My transition to strength training - a thank you

[dylanamus]

Prior to StrongLifts, a rather 'ripped' friend had tried to get me into a body building style routine with about 10 different dumbbell exercises for each split - so around 30-40 exercises a week. I remember asking how much weight we should use and him saying "as heavy as you can at 10 reps" with no indication of ever increasing weight. That was the most organised program I'd ever tried, but I never really got my head around it all. It was too much to take in and took too much time. The only dumbbell exercise I'd ever done before was bicep curls, and I was probably doing them wrong too.

I didn't really enjoy the program and I was lucky to have not injured myself looking back on what I qualified as correct technique just so I could have a few more plates on the dumbbells.

There was always a barbell sitting in the corner, but it was never a part of the program. It was like a glowing relic that I couldn't keep my eyes off of. From time to time my curiosity got the better of me and I couldn't resist doing a few clean and jerks with whatever weight I took off the dumbbells. If I had have known at the time that that glorious piece of equipment could have been on my back with 150kg after 5 months, I would have another 3 years of solid strength training under my belt today.

When another friend sent me the StrongLifts eBook a few years later I was hesitant and even stubborn about even reading it, let alone trying the program. There were so many pages and a whole series of lifts I hadn't heard of AGAIN. Seemed like another recipe for failure at the time. I remember thinking "training for strength? What the hell is this?".

Each day, I would open it up and slowly read a bit more; click a few links and watch technique videos. I sent it to another friend with more patience and he became interested too and started deciphering what I was too lazy to read. I screen dumped the Workout A, Workout B part of the eBook. Suddenly it looked doable.

With a history of dash and crash syndrome there was no way I was spending any money on any equipment, so I made myself a deal: borrow a barbell and bench off a friend give it one or two months on the program. If I didn't miss any workouts and I actually enjoy it I would consider buying the equipment.

The program was so straightforward and simple to digest that it became an obsession almost instantly. By the time I fulfilled my commitment to it, I was desperate for a rack as I had been cleaning and push pressing the bar to my back for back squats.

When the rack and Olympic bar arrived it was like being six at Christmas time. "Damn that bar is massive and look at the size of those weights!", I thought. And since that day I haven't looked back. I have improved my strength and sense of well being, but just as importantly, my attitude. I don't procrastinate nearly as much in anything in life and I don't avoid hard work; I yearn for it. Consistency and commitment is no longer a problem; I hate it when I can't lift for whatever reason and I can never wait to get back into it.

This is my story of how SL changed my life for the better. So thanks first and foremost to Medhi for putting together an easy to digest, practical program that allows beginners or wayward lifters with no direction to focus their energy into a productive routine. Thanks to big Sam for having the openmindedness to assimilate the program on his own account and think of me and passing it on. Thanks to Leot (now fellow SLer) for reading and interpreting what I was too lazy to and for keeping me motivated by listening to all my rants. And thanks to every single one of you Strength trainers for being here to provide support, share knowledge and information and impart a sense of community and belonging.

[eLvarouza]

I enjoyed reading your story; thanks for sharing.

I have improved my strength and sense of well being, but just as importantly, my attitude. I don't procrastinate nearly as much in anything in life and I don't avoid hard work; I yearn for it. Consistency and commitment is no longer a problem; I hate it when I can't lift for whatever reason and I can never wait to get back into it.

This is definitely something I've noticed with myself as well.

[Mehdi]

Great stuff!

[pangram]

Very very nice writing style. Thanks! Nice to see how you got here

[Bluegreyhound]

Nice one Dylanamus.