My Life As A Recovering Powerlifter | What's Changed?

00:00-02:29 Skit
02:30-05:10 Preamble
05:11-08:59 #1 More flexible
09:00-11:03 #2 Technique
11:04-12:43 #3 Take it or leave it
12:44-13:40 #4 Feelings
13:41-14:50 #5 I don’t care about weight
14:51-15:42 #6 Things need not be perfect
15:43-17:06 #7 Baseline strength
17:07-19:07 #8 Have you tried caring less?
Untamed Strength Gym: www.trainuntamed.com/
Sacramento, CA
Untamed Strength Apparel: untamedstrengthapparel.com/
Follow me on IG @untamedstrength
In-person & Online Form Check Service: www.trainuntamed.com/one-time-...
Pioneer Discount: PALUNTAMED
generalleathercraft.com/
Strongman Template: www.barbellmedicine.com/shop/...
FREE Strongman Template:www.barbellmedicine.com/free-...

[@NaturalHypertrophy]

I want an entire movie with Alan playing every single character a la Eddie Murphy. We'll call it Natty Professor: The Pumps.

[@odjrin]

The Nutty Brofessor

[@jojcaac5488]

And bloach being the final boss

[@janoycresva919]

Ello Ychub

[@smonk8325]

It's pasta time

[@tanzilhossain2693]

Alan thral or natural hypertrophy collaboration with DR Mike Israel from RP training?

[@kozmo7]

First time I’ve seen his wife on camera, I gotta say, she’s quite the catch

[@_Zane__]

A total ma'am

[@K4R3N]

Get in line buddy

[@hooskerdoo3130]

Does Mrs Adam Paul have a sister?

[@martincattell6820]

You mean she resembles a fish?

[@jackmehoff2363]

Why am i so excited and needing alone time to think about her?

[@maxheithmar334]

Alan probably has the healthiest mindset of any fitness social media person online

[@desertshooter007]

Agreed, been watching his journey for years and he's a damm good human 🫡

[@MoralesCorner]

One of the few people in the industry who is not a total snake oil seller

[@powerliftingsloth1711]

Agreed homie

[@BigBADSTUFF69]

can confirm he is very wholesome in real life

[@AlessAbreu]

Look for Ben Carpenter, definitely recommend him as health and honest fitness social media person

[@christiansamuelstadeus]

"he's not even that good" was so perfectly delivered, it caught me right off guard

[@mihalyhorvath2617]

Colesterol 315, Hell yeah brothe’😂

[@Pile_of_carbon]

When everything is a PB, because big number are good numbers! 🤣

[@TheNotimprezed]

Better the cholesterol is 315 than his testosterone 😂

[@Alejandro-te2nt]

Swolesterol

[@MikeBarbarossa]

Do you even eat yolks, bro?

[@harrisashraff]

This video is equivalent to therapy mate. I 1000% Agree with the point that " the gym should be your sanctuary not a 9 to 5 job you hate ".

[@awmlawoffice]

Been training since 1993. I've switched from powerlifting, to pure hypertrophy, to a 2 year obsession with running. Since 2015 or so, I've been back to powerlifting. Now I'm 46 and absolute strength is the only quality that I can actually improve, barely. It sucks, but my speed qualities and ability to build muscle, particularly in the quads, is quite diminished. The one constant: no one gives a shit, but me. My wife, kids, and colleagues could care less about my squat PR or that I can't dunk anymore. I've never missed a family dinner or anything, training is just like brushing my teeth. I just like it more.

[@samuelsontraining]

This is the reality of letting go. I'm 43 soon and missed my window for some of my failed (and unfulfilled) potential. But my 7 year old doesn't care. Neither does my wife. Only a few disintegrating gym bros. I try to do a few things here and there. I hope that you live long in health sir.

[@rdeloges7957]

@@samuelsontraining i started late, hit my strength peak in my mid to late 40s (competed) and now in my early 50s I am still pretty strong. There's no way I could run fast, or long, like I did in my 20s and 30s. I know some people do, but I don't see it for me. Also, did BJJ for many years. Gave that up too!

[@samuelsontraining]

@@rdeloges7957 Nice!

