Answering YOUR QUESTIONS: Training Philosophy, Parkinson's and Paraplegia, Soy, Tai Chi, & More!

Sully and Noah finally clean out the 2022 QA Folder with questions on training with paraplegia and Parkinson's, health vs. cosmetic outcomes, using Tai Chi, Yoga, and other movement disciplines, applying strength to new physical challenges (practice v. training), and more.
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Content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Consult your physician for questions about your health, diet and exercise..

[@Morgan_]

"We don't have before and after photos, we have before and after log entries". So good. Fred got REKT

[@loopghost]

"I don't want to get muscles" - exactly what my wife says when I try to suggest some compound exercises. I love my wife unconditionally, but on this one... it drives me crazy. I'm in the gym 4-5 days a week (I'm 47) pushing to GAIN muscle and eating like a horse. I feel like muscle gains are happening, but lordy it's a LONG GAME. Ladies, there's very little chance of you accidentally becoming Ronnie Coleman by doing some free weights.

[@Bearme73]

I have the same discussion with wife and retired sister. I got some fitness model pictures and explained this is what happens to women who strength train where their natural figures are enhanced. Only women who use PED get masculinity bulked. Many women powerlifters aren't masculinely bulked and many have feminine figures. After reviewing the grey steel KZbin my sister is onboard. Good luck with supporting your wife's fitness.

[@robertthompson5501]

Same concerns for my GF. The Axiom is "You can't be to thin or to rich". Cardio Queens all and eating like a bird.🏋🏻🏋‍♂️

[@DenisChampagne2212]

Love your spirits guys.. Thank you for being there

[@malcolmhales8181]

The aging athlete is a thing of beauty. I'm 62, 5"9', 185lbs. I strength train a couple of times a week. One session is low bar squats, bench and lat pulls, the other is deadlift, shoulder press, barbell curls and triceps extension. Sometimes I can do 5,3,1 reps, sometimes I can only do 1 workset of 5 or 3 reps. I still work 4 days a week, so recovery is not always great. I swim once a week, walk most days so am fairly active. I must admit I'm tired most days, I need a few days of proper rest. Good luck to all greying athletes, or as worth the effort. By the way, my working set weights are: squats 255 for 5, bench 190 for 5, deadlift 330 for 3, press 100 for 5. Happy lifting. I live in the UK on the south coast. There's no 55 or over gyms or coaches I know of. The area is full of retirees, so its a prime growth area. I am an ex pro athlete, and a qualified trainer, so it helps

[@georgeshelton937]

Great session. Your practical and humane approach, with acknowledgement of individual potential, it is inspiring. Many thanks.

[@scottmoyer3854]

Thank you for these QAs. Doesn't get much real-er than this channel. Love you guys

[@SolRC]

22:30 was the only dane reaction to a troll. LMAO thanks for this discussion panel.

[@LasVegasWeddingCapital]

“At 74, you’re not going to set a record or win a trophy.” Yes, he can! All sanctioned powerlifting federations recognize our age divisions. Sully, I hope you can set the record straight on the importance of competitive goal setting. What has John accomplished in his nineties after taking up the sport of powerlifting at age 89? He’s inspired so many people and the sport encourages us all to go set records and win trophies!

[@GreySteel]

Yes, of course you might win a Masters division. I think the point Noah is making here is that _just isn't why most people do it._ John did a meet partly to motivate him and partly for the adventure. He did not and does not plan to pursue a competitive career. Of course meets can help us set goals if we're built that way, but many of us are not, and strength competition is not our focus here.

[@LasVegasWeddingCapital]

Thanks,Sully! I’d like to take my 89-year old father into your gym someday to meet John. He’s fascinated by your videos and especially John.

[@noahhayden2915]

You can set records and win trophies. I stand corrected!

[@amelia70438]

Thank you so much for the f*** you moment it is so refreshing. I see so much body image issues all around because everyone pretends that's the only thing important. Love your channel!

[@fredmerzrs3007]

This was a great video! Thanks guys. Keep up the great work and let's try not to have a gun fight lol!!😂

[@duncanhamilton-martin3666]

So much good stuff here! Brilliant advice!

[@ericwalsh7418]

Great Session Guys. I attended 2 barbell seminars with Sully (and Chris at Black Iron) a few years ago and loved both of them. I especially enjoyed the Q&A session. I wish I could come into the gym and talk to you personally but I live on the west side (of the state). Great to see the channel is growing. Take Care!

