Weight Training Over 50

Build REAL Grip Strength: Dump the Straps

Build REAL Grip Strength: Dump the Straps If you want to have the fragile hands and wimpy grip of a 90-year-old, lifting straps and gloves will do the job for you. Over the past few years I have seen more and more people lifting weights using straps to augment their...

What can weightlifters learn from “Moneyball”?

What can weightlifters learn from Moneyball? In the past few weeks I have been reading books written by Michael Lewis, the author of Moneyball the classic study of how the Oakland As were able to use statistical data to gain a competitive edge in searching for...

Learn to listen to your body: Key to building strength and endurance

Learn to listen to your body: Key to building strength and endurance Back in the 1970s the first US based research on factors impacting sports performance emerged. When the running boom was in its early stages, a few psychologists began trying to figure out what elite...

Changing up your lifting routine: try some Olympic lifts

With Covid scrambling the schedule for powerlifting meets and the off/on opening of gyms, I have oriented my own training to physical conditioning rather than straight power. I have also changed up the routines for some of my coaching clients to emphasize (drum roll)...

Un-Learning: A Key to Consistent Progress

UN-Learning: A key to consistent progress It aint what you dont know that gets you in trouble, its what you know for sure that just aint so - Mark Twain Somehow Mark Twain must have known about the fitness industry. Just about everyone seems to be an expert. Many are...

Cardio Training for Weightlifters: A Minimal Program

Cardio Training for Weightlifters: A Minimal Program Cardiovascular conditioning is critical for all lifters, especially those over age 50. Being big and strong is great and a big contributor to your overall health. Cardiovascular health is part of your long game if...

Emerging from our Covid Cocoons: Some Exercises to Build new Skills

Emerging from our Covid Cocoons: Some Exercises to Build new Skills This mornings local newspaper noted that Covid restrictions for the entire state of Oregon could be lifted within a week. To say that the past 15 months have been disturbing for all of us would be an...

Why is Discipline so Hard? Plus Bonus Fat Loss Post

Accomplishing anything that takes commitment over time takes discipline. That is the ability to forgo short term pleasure for working longer term objectives. This work will often be difficult, frustrating, and occasionally dangerous. None of us would ever graduate...

Performance Metrics for Weightlifters: The Useful and the Useless

In recent years there has been a proliferation of fitness apps that record activities during workouts and provide data to the user. IMHO most fitness apps are brain dead and convey minimal information that is of any use. They create an illusion of precision by...