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Legendary intro I must say

[@ora6925]

Had no reason to hit this close to home tho

[@U.F.O_0908]

Not the first time you shared that quote: "Have you tried caring less". It's one to remember, in all aspects of life.

[@IMFAEmperor]

Why don’t you care more and put in the prep and work… excuses

[@mikemiller2530]

A quote that I like is “every dead body on Mount Everest was once a highly motivated person, so maybe relax every once in awhile” 😁

[@micahhlopez7678]

The great Austin baraki?

[@paoloh885]

@@IMFAEmperor I agree that most people make too much excuses, but sooner or later you'll realize you can't constantly redline, and that optimizing everything about your lifestyle just to chase some arbitrary numbers in the gym isn't really sustainable long term. There's no point forcing yourself through an exercise regime that you dread all the time unless you're a professional athlete, which I assume you're not. Consistency and a good balance of life and training is key. I have a friend that started going to the gym just before me and convinced me to go too. He went 7 times a week, meal prepped, bought expensive supplements and stuff. Eventually he burnt out and quit. I wasn't that obsessed and never went more than 3 times a week, never changed anything about my diet apart from eating an extra plate at dinner (never counted calories or macro's), and probably progressed slower than ideal because of it. But that is a good balance for me and allows me to stay consistent.

[@davidbenning10]

@@micahhlopez7678The one and only. Austin “deadlifts-700-pounds-in-slides” Baraki 🩴 🩴 😎

[@bluetrain69]

We’ve watched Alan grow on social media for the last 10 years. Life has ebbs & flows. Alan has shared his ebbs & flows with us every step of the way with integrity, honesty and humor. The one constant is always his passion for “lifting.” I still go back to your how to deadlift video from time to time. Keep training untamed Alan and keep evolving🦾

[@kemuelcraig]

I mean this sincerely, Alan is pound for pound best fitness KZbinr

[@lukemoloney1113]

Iron wolf right up there

[@JetX85]

Alan is undefeated when it comes to dropping the exact video I need as both a lifter and trainer

[@CarnivorousHypertrophy]

2:08 Was totally expecting Adam Paul to tell the doc, "You wish your bench was as high as my cholesterol"

[@Malstrom100]

😄😄👌

[@CharlieBravo887]

Changing things means your LEARNING. That's why you come off as humble and not an arrogant prick, because you have to humble yourself to learn new things and that kind of attitude and effort builds exellent character.

[@MollymaukT]

Everyone who watched Westside vs. the World knows that the first bit isn’t even hyperbole

[@felipecci]

You said it very well: "The gym is your sanctuary" or something like that. I agree 100%. In the end of the day, if you are doing any type of training that your actually enjoy, than you should be feeling great and confident. If you feel overly stressful or even like garbabe at the end of your training session, something is wrong, specially if you are running to bigger numbers just for the sake of it.

[@raymondjurado9203]

If I was the last man on Earth, I would only bench with spotter arms.

[@VictorLeucos]

It's been inspiring seeing you grow wiser ! As a new father I relate a lot to your message. You can still train hard and with passion without letting the whole thing consume your life. We all started lifting to better our lives!

[@ccstarz19]

Thanks for all you do brother. can't tell you how much i've learned from you over the years

[@railander]

This is pure gold. Thanks a lot for the way you share things.

[@johnsmalley9610]

Thanks for sharing your life with us for our edification. It has been educational and entertaining. Youre one of my favorite KZbin channels

[@codyboudreau2838]

This is one of your best videos ! Still making great content this many years late is impressive.

[@ManletStrength]

Woah bro great vid! What great timing for you to put this out when I needed some clarity about my feelings towards the gym and lifting. You put a lot into perspective for me and I'm very thankful for that.

[@joegoodguy1123]

Wow it's been years since I've been recommended one of your vids and it was so good to hear that "TRAIN UNTAMED" at the end

[@johntrains1317]

Bro. That skit was gold! Kind of reminds me someone. Thanks for the great content through the years.

[@justinmichael6127]

Can't say enough that I appreciate this video and Alan's continuing open dialogue about his perspective on fitness, health, and being human.

[@tedm8492]

Probably one of the best videos you have made, very relatable as I went through something similar.

[@MultiGames4You]

Glad to see that you have managed to find peace in life.