[@406dn7]

I posted on another video about the trap bar for deadlifts. Here, you are talking about managing back tweaks, and dropping weight on the bar, then working your way back up. This was my story for a while. I've been lifting now for over 7 years, coming 72 this spring. It is everything you tout it to be. Anyway, back tweaks were a recurring theme with heavy deadlifts, every 6 months or so. So, the solution that has put back tweaks into the history books was going to trap bar deadlifts. I have not tweaked my back since switching over about 4 years ago. So, I think modifying the movement is another tool to manage setbacks. Regarding the volume, there is a middle ground between minimum effective dose and maximum recoverable volume, I think. In my case I'm likely closer to the upper end, since I do enjoy lifting. Congrats to the gentleman my age on a 350# squat. That is where I'm at, thou I seldom squat for a maximum lift, maybe around a birthday. Another evolution in my lifting journey is changing from working in the 5 rep range to working in the 7-9 rep range. That has proven easier on the shoulders especially. It is also easier mentally to get under a bar with 265# and squat for 9 reps than having 315# working for the 5th rep. Have you considered programming pull ups or lat pull downs? I ditched rows for pull ups a good while ago.

[@davidpenfold]

Great stuff as usual 💪

[@rdmckeever7645]

Fun and informative as usual. Each question from your QA folder (in this video) dealt with an issue I, a friend. or close relative has had to deal with in recent years. Your concept, find what you can do and build on it, worked for each person's issue. Anecdotal data, obviously, but positive outcomes none the less. Personally, still gaining strength using prescription outline 3E and ordered some micro plates. Question: would it be rude to ask my new PCP if he has read "The Barbell Prescription" at our first appointment?

[@GreySteel]

Not rude at all!

[@jetjames420]

'blissing out' to this!😮‍💨

[@DetraDearmas]

Hoyer lift is like a small crane to lift the body out of the bed in a strong hammock like thick quilt in order to put you in your wheelchair. For safety reasons needs 2 people to operate with a large person. They come in hand crank and electric.

[@michanota4230]

the guy Fred had a Very LEGITIMATE question. Im 65yrs and still at want to look like a mid distance runner that does some lifting. Maybe I am on the WRONG channel. It’s NOT a crime to want to LOOK STRONG!

[@GreySteel]

Ah. The Fernando Syndrome: "It's better to LOOK strong than to BE strong." Sorry, maybe you ARE on the wrong channel. We're interested in people BEING strong and healthy, not matching some clueless ideal of what strong "looks" like. Fred came into MY house and implied that my hardworking 60-80 year-old athletes performing on the far right end of the curve for strength in their demographics, who routinely demonstrate improvements in mobility, function, insulin sensitivity, and bone density, were wasting their time because they didn't have bulging biceps and 6% bodyfat like the steroid-enhanced, airbrushed model on some idiotic magazine cover. So he, and apparently you, are laboring under some significant misapprehensions. That makes you both part of the problem. See our subsequent video: "Nope. Wrong Channel," where we double down on this. We're not about how people look. We're about strength and health, and how people perform. Hope you get it all figured out.

[@MohamedMohamed-by5iy]

The channel never said it’s a crime wanting to look strong; but it’s not what the channel exists for❗️ and yes you’re on the wrong channel dude ❌ This channel is for those who wanna be stronger 💪🏻 stay healthy and independent person as long as possible

[@djf4468]

keep doing these , very helpfull

[@molotulo8808]

I started lifting weights when i was 19. I'm now 64. I have chronic Atrial Fibrillation and Arthritis. I have an awesome home gym, but i bought equipment over a lifetime of working out. But, if you have the money to buy a good collection of equipment. I have dumbbells from 1 pound to 110 pounds. I can no longer do over body weight so i don't use my 110# dumbbells (yet), but can go up to my 80# dumbells for shrugs and dumbbells rows. I do use a barbell, i hav 310#'s in plates (York weights, i may add...made in Pennsylvania, USA! I try to use my dumbbells because i workout by myself. I must be careful so i don't crush myself under a dropped weight.

[@jackiealv6547]

I’ve been thin my whole life even throughout both of my pregnancies and I hated it . But I’ve been diagnosed with arthritis and now all I care about is having a better quality of life and not lose mobility . I’ve been strength training for about 6 years , even after the diagnosis and although I still look thin, I’ve definitely developed some lean muscle and feel overall stronger. My biggest problem is my knees hurt too much now when deep squatting and lunging . A recent MRI showed chondromalacia patella and I did 4 PT sessions where we only used resistance bands but I haven’t been back to therapy in over a week because of financial issues (no current health insurance) . In your experience, do patients with chondromalacia patella can lift and squat again ? I’m okay with not lifting heavy but at least some weight ? I miss my regular leg days . Thanks a lot for the information provided

[@RonSwansonIsMyGod]

Love the "how come you're not big", like attacking Rip's weight: ad hominem tu quoque. One's own size/fitness/etc. has no bearing on one's claims about strength training.

