How "Easy Strength" ACTUALLY Makes You Stronger

[@900198619]

"You add load when that feels light..." That reminds me of a couple of podcasts that Barbell Medicine did that really challenged how I've always thought of making gains. They believe (if I can explain it right) that you make an adaptation and then you can lift more weight instead of you lift more weight and then you can lift more weight. It makes sense though. It also fits with my experience. I lift too heavy or too much volume, or too much volume to quickly, or too heavy too quickly and then I end up wrecking my self. They way they word it is you have to have the "appropriate dose" of weight and volume to make you adapt. Once you adapt you can increase a variable but because you've adapted you won't over stress your self.

[@perthomasbenestadthorsager3426]

Exactly, this is a common misconception and specially when you have been training for a while and think that you can put on weight on a weekly schedule it usually ends up doing more harm than good. Training should be fun and you should be exited and not beat down. This way you create good habits and great results over time. Best of luck even with this program you don't need it;)

[@diang1984]

What i love in Easy Strength is the fact that it's a "parametric program". It's fundemental movements. Change the hinge to have a WTH effect on deadlift and so on. Currently working on changing between Vertical Push/Pull and horizontal. Each one for 21 workouts. The so called same but different also using the pull as an active recovery for the push movement.

[@DanJohnStrengthCoach]

Thank you for sharing this...that looks good.

[@adampt4454]

"Why am I doing this exercise?" "Because Dan John said it was good" "Good enough for me!" 😂

[@nealesmith1873]

Thank you for answering my question in so much detail. I also enjoyed reading the Easy Strength Omnibook.

[@_CoachW]

@Neale - Thank you. I have been out of the loop and did not realize there was a Dan John book I didn't own. I will correct this at once 🙂

[@flegmato13]

Thanks for this Dan. I’m doing a form of easy strenght again after many years. This time I’m actually doing the simple version of 5 movements 2x5 every day (+a set of swings at the begg before trap bar deads). Starting to do some stuff around the house in addition and maybe a short hike on the weekends. Also on a very slight cut, dialing back carbs a bit. To stop the ramble, I’m on day 21, and I love it! I seem to have hit just the right intensity to tick all the boxes. It fits into my life like a glove right now. I was just thinking I want to do this throughout most of the year, but maybe switch up the excercises a bit every 1-2 months, what do you think? PS: to add, I started it after a more intense 4months of structured winter lifting program. Now summer is coming and I have many other physical activities, work outside, wakeboarding at the cable park on the weekend (I’m waaaay to old for that btw, and it fries me, I still do it though). Also got a trials bike. Point being, I can never keep a complicated program up during the summer. Was thinking about just doing something like easy strengh this year (1 simple short whole body medium effort workout) squeeze it in as many times as possible during the week and just skip it when I have other physical activity or am too wiped out. No obligations to X weekly sessions, never to failure to not interfere with other stuff, but still keeping up the benefits of regular good technique strenght training of sorts.

[@omdc535]

I first read about the Park Bench analogy on TNation. People don't like it because it is too subject and doesn’t produce results on a schedule. I've followed a Park Bench method for years, and my lifts have increased according to body's ability. I personally think my lifts are fairly respectable to what I see other lifters use. My method is higher volume for each lift [full body(5setsx10reps)/three x week]. On non-gym days I perform an extremely light full-body workout for recovery with 50lbs & no more.

[@DanJohnStrengthCoach]

It's funny you say that people don't like it but, from what I see, MOST people train in the Park Bench style. I watch guys using their smart phones on leg curls and they are there...on their bellies...for like ten minutes doing three sets. I do like your point.

[@crayzmarc]

Only digital versions of Easy Strength Omnibook it seems. Would love a hard copy.

[@DanJohnStrengthCoach]

I've been recommending that you print it yourself. Far cheaper for everyone.

