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Since beginning training 21 years ago I have gone from somewhere around 110 lbs to 220 and at times I've hovered around 228 lbs.
My best weight is somewhere in the 204-208 lb range.
Back when I started, I was 13 years old, it was 2 weeks before 8th grade was over and I would train in my big bro's room which housed a spin lock barbell and some spin lock dumbbells. Most of our weights were sand filled and I still recall the days of dumbbell benching with sand dropping in my mouth and eyes.
I educated myself mainly through the world of Joe Weider, back in 1989, he ruled it all and finding information outside of his hands was tough.
But.... what REALLY moved me and fired me up was Arnold's Books, especially the black & white pics of him and his training partners in action.
There was something Very Raw & REAL about these photos, especially the guys who were Built like Brick Shit Houses, dense, thick, rugged muscles and moving BIG weights.
They were definitely part of the Anti Pussification Movement, perhaps they saw the future coming.
But, if I KNEW BETTER, it all would have revolved around the fundamentals and the basics. Back in the day, reading all those magazines, I was brainwashed into thinking I had to do isolation movements like side raises for the shoulders, leg extensions, leg curls, etc.
I trained at the local YMCA, a boat load of gyms throughout NJ, some of which were hardcore, others which were not.
Some of those gyms shut down, they put themselves out of business by trying to be something they were not.
I transitioned to training in the garage of my parents, a super tight space with equipment purchased from classified ads in the local newspaper.
No worries, as some of the strongest athletes in the world, especially outside the USA, train under horrible conditions yet have risen to the top and dominated their respective sports. Atmosphere and basics my friends, these will WIN.
With a low budget I was psyched to see CostCo had a 300 lb barbell set for only $99 Bones.....
Haven't seen that same barbell set come around again, but, with a 300 lb barbell, a pair of 50 & 100 lb Hex Dumbbells, a utility bench, squat uprights and a flat bench my workouts took on a whole new world, as did my body.
Those dumbbells were great, coming straight outta Newark, NJ where I met some dude at a storage facility who had shut down a small gym.
There ya go, another one bites the dust. You can't build a kick ass business if you have NO business knowledge or business systems in place.
Heck, running my gym part time, from 4 - 8 PM on Monday - Thursday and Friday we go from 4 - 7 PM, 19 hrs per week, the Gym brings in 6 figures. There is no reason why someone can't take their business and earn at least a solid part time income doing what they love.
But, then again, training IS the business. You can't kick ass unless you have the skills in training AND business. So, I ditched all the bodybuilding magazines and my old bodybuilding videos. It was a tough time for me, almost like I was dumping some chick I was in love with, ha ha
Although I was limited with information from what the strongest, biggest dudes did from back in the 
Golden Era, I copied whatever I could from them and brought it back to life. Those black and white pics of bodybuilders such as Dave Draper, Casey Viator, Bertil Fox, Arnold, Franco & Zane.... They were always rowing, benching, squatting, deadlifting, chins, dips....
That was The REAL shit!
It made sense to follow suit in my garage when I began rebelling against the Bull Shit information swamping the magazines and the internet.
The garage had low ceilings, so standing overhead work was out of the picture. But, heavy cleans worked those shoulders just fine.
Stones lined up my backyard, so I copied what I remember seeing in those OLD World's Strongest Man competitions as well as using them for functional movements such as squats, presses, carries, rows and power cleans.
My days of bodybuilding and transitioning to power bodybuilding and now a mix of strongman training, gymnastics / bodyweight workouts, kettlebell training, powerlifting, olympic lifting and more....
I keep my mind open. Open to new ways for getting stronger, bigger, faster, leaner and meaner.
You need to keep your mind open as well. Those who know it all know Nothing. After 21 years I am learning more than ever and also hungrier than ever to learn more and evolve my training system. Our athletes are kicking ass and I'm feelin' agile, mobile and hostile.
At age 34, I am not slowing down. I will continue to kick ass and will always be hungry. I remember the "older" guys in the gym always telling me one day I would slow down. They told me how they used to be like me. Well, news flash.... I NEVER SLOWED down and only got stronger and hungrier.
