It has been a while since my last update (way too long, actually) but that’s because there’s nothing new to report. However, it seems that the routine is more popular than ever, as people are starting to figure out that there’s no better way to train than full body exercises. I have a lot of planned articles and sections for this site, but I want to make sure that they’re all polished up before I actually go ahead and release them. In the mean time, keep training!

Most of you must already know this, but kethnaab’s infamous thread on Bodybuilding.com forums has now been converted into a PDF document (thanks to thepointman). For archival purposes, I have uploaded the FAQ on this website for everyone to download. You will require Adobe Reader (free download) to open this document.

Hey everyone, I’m still here and alive. I have been training non-stop and enjoying every minute of it. I have now progressed into the Intermediate stage of strength training, as Rippetoe’s Starting Strength routine was no longer effective (I have been following it for over a year and a half mind you). The gains I have achieved with the beginner program were phenomenal, and I have been grateful for finding about the routine at the right time. I have been reading Practical Programming for Strength Training for a while now and it’s great stuff. I am learning way too much to list about it in this small post, so I encourage everyone to grab a copy and check it out for themselves instead of waiting for me to spill the beans. I recently found out that Mark Rippetoe released another book back in November, titled Strong Enough? Thoughts from Thirty Years of Barbell Training. I will be ordering it very soon alongside my fractional plates for micro-loading.

For those who are curious, I am following Bill Starr’s 5×5 program, featured on Madcow’s site.

For those who don’t know what to get for their siblings or friends as a holiday gift, I recommend the book Starting Strength. If you think about it, it’s one of those gifts that “keep on giving” when they really start getting serious about their training. Maybe when they start the routine and compare their physique with before and after pictures, they’ll thank you tremendously for putting them on the right path. Of course, it can be a bit awkward and they may take it as an insult especially if they don’t lift any weights or train in the first place, so watch out for those situations. Just a thought!

A few people wrote in asking what “Basic Barbell Training” is and if it’s a new book by Mark Rippetoe (they noticed the new white cover on it). The answer is “yes and no”: it’s pretty much a revised edition of the original Starting Strength book, with more illustrations and a new chapter on assistance exercises. It also has more detailed analysis of the five core exercises that are taught in the first edition. If you already own the Starting Strength book, I would say you don’t need to get this book just yet. Stick with what you have learned in the original and if needed, perhaps rent the second edition at your library to save a few dollars if you want to know what’s new in Basic Barbell Training. Of course, if you haven’t already purchased either copy, I highly recommend you do so now for your own sake in getting the best out of your workouts (if you’re a beginner to weight training).

The second book by Mark Rippetoe is Practical Programming for Strength Training, targeted towards people who are moving onwards from the Starting Strength routine (and entering the intermediate stage). It features chapters on periodization and advance techniques on strength training for people who can no longer move up in strength on the original routine. I will be writing a few articles on the intermediate book as soon as I finish reading it and putting it to use.