appreciate it and as long as you keep reading, I'll keep writing!