[@reaccionapr]

Comment for the Algo 👍🔁✅🛎️

[@josephmartinez210]

Hi Dan, Have used Easy Strength in the past with great success but always stop and change it up it seems usually something like 531. Anyway, I recently tore my quad tendon slipping on ice so unrelated to lifting. I have 12 weeks minimum of nonweight bearing and then PT after that up to 6 months total. I live very rural so have a garage gym I bult that rivals most commercial spots. Would an upper body only Easy Strength maybe using the Incline bench and chest-supported row or pullups & dips as the foundation work well in this odd situation to at least maintain if not build strength/size? Just purchased the Omnibook today so have yet to go through it. Thank you!

[@majorpuggington]

I should have known you were a product of the Stirs by your wise reflective way. I had my knuckles rapped once or twice.😂 Some of the analogies you use here help me with body, mind, spirit. Love intermittent fasting and do a 20 hr fast Wed & Fridays!

[@DanJohnStrengthCoach]

Fasting is a nice way for me to feel better, too.

[@reggiepathak9684]

@@DanJohnStrengthCoach Love ur video but one question what are ur thoughts on burpees?

[@christopherguarnieri7439]

Dan, I recently started easy strength again with the format of 5 exercises 2x5 and walk after on most days if life doesn’t get in the way. I have realized every time I do easy strength my body reacts very well to the program. Have you noticed this in your career that your body likes one type of training over another?

[@DanJohnStrengthCoach]

I am not sure I can scream "absolutely" loud enough!

[@christopherguarnieri7439]

@@DanJohnStrengthCoach the follow up question or questions would be 1) once you find the program that works for you how long should you do it? 2) does the program increase performance, for the athlete or everyday person? 3) how to motivate a client to stick with the program for the long hall. 4) Why one size for everyone doesn’t work in a workout program?

[@HeathWatts]

Will the Easy Strength Omnibook be available in printed format or only as an ebook? What format is the ebook (e.g., Kindle, PDF, etc.)? I don't see that information on your web site. Thanks.

[@DanJohnStrengthCoach]

It should open in any eformat. My concern about telling someone that it WILL work is that some people occasionally have "User Error" and I can end up getting blamed for that.

[@HeathWatts]

@@DanJohnStrengthCoach Thanks, Dan. I'm fairly tech savvy, so I'll probably be okay. Will there be a book version?

[@pierre-renepeitzmeier7984]

You mentioned in your easy strength omnibook, that it would be possible to do easy strength with one KB only, by changing the exercises between harder and easier variations. What about doing easy strength with daily exercises variation in a conjugate style: Day 1 Conv. DL Day 2 Sumo DL Day 3 RDL.... Etc.... Would it be even possible to alternate between Conv. DL/1Hand DL/KB Swings/Atlas Stones etc. to include even more Variation between exercises? My problem or advantage is, that I own several Sandbags/Barbells/Kettlebells and I like to include it in a conjugate style instead of a Block style. What do you think about it?

[@DanJohnStrengthCoach]

We discuss this in the book, on my site, and in many of these videos...yes!

[@pierre-renepeitzmeier7984]

@@DanJohnStrengthCoachHi Dan, can u please give me a link or Page in the book where you talk about easy strength in combination with daily exercises rotation?

[@zebady999]

What's the thing under the desk?

[@DanJohnStrengthCoach]

My three hole punch. I moved it.

[@juangraciaofficial]

Now that I train MMA 4 days a week, I appreciate so much minimal workouts

[@BuJammy]

So, how does easy strength actually make you stronger?

[@kj_______]

It requires zero recovery. Its just another way of sneaking up on adaptation. Its like a wood carver whittling away the thinnest of slices but he does that 160 times and - 'look a spoon'! Or you can be a caveman and hack away a chunk or two in one fell swoop but then you will have to sit down, rest a while and eat a lot.

[@papayaman78]

No, please do rip on these influencers. Some one has to filter out the BS

[@DanJohnStrengthCoach]

I will do my best.