[@martystrasinger3801]

Why aint I huge? 5’8” and 175 pounds is not enormous by any means, but most insurance medical plans would like me at around 165 to comply with BMI orthodoxy. So, I actually have 10 pounds of hugeness! Working on more!

[@dalejansen127]

Everyone, if possible, should have a home gym. For some that may be a rack, bench, bars and freeweights as the core of their gym. For folks with mobility issues it could be a “universal” system that controls the weights and has built in spotting devices. All age groups should have “supervision” i.e. coaching, frequently in the beginning, not so much later and with more experience. At sticking points and when going from powerlifting into O lifting, highly technical, for ex., yes get some coaching. For any coach the goal should be to get the lifter to a state of independence. The educated lifter can seek “supervision” when they feel the need. In the end, it does come down to the goals of the person in front of you and determining if you are the right coach. There are different disciplines in the World of Iron; it behooves us to get people to the right master…:) Lastly. We are NOT a “special” population. We are just people who train. Or not.

[@molotulo8808]

Anyone who sets up a workout schedule and sticks to it, will, in a year, you will have gotten visible improvements and you will notice that you have gotten stronger. Just never quite and do everything they need to do. Sick to it for the rest of your life. You will get the benefits. Steroid users will pay a terrible price when they get cancer. I have lost several friends to steroid use. I 64 and in the past decade not lifted at a gymnasium. But for over 30 years I have gone to many gyms. I have been natural, but some people thought i was juicing, but i trained for over 40 years and worked out at least 4 to 5 days a week. I was extremely devoted to my training. I have be on 4 vacations in my 64 years of life. Never quit, never give up on yourself. Go workout and do if for the rest of your life. Quiters never win! Good workouts, everyone!

[@DenisChampagne2212]

Don't agree that you need more.. depends...after my three sessions weekly..and coaching my wife.. we're happy seeing her progress and together at the gym.. different strokes for different folks.. depends on one's athletic past

[@richsaborsky5398]

I loved 22:00!

[@jerrycunningham1820]

Old bodybuilder gave me advice about doing 315 for sets of 10 squats. He was big he says. Told him I would take his advice if that was my goal. Told him I care about strength not aesthetics.

[@HAL-dm1eh]

Do you get the tingles that go along with doing Tai Chi? I only know a couple of moves (one is I think part the wild horse's mane) and I get tingling in my hands. It's a good feeling, almost like something inside is building up but I'm containing it and letting it "flow".

[@pnkrckmom]

Where can I get a shirt like Noah's?

[@tomoconnor3418]

Search for “Rogue Unity Barbell T-Shirt”

[@johnknestis3851]

Health, strength, and aesthetics are not mutually exclusive. Using periodization you can achieve all.

[@mickcraig2700]

Hi guys, I'm from the UK. I have sight issues and wondering if you have an audiobook?

[@GreySteel]

Not yet. We're working on it. Long story.

[@estelledunn8684]

I am also from UK. Lancashire.Does anyone know whether there anything relating to Barbell Prescription in the UK. Thanks

[@bassamnowfal1127]

I’m trying to buy your book but I don’t where can I find it

[@brettperkins4643]

Found mine on Amazon

[@danielvillarreal6610]

Hi. Is this channel still active? I haven’t seen any new videos lately.

[@danielgjb]

Another point is if you are just starting and learning what to do regardless of a physical disability a coach definitely helps with motivation. If you are motivated you will do better. After training with a coach you may feel comfortable training on your own, but start with a coach first.

[@komunasago]

The point is not impressing other people (20:08)... maybe it's not important FOR YOU, but for some people, it is. And that it's not just about looking (and feeling) good, but also about encouraging others to do the same...but anyway you did not answer the question about the ectomorph type.

[@johnknestis3851]

It is nice when you do impress others tho.

[@danagadberry5129]

Marines machine gunners don’t use there feet!!🤣

[@barbellgardener]

Great video! Fred = narcissist

[@jtmiller6889]

$$$

[@powskier]

No!!! Fraudulent, ignorant answer! Climbing a rope with your hands only is very common. It was once even an Olympic event. Please get a clue!

[@josephr8294]

Good show. But, the Dr needs to do all or most of the talking. The man on the left should only read the questions, don't answer them.

[@GreySteel]

Yeah. No. Piss off.

[@wizgeekrobotics3584]

Thank you for these Q & A sessions--they are very helpful. Just a note: The heart graphic at 35:00 needs a correction: The left atrium arrow should point down into the valve, not up and out. 🫀