[@paulbonaiuto3319]

One of the most evolved mindsets on lifting that I have ever heard! Thank you Alan…🎉

[@travisshurtliff7380]

This might be one of the most beneficial videos I’ve seen in a long time. Thanks Alan

[@gerym341]

Words of wisdom. Thank you for sharing, Alan.

[@imbman3347]

great video as always, love ur relationship with training

[@doubleojon]

Exactly what I needed to hear right now. Thank you for this.

[@morales11191]

Absolutely love this perspective man. Many people will soon as welll

[@filipepeixoto5135]

Hey, my favorite "fitness" chanel, i have learned a lot with Alan. Keep Going my friend!

[@davidmurray2829]

I the perspective you have been bringing to your videos in this past year Allen 👍👍👍

[@user-dn4lg1dv5v]

Respect for making this video. I could totally relate to it. Evolution as a trainer is important. Getting older and wiser as a lifter does have its advantages.

[@robbhensel7842]

Definitely impressed with your mindset. As I get/got older my priorities changed and became less rigid and believe it or not progress still continued.

[@elenap142]

The best video out there ...I haven't seen a whole video in youtube for years (especially that long) but this one...oh boy, I've watched every single minute! Every lifter should watch it. It was so revealing for me. Thanks Alan! I am watching you from your very beggining. You taught me the big 3 movements in an easy way. I loved your sense of humor and motivated me even more. Every single word in this video was such an apocalypse for me because I am in your shoes a few years now....a hard working mother/wife, that tries really hard to not collapse and keep doing what she loves....

[@scooobyj8714]

That’s a great workout mind set. I have found that I really enjoyed the powerlifting and power building movements until my body was getting hurt too often. I try to workout in ways that I find fun and keep me motivated.

[@cochise264]

Loved the video Alan. As a 43 year old man who has been training consistently for over 25 years, Im starting to deal with declining strength, aches and pains, and other issues. It gets frustrating sometimes but it’s just part of getting older. Thanks for the perspective.

[@shaungregory1827]

Great video and advice everyone outside of the select few who are training for a very specific event or lift should follow. Stop beating yourselves up over not hitting a PR, over feeling weak, over subbing in a different exercise because you weren't feeling the other one. Do what makes you feel good and satisfied.

[@ericwantsbbd]

So much I feel this. I don’t want to hate the gym or dread it. So doing things that are fun and enjoyable makes me want to go. Like I always tell people who ask: the best exercise is the one you’ll do. Also, I kept hurting my back on squat, became terrified of the movement, and just realized it doesn’t have to be done. And the world went on. It was amazing. Now I do leg stuff that’s awesome and can protect my back.

[@Benjamin-bs3er]

Love this video, so relatable, and great food for thought!

[@nicedreams726]

Just you sharing your experiences, mentoring and educating while playing video of you doing different workouts is the perfect format. I mostly have your videos playing the background while I workout instead of music. I pick up different tips each time. The thing that has made a change for me from this video is what you said about "chasing numbers on the bar". I've been doing that for too long and now starting to focus on "adjust intensity at xx reps" and have a new joy of gaming my workout.

[@AgentDave34]

I love this, thanks for sharing. There's a lot of guys, myself included, who still have a passion for fitness but don't destroy themselves in the gym.

[@LouisJerez]

Love how you are always learning and evolving and using good science and logic to explain your rationale! Thanks for sharing good content! God bless you!

[@nooblifter390]

Alan, I can't really put it in words but such videos of yours always make me question myself and my training philosophy and I can say that good questions leads to good answers. For example, I think that I am stuck at 100 kg squat for a year now but I couldn't be more wrong about it. Now I weigh around 8 kg less...can run 8 kms under 46 minutes and also snapped my back in between, learnt about rehab and new nuances about training and also not to mention that I managed to do all that when I moved out for college and had barely any time but still managed to squeeze 2 or 3 full body sessions per week. this video of yours was really a wakeup call.

[@MCJSA]

This is great. I enjoyed listening to this a lot. Thanks. Great perspective on training and health. Try caring less.

[@keithbobrosky6334]

Great production as usual Alan!

