What Conditioning Should I Do For Starting Strength?

Starting Strength Coaches Grant Broggi and Nick Delgadillo answer a question about whether someone needs to do cardio while running the starting strength program, and if so, what should they do for their conditioning?

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[kingpinsbarbershop]

Gotta say, as much as the info you provide is great, every time Broggi has a fresh haircut Im giving props to his barber. Always a clean fade, Barber love from another barber lol

[siddislikesgoogle]

Got invited to participate in my sons swimming lesson. 1 hour of non stop laps in the pool. Went in no conditioning, just what i had as baseline from strength training. Teachers were surprised i managed to keep up with the kids, though getting into the rythm took a while, i eventually did and made it.
I think some conditioning is necessary because its synergistic with the lifting, helps recovery between sets and between workouts. Its not surprising because because breathing better improves live generally. Amazing discovery i know 😂

[edwardburroughs]

Adding 'normal human activity' wont improve your capacity in cardio heavy work unless you're totally sedentary, but nobody who lifts weights is totally sedentary. Its like saying dont lift, just carrying the shopping will make you strong. I go jogging/running about twice a week and 'lift' twice a week and although those activities don't neccessarily compliment each other its easy to make progress at both unless you're past an intermediate level I think. IMO the rower is the best cardio for people who like to lift weights since it has much faster recovery time than running, for example. I rowed for an hour at a medium pace (based on heart rate) this afternoon and I already feel recovered but the same length of time jogging does put a good bit of fatigue into the legs. Unless youve got specific sport based aims I believe this is the best way to do it.

[robcubed]

My conditioning: beltless squats for sets of 8 with less than 3 minutes of rest between sets

[oldnatty]

For health, fitness, and longevity strength and conditioning are equally important. The advice given in this vid is on the verge of the strength and condition malpractice.

[airbornedunce]

What do you think of 100 one handed kettlebell swings (50 each side) as post strength training conditioning? I've gotten good results but I'm interested on your thoughts about it for a wider group of people?

[andrewtanczyk]

It’s difficult to do road work and get enough jogs in with lifting. Yet for now I try to get in two maybe three runs in a week. Yet I’m definitely looking for one more conditioning to use. At my boxing gym I do use the row machine. However the general rule of thumb if you compete they claim you need to run. However I must confess that by lifting my muscle endurance has greatly increased. However you get your wind or breath from your road work.

[TheCuttingEdge-LCK]

I add 12 minutes on an elliptical twice a week after squat days. It is run in a HIIT routine. I find it to be enough without hindering my weight training. The advantage of the elliptical is that it is low impact and doesn't beat you up straining recovery.

[bennigan]

If your basic life is your sport, an hour of zone 2 on three of the off days I think is very much called for. I was severely deconditioned and couldn't get through a SS workout in less than 2.5 hours, and this did not get better with just lifting. I started doing zone 2 on off days and now I can get through an SS workout reliably in 60-80 minutes. I really wish I had started with this from the beginning. Deconditioning from illness or drug abuse, or the bed rest effect really needs to be addressed head on with cardio. This is a special population that I don't feel is adequately addressed in the SS literature. Prowlers, rowing machine, and HIIT on an echo bike was too intense for me and interfered with my lifting. But now after a few months of zone 2 training, I can do these things for my conditioning.

[JimH-cj]

I read a study that said if you do light jog at %70 of MHR for 12 minutes 3x a week this will give you all the conditioning the average human needs

[Flakzor]

Honestly the example of not being able to walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded is indicative of ZERO TRAINING the past 3-6 months. I've been there. If your conditioning is that bad you're not doing any serious training, strength or otherwise. My honest advice for someone who feels that way in spite of actually trying to be active is to get checked for leukemia because I fully expect a healthy person to experience better cardio after just a couple of weeks.

[marcgatto]

I row hard on a Concept 2. I've been doing it for years. 3/4 times a week for 30 minutes

[blakekennard]

Loaded carries with an implement close to your body weight for time/distance/or failure and farmers walks at or above body weight in each hand for as many sets needed to accumulate three minutes of work capacity, are very supplemental to a strength program. In less than five minutes you feel as if you’ve ran a 5k. They also have the benefit of make the whole system stronger through multiple plains of motion. When I think of strength based conditioning this is what should come to mind, yet it seems neglected by many.

[thisguy-yvso]

Im not nearly as qualified as these guys to speak on strength and conditioning but I am a coach and speaking from personal experience as a high school wrestler i was alot stronger than most people but kids who had the gas tank to just go ALL day typically went further than the guys who were really strong. I know these guys speak in terms of the average non athlete but I just think doing starting strength only will take care of your cardio is a bit overstated

[sethdbrown]

I lift 4 days a week and run twice a week. 1 run session is 30 minutes at low intensity, the second run session usually has some intervals up to some pretty fast speed.

[Ryan-vqur]

do burpees 3 days a week on the days you're not lifting. nothing crazy, just a few sets

[michanota]

I strength train 3 day a week..physical labor in lumber yard 3days a week.

[AndyThomasStaff]

So according to Starting Strength, weight training provides so much conditioning that you can't even walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded, unless you are doing actual conditioning with cardio. Got it.

[KRN]

Sled, ruck, ride your bike outside, pickleball (i guess)

[Jumpisthenics]

I'll save everyone the 6 minutes - it's JUMP ROPE.

Full disclosure, I have not watched this video.