Starting Strength Review

In this QUAH Sal, Adam, & Justin answer the question “What are your thoughts on Mark Rippetoe and the Starting Strength Method?"

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“Starting Strength Review"
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[BluegillGreg]

Reading the whole book, Starting Strength progresses from 4 exercises (Low Bar Back Squat, Bench Press, Over Head Press, Dead Lift) in the first two weeks to 9 exercises (adding Power Clean, Chin Up, Pull Up, Back Extension, and Glute Ham Raise) from the third to sixth weeks. Trainees are then to judiciously use the book's 27 auxiliary and ancillary exercise variations to keep the main lifts improving. The recommended reps go as low as 3 (Power Cleans) and as high as 20 (Romanian Dead Lifts, 3rd edition, pg. 261). 36 exercises with rep ranges between 3 and 20 isn't overly limited. I think a lot of people leave out exercises, rush the program, don't read the whole book, etc. He repeatedly warns people not to Dead Lift too much or too often, and gives 21 exercises that hit the posterior chain, yet some think it's a Squat Press Bench Dead Lift only program. Am I missing something?

[Broonzied]

Buying this book is the single best investment I have ever made. If you are new to barbell training and follow this program diligently, together with the advice on nutrition and recovery, you will be staggered at the results. It is one of the few products I have ever bought that did exactly what it said it would do and more (provided you actually do what it tells you). Of course buying the book alone will do nothing and I think many who find fault with this programme did not adhere strictly to the programme or other advice offered. It offers no 'shortcuts' or easy work arounds. It is hard work, and guess what, combining hard work with an intelligent approach to gaining strength works wonders. The two follow ups are also good buys with 'The Barbell Prescription' especially useful for more 'mature' folks like me.

[leannebahuaudbradley]

Please bring Mark Rippetoe on! I love the guy

[kelleykennedy]

For those who don’t know, in addition to Starting Strength, it’s companion book is called Practical Programing, which is for those who get past the novice linear progression outlined in SS. It’s for intermediate and advanced lifters and goes into accessory lifts and different programming strategies.

[miket]

Is Starting Strength perfect? No, but it holds a special place in my heart for getting me comfortable with and knowledgeable about minimalist, compound focused strength programming.

[benfinegoldsociety]

I'm a medical professional and the textbooks now say to recommend specifically BARBELL training with compound movements and progressive overload. As a good program for strength and wellness for the general population

That recommendation wasn't there 10 years ago.

[Zombiefann]

Starting strength is about pure strength training. Its not about aesthetics. However, eat right and do the program, and you'll be happy with how you look.

[Fulcrum]

Starting strength works great for making you strong. The novice linear progression will get you stronger than 90 percent of the people on this planet of you follow the program. After a year you will need to go to a more complex program unless you are young with special genetics. Mark says this himself.

[mocoyotzi]

Yes !!! Finally. I always wondered you’re guys thoughts on his program. It would be great to bring him on. That, I would definitely tune into. 🤟🏽💪🏽

[ho]

Starting Strenght is such a great program. You get stronger plain and simple.

[jeanpauljeanpaul]

This program is designed for everyone in order to develop strength. That’s from grandmas to teenagers.

[Three_Dog_Gaming]

Mark is a very knowledgeable guy. I get the impression that he's controversial because his focus is on strength building, not the typical bodybuilding most people like to see. I went through SS last year for 9 months. My squat went from sub 200 to 320, deadlift was at 135 and went to 350. My OHP just hit 100 and my bench just hit 170. I'm finding that my presses are weaker than I'd like them to be and so I'm just having to find other ways to make them stronger. That's all. I think you guys nailed the description though. It's very simple and has a great base to it.

[matthewspicka]

The NLP (novice linear progression) is how you start. The basic lifts are included in the program. The complexity of training moves up as you move out of being a novice.

[bigdude]

Just got the paperback book in yesterday. Always had it on pdf but never sat down and read it in its entirety. Never realized just how much info is in there. Between Rippetoe and Stuart McRoberts one has no excuse for not changing their bodies for the better unless they suffer from a debilitating disease or injury.

[TheDylan]

Interesting however, what imbalances come about from doing low bar back squats, dead lifts, bench press, OHP, power cleans, rows, and chins? Seems pretty well rounded to me.

[spencerdonaldson]

Hey guys, thank you for answering my question. Love the show.

[jasondangelo]

I’ve been doing starting strength on and off for a few years now. Every time I have a little time off because of life, it’s a good way to get my strength back really quick. Also, I was just listening to Silent Mike’s podcast the other day, and they were doing a Mount Rushmore analogy with fitness people too, would love to hear what you guys think. Love your channel and the information you put out.

[drunknnirish]

If someone wants to build a base of strength this might be the single best program a novice can do for the first 5-6 months.

[lucasfortes]

Starting Strength changed my life, and that's not an exaggeration.

[HuckFinn]

If you reflect the term "Starting Strength" you see clearly what the purpose of the programm is. It is a novice linear progression system, that couldn't be more effective in making you stronger. You train human movment patterns, not bodyparts, in order to make you a healthier and more useful human bring. It's for everybody and works every time it's executed correctly.