[@truechojin]

Thanks for this Alan. I’ve been experiencing most of what you discussed including getting away from bench lol. I’m glad to know it’s not just me but a natural happening. Time to figure out how I want to train for the rest of my life. Again thanks for the inspiration it’s been a long time coming.

[@deadliftbro]

great advice. I am still young in the powerlifting scene and I am still chasing those numbers. But I recognize what you are saying and I agree with a lot of it. I have always wanted to run a marathon, but have put it off for years due to my powerlifting goals. I will continue to do so, because I still love chasing the numbers too much, but I can tell that in a few years, I will want to really change the way I train.

[@acrabtree11]

Semper Gumby ! Thanks for the thoughtful words coach ! Always good info when i click on your stuff ... Thanks Alan !!

[@naviek7936]

Your wisdom is amazing, thank you

[@03blaird]

Its great to see that his mentality evolved. Too many lifters who came up in the early years of KZbin fitness (from 2012 on) Got stuck in one mentality and never progressed. He arguably looks better than he did when he was only chasing numbers. excellent progression!

[@vlkan1150]

I had similar shift in my training metodology, great video I totally agree !

[@albertpaxton4855]

Great video Alan! some really good advice

[@doyouknowdawaecuzifukindon8254]

I love the signature train untamed outro. What a throwback. Been watching for years. Anyone that complains about other people changing may need to do some introspective analysis.

[@fabiomerlin8820]

You said it all. After 43-plus years of training, that´s exactly what I'm doing. For instance, having some fun chopping wood has been part of my training lately. Thanks for the video!

[@IMFAEmperor]

If you’re having trouble with going to a session throughout the week just add a few exercises that you love doing and feel great doing to the exercise session. You’ll be pumped for each session because you want to do good during these exercises and will feel good doing them. No anguish and stress. Just breath and enjoy the forms.

[@dancairns318]

Yup this is why I like 531. I'll do my programmed sets for squat/deadlift/press and then I'll just wing it and do 50 reps for push/pull/core/single leg, then some conditioning. It makes my gym sessions much more bearable when I can do whatever.

[@Kyle592]

This! I did starting strength in my youth and totally bought in to the “do the programme” mentality and sometimes, I’d like to have done some curls, but didn’t because of what Rip said… as I got older, I realised I should have added a bit do spice and wouldn’t have hated those workouts as much.

[@patriciomc]

Allan you are the best, great video.

[@hypertensionfilms5439]

Think I've been watching you for close to 10 years. So cool to see you mature and grow as a dude and as a lifter. Happy for you.

[@danielburnett7208]

Great video, I can relate to pretty much all of this

[@bekomanci]

Opening skit got me good, missed your content bro. Awesome to see you again :)

[@halmalone1889]

That was perfect. And I concur with all points and the bench malaise specifically.

[@johnhouchin5313]

Well said brother, much appreciated

[@stevenhalloway1736]

This is some fantastic advice. The older I get( 45yrs old) the harder parallel is on LOW bar squats. Not to mention that rep ranges other than 1-5 really help fitness as well too. I still try to “lean” on my squats but I have to really slow it down to eliminate the stretch reflex on squats. The lean is still good for flexibility but I can’t take the “ bounce” at the bottom. Keep it up Alan Thrall.

[@drewcrewsdpt]

I started running @NaturalHypertrophy Novice program on Boostcamp and have noticed some of the points you mention, Alan. Biggest one was that my workouts were good and I felt like I got good work in, but I wasn’t beat up and unable to move or have energy for my family. I didn’t realize that when I was doing powerlifting style training that it was running me into the ground so much. I wasn’t much of a powerlifting because I’m small framed but I could tell the eating got me fatter and not leaner like I wanted. Now my training is much more what kind of intensity am I going for, and I’m doing it for health reasons instead of number chasing. I’ve also started rucking and I’m loving it and look forward to strapping on my backpack for a ruck. Great video and thanks for sharing awesome content like this for us.

[@JorPanzer]

great video Alan

[@future62]

Mindfulness and intentionality matter!

[@ericschexnayder1196]

"Sometimes in an attempt to make things perfect all the time, you only become fragile when things aren't perfect." This really, really resonated with me. When I was big into Starting Strength, I felt like if I wasn't eating 4,000 Calories a day on my novice progression, I was a failure. How "strong" is someone squatting 300 lbs but who has to eat three times as much as the average person just to maintain that strength?