I am NOT like they are or were, nor am I like anyone else out there. Don't let naysayers bring you down. Blaze your own trail and Lead from the Front.
Be Strong.
--Z--
PS: Drop a comment with your thoughts, looking forward!
Recommended Resources:
Underground Strength Coach Inner Circle
14 Responses
Very inspirational post Zack! You’re another great example of what can be done when you put your mind and effort into it. I started training when I was 18 and went from 130lbs to 160lbs, but I had the wrong mindset and work ethic to take it to the next level. I hurt my shoulder and back and ended up getting fat. However, I never fully gave up on my dreams. For the past years I’ve been reading, studying and learning how to become successful.
Because of guys like you, Vinny D, Jason Ferruggia, Nick Nilsson and tons of others I’ve been learning the proper ways to train. I’ve healed my injuries and am focusing soley on getting stronger and gaining another 30lbs or more. At 32 years old… I believe it’s never too late to be what you might have been!
Keep up the great work!
Brandon
Hell yeah Zach, that’s what it’s all about! The naysayers congregate around the gate, the warriors step through. Whether it’s business, sports or life the “real” dudes lead from the front. I was a 160-lbs senior in HS with no chance at any sport in college, after hitting the weights hard I walked on to a college program in FL and got drafted by the Orioles in 1998. All thanks to the same shit you talk about here. I got hooked on the EAS/Bill Phillips info for a year until I discovered Charles Poliquin and went back to classical powerlifting workouts. My best compliment was “you’re juicin” the year I got drafted… nahuh… it was the deadlifts, pull-ups, front squats that super sized me. Next time you’re in FL come check us out! I love my life, train in the AM, work on the business 11-3, train serious HS athletes 4-8:30… No reason more passionate dudes can’t do the same thing! Check out the lost business files DVD – bad ass info…
http://www.delucastraining.com
“Atmosphere and basics my friends, these will WIN…..”
you should put that on a shirt Zach!
So true Zach!
I always find so many people who kick ass have the same story. They get into the basics, they make things complex and fancy with fads and gimics and then they revert back to the basics.
K.i.S.S. and K.I.B!
Love it!!!!!!
Zach,
I have a similar story as I was 92 lbs as a sophmore in high school.
I wanted to badly play starting CB on our football team, but size was against me.
It was not until I went back to the basics of squatting, benching, rows, etc… did I get to
185. Of Course, lots of good eating came into play. Thanks for the great info.
Jimmy
Brandon, hells yea dude, NEVER 2 late!
Deluca, very kick ass bro, U lead from the front, gotta love it!!
Kris, ha ha, hells yea!
Matt – all about the basics, always have been, always will be!
Leia – thank you for dropping in all the time, BIG time honored 🙂
Jimmy, right on dude, imagine what would happen to a team if ALL the kids ate and lifted like you!?!?!?
Hey Zach. 34 isn’t old yet. I’m no strongman, just a skinny runner and I can still run 60meters at my personal best time at 52. Just never stop training and never stop learning.
Zach,
I admire what you have done and have some of your other posts and videos. I have concluded from a lot of your other posts about your past as a school teacher and trying to run this biz, something had to give for you to keep BALANCE as you have stated.
I assume the teaching gig which you left behind got in the way and you couldn’t keep burning the candle at both ends from early morning teaching elementary to trying to run the underground gym.
So I see you walked away, gave up the pension, and are now doing what you love with no more being drained.
The smart thing you did, which many fitness guys or other business owners don’t do is have an EXIT STRATEGY or a TRANSITION STRATEGY from one career (e.g. teaching) to running their biz (e.g. Underground Gym). You did it and were smart about it.
Although I don’t believe in certifications like yours unless they are approved by the NCCA just like NASM, ACSM, etc…. I do love and value your training ideas.
It’s just my opinion, so as they say, “opinions are like assholes and everyone has one”. I hope maybe down the road you get your program certified by NCCA so that it is fully accredited, you know what I mean. Then that will open up a whole new market of fitness folks and the NCCA will see your certification in the same light as the top NASM, ACSM, NSCA, and ACE..
Well dude, I admire and like what you have done, keep training young and old dudes alike and don’t lose that fire and KILL IT.
Later dayz.