#242 – Getting Started #1: What’s The Big Deal About Strength?

You’ve decided. It’s time to get started. It’s time to get in shape. But… how? Do you start jogging around the block? Join the local YMCA and hit the elliptical machine? Do a couple circuits on the shiny weight machines? There is a vast library of exercises you could do, and endless amounts of conflicting information on the best way to exercise. Judging by the physical condition of the average American, none of these approaches seem to work very well.

At Barbell Logic we argue that strength is what you should train for. Strength is, simply put, your ability to produce force in your physical environment. Getting out of bed, sitting up from a chair, picking up your grandkids… these activities, and everything else you do, requires some degree of force production. Merely standing up requires your body to resist the force of gravity. Your physical existence is predicated upon your ability to produce force, to be strong.

That doesn’t mean strength is the only thing worth training for. There are other physical skills — power, endurance, speed, balance, accuracy — but training these won’t improve your strength. At least not enough to matter. On the other hand, getting stronger will improve all the other physical skills. That’s because all the other physical skills require force production.

So, with that in mind, you should start building your fitness by getting strong. We like barbells for that. You can start with as little as 5lbs, and make any increment of weight jumps (seriously, you can get plates as small as 0.25lbs each!). A few simple exercises — the squat, press, deadlift, and bench press — will train your entire body efficiently and safely. Barbell training is simple, hard, and very, very effective.

So get started today! Check out the Barbell Logic website for more podcasts, articles and videos on how to get started, and to find an excellent coach to guide you through the process.

Have a question about training? Send a question to Matt and Scott! Email us at questions@barbell-logic.com and we’ll answer your question on an upcoming Saturday Q&A!