[@thomasmarshall2337]

LOL loved the beginning. Perfect video as always.

[@deadandbored]

great video, very relatable to recent times for me. have been chasing a 500 squat but due to how i lowbar my left elbow kept getting hurt. decided to just not care and do other types of squats and now i actually enjoy leg day instead of hating it.

[@gregorymccoy6797]

Good. Very good. I've incorporated a few of those things into my own training over the years. Training for me is more pleasure than chasing the brass ring nowadays.

[@jesusdelarosa1204]

This approach is very helpful... Im gonna take some of this

[@TReno-ff8ld]

Excellent video!

[@robert50173]

brilliant stuff Alan

[@AlexLifts1971]

I agree, I wish I could transfer my passion to lift to others. when asked a couple of days ago, I responded, that I still get butterflies when I'm heading into a session after 30 years of training. I admire your evolution. It's inspiring. I would have never guessed your thoughts on bench press. I started doing bench after many years of not doing them due to shoulder pain. Honestly, I want to say about 2 years ago you made an updated tutorial on the bench. I studied that video closely and that's what got me into bench I'm pretty much only doing Larsen's as I'm more on the body-building side. Thank you! Oorah!

[@patrickmyers7569]

You still got it, buddy. Miss you guys!

[@quinnchmarak2390]

Every single video Alan Thrall posts I say he is so real for that

[@itsdannyftw]

Love this brother

[@8strang]

Stumbled back onto your channel today and find this! PERFECT TIMING! Going through similar thoughts big time! Now to catch up on your content gems I’ve missed! 🫶

[@blakem2258]

This video spoke to me. Thank you.

[@-Jesse.C]

Fantastic outlook on fitness.

[@unreactive]

I'll be coming back to this video every once in a while.

[@ParvParashar]

Great video! 🙏

[@TerezaBarloon]

The message of this video is so reassuring to me. I have tried so many times following various powerlifting programs and although I have gained a decent amount of strength, I have not been able to finish a single program without sacrificing my health in some other way (low back issues being the most common). I have started replacing some exercises with more bodyweight/calisthenics work, but I still feel guilty when I am unable to finish my squat sets/reps at the prescribed weight. I think following a more movement and feel based routine (by that I mean focusing on quality of movement and not overexerting myself when I already feel drained) works much better for me (aka average gym enthusiast), but it is much harder to stay true to myself and not make excuses when there is no definitive amount of weight and reps for me to do.

[@BlackTeaKettlebells]

Great advice!

[@dethsyl907]

Wow! That was a really inspiring videos😊.

[@personanongrata6249]

I’m so happy I saw you do those tbar curls & pull overs. Those are sick.

[@dessertstorm7476]

I get an Alan thrall vid in my feed every year or so and every time hes on some completely new arc

[@taxpurposes646]

This is great advice. I always find myself ebbing between a year or two of training in the style Alan describes here, and then switching back to a more powerlifting-centric style (typically 5/3/1). I think the clear planned progression and goals of programs like 5/3/1 are what keep me coming back, I switch up my accessories a lot but I like to feel 'anchored' to something. But I'm currently at the point mentioned in the video where I'm fried and doing everything I have to in order to add a few more points to this lift or that lift. If anyone has any training programs or paradigms they feel match the vibe of this video I'd love to see them!

[@michaelsudsysutherland5353]

Best Alan Thrall video yet!

[@lordfaustmessiah]

I've had to recently learn to "care a little less," after my gym got evicted suddenly, and a hamstring problem decided I needed a break from deadlifting and squatting heavy. It took a while to accept that no one cares what my numbers are, vocalizing it is only part of that process. Definitely good advice, considering most of us are just regular people trying to fit our love of the gym into the work / life balance.

[@robertoquiros1903]

Mr. Thrall, THANK YOU.

[@Amivgr1]

Training wisdom. True Training wisdom coming out of this man

[@TheKurtlocker]

Awesome video Alan

[@warrenellis1023]

Alan Thrall is someone who’s videos I’ve peeked in on every once in a while, for probably a decade. This one is my absolute favorite.

[@paulsohns3930]

Finally Adam Paul is back.

[@raman5329]

Great man!