It was June of 1989 when I began lifting weights in my brother's room. For a year, perhaps even 2 years, I was already intrigued with getting strong and building my body. I would read the bodybuilding books and magazines my brother had before I even began training. Unfortunately, those books were bodybuilding based. There were NO performance based training books available at the book stores. Unless I completely ignored them and only read what captured my attention. When I began coaching at a … [Read more...]
Old School Bodybuilding Book: Super High Intensity Bodybuilding, Ultimate Warrior & Old School Strength
It was the Winter of 1989....... I had asked my parents for a bunch of bodybuilding books that I had read multiple times already. How? I would sit on the floor at the B Dalton book store inside menlo park mall and read ALL of the books. But still, I was obsessed and had to have them all. Reading them a few times wasn't enough for me. The photos inside these books inspired me to train harder and get bigger. Little did I know or could I ever imagine that decades later, I would become … [Read more...]
Simple & Effective Nutrition Tips from Physical Culture, Silver & Golden Era Bodybuilding
I've been going through my old magazines from the 50s and 60s and really love seeing the nutrition basics. And a few weeks ago, someone sent me my original paper back of The Way to Live, which I recreated into The Russian Lion Power Course. So now, I am going through and rereading some of George Hackenschmidt's nutrition, training and lifestyle tips. Everything was so simple and yet so effective when we look at the nutrition and training tips dating back to the Physical Culture era (early … [Read more...]
252: Jim “Bandbell” Seitzer, Early Days Westside Barbell & Old School Bodybuilding
STRONG Life Podcast 252 is BEAST! Jim Seitzer started lifting weights in the mid 70s with none other than Louie Simmons. That's right, imagine graduating college and training to be a bodybuilder and on day 1, you see Louie benching 365 at the Ohio State University weight room and when you ask Louie, the strongest guy in the gym for help he says, "Just show up at my house tomorrow!" Jim began training for bodybuilding as a "Power Bodybuilder" in 1976 and went on to become a high level … [Read more...]
Conspiracy Craziness, Upper Body Warm Ups + Specialty Bars for Shoulder Health
It's been a minute since I've posted a new article to the blog, and honestly, I am writing right now because it FEELS good to write. It's a therapy of sorts, similar to how I feel when training. LOTS going on now. I stayed calm and cool with the quarantine but now this craziness in NJ is out of control. I see lines out the door of Dairy Queen, other large chain businesses are packed to the gills and the only thing I ever see getting cleaned, if that's what it is, is a few sprays here and … [Read more...]
POWER Lessons from Strength & Health Magazine (1941) & The Spartan Way
What is the 1 thing that has consistently improved my life since my teenage years? Reading! As you'll see from the video & audio below, the power in reading comes when you do what Ed O'Keefe calls Time Collapsing. You're learning lessons in rapid fashion that took someone else years and years to discover. With time being our most precious asset, being that we can never buy or regain the time we lost, it's something you must take seriously. How can you maximize your time to best … [Read more...]
Zach’s “30 Years of Strength Training” Anniversary Sale!!
SALE ENDS FRIDAY, JUNE 22nd at 5 PM EST You Will Get 30% Off These Courses Using the Code "30years" at Check Out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywLCKHnXSfI The Underground Strength & Performance System The Bodyweight Bodybuilding System Operation Thunder: The Warehouse Gym Project Strength Coach Business Spectrum The Russian Lion Power Course The Gladiator Project Wrestling Workouts That WIN! Online Training with Zach / Gladiator … [Read more...]
STRENGTH Lessons From 1957 & The 90s
Magazine above from 1957, I'd say that Dude is pretty STRONG. What do you think he did in training? I am sure he didn't have many options in the 50s. A barbell, maybe a few dumbbells? Calisthenics and running, swimming and overall hard training and healthy, strong eating. I did some research and "Tarzan" Jacobs was a Mr. Universe runner up and was also a pro wrestler in the 60s and 70s. They described Jacobs as "enormously strong". … [Read more...]
Knee Pain, Weightlifting Belts & Back to Bodybuilding
I've been getting questions regarding injuries, knee pain, back pain and nutrition for a LONG time. After 3 knee surgeries, a shoulder surgery, a broken nose, aches and pains since my early teens with Wrestling and practically living in the gym, I've experienced a LOT of ups and downs. I blend an approach where I experiment and figure things out for myself as well as reaching out to a few friends who have more experience than I do. Here's the deal. I used to always wear a thin … [Read more...]
STRONG Life Ep. 126: Strength Training & Life Lessons From the 70s, 80s & 90s
STRONG Life Episode 126 with Jim Steel. In this episode, we kick things off with some throwback stories from the 70s, 80s and 90s and then dig into our current day training methods. Jim and I (as always) discuss all kinds of topics strength related, in no particular order, the following topics: … [Read more...]