I think the key point why I bought the TG Fit and resistance bands was to put less stress on my joints and still be able to stay toned. I understand he is running a business selling weights but I found out through the years that I should have incorporated this type of resistance exercising to prolong less wear & tear on my body.
I love how you interview and get opinions from so many different style of trainers. To many online fitness so called experts have the idea that it's their way or you're wrong. There's such a wide variety of methods and equipment that can be used why would anyone close themselves to only one way of training. Please keep up the interviews as all these folks have something to add.
that was a great interview mike,different resistance,muscle building with barbells,bands,getting stronger with barbells,dumbells,weighted vest movements, i use them all so ill never get bored,i see that great podcast work mike,yr the man!😂
When your young, barbells are great. But once you hit your 60s, shoulder and joint issues can really inhibit your ROM. TG and Bands overcome those issues.
I definitely hear you and am very cautious of that possibility in the future and obviously I'm a huge proponent of TGs and Bands. One reason I wanted to have Grant (or other Starting Strength Coaches) on is because he trains with a surprisingly large number of seniors who have been lifting weights far surpassing strength levels of their peers. We get into that a little more in the full interview.
Well i'll be honest...i get some joint pain when i use free weight. I'll be 53 years old tomorrow and for people in my age bracket or older i think a total gym is the way to go for workouts. I know people on your channel are of all ages. But the total gym works for me ! And you can get stronger and have good definition if you use it only 3 times a week. but i do know you can maintain that strength you develop & have good tone with the help of that cable on the sliding bench. As you have said many times "Doing something is better than nothing"
Thanks for the comment Robert. I've certainly heard about the joint pain from traditional free weights. I do think they can be a little less forgiving or flexible compared to other modes. I don't hold any allegiance to any type of resistance training (even the sliding bench trainers). Like you're saying, find what feels good to you, what you can adhere to, and hopefully hits your goals.
Hi, Sliding Bench Trainer, Weight training is excellent, and you can get stronger, but you need a spotter for benching or squatting because you do reach limits, and can be dangerous to lift heavier than what you can handle. This is where it becomes a problem for many people, they get stuck and hurt. It does happen not using common sense to train knowing their limitations. I have been using different forms of training and I find you can get stronger through many different forms of training variation of training also generates different muscles in different ways and you don't get bored. Of course, I believe Grant is referring to training for the sport you play or perform in so you have to train specifically for that sport. Of course, certain sports require a certain method of training in order to perform at a high level of course that is dependent on the sport.
This wasn't very helpful and it appeared that the interviewee was not very familiar with total gym training (he kept on referring to bands which are a different beast). Of course he's going to promote what he's selling (weight based strength training) so I took everything he says with a huge grain of salt. That said regardless of the efficiency of either system folks use the total gym because: Limited space: not everyone has a free garage for a power rack, cable machine and olympic sized barbells. With a total gym you can get a total workout in a relatively small footprint with a device that is easily stowed. Injury prone: I'm an old guy and I've had multiple strength training endeavors derailed when I twerk something take weeks to recover and fail to resume my program. Even if you "know" good form when you are tired it's easy to mess something up that takes weeks to heal. Beginner friendly: This goes with the injury prone but if you have no experience with weight training and you are going it alone it's easy to not get it right reducing efficiency and chance of injury. The total gym is so simple it's hard to screw up. I've done both and for me the total gym is much more forgiving, much more beginner friendly Work out alone: If you are working to failure with free weighs alone that's can be a recipe for disaster. Sure a lot of folks do it but you just need one screw up to mess you up plus the feedback on form can be invaluable. At no time have I ever felt I need someone to "spot" me on the total gym. Recovery: My physical therapist has a total gym at her facility because it's great for the controlled motioned needed to help with recovery from injury. She does not have a power rack and olympic barbells. Cost: Start pricing out everything you need for a typical weight training regimen and you quickly exceed the cost of a total gym. You can might be able to get cheap setup (cement filled weights, crap bench etc) for less than a decent sliding bench but the sacrifices you make cutting corners and leaving out essential safety equipment like a good power rack may not be worth it. Those are just a few of the advantages I find with the "sliding bench". I'm sure there's a few other I've missed but I'm disappointed that for the most partt these advantages are not really properly addressed in the interview or in the monolog afterwards.
Thanks for this long comment. I obviously agree with you about all the merits or "pros" of using a sliding bench trainer. In talking with Grant more in the full interview, he definetly more practical and open about the "pros/cons" of barbell training than most "starting strength" coaches. I think every tool or mode of exercises just needs to be placed into its proper context. What I did want to highlight with Grant and other coaches who are using barbells as a primary tool for their training is how barbell training is not inherently dangerous or not "not good" for older individuals by default.
When I contemplate different training methods I always think about a famous Bruce Lee quote. “Using no way as a way, having no limitation as limitation”
100% my friend. My brother used to tell me my method was JKD when he worked out with me back in the day. I basically would be mixing in BB with the "functional training" trends of the day using stability balls and random stuff.
Great interview excerpt and I think that both your conclusion and Grant’s about the efficiency of barbell training is on point. There’s a reason that powerlifters and many bodybuilders use barbells as a primary tool and let’s be honest Mike, your own foundation in both bodybuilding and powerlifting benefited greatly from barbells, yes? But you’ve also done amazing maintenance on that foundation using other modalities like resistance bands and the Total Gym. Would others achieve similar size and strength without using barbells? It might be more difficult to accomplish. But could you get a cut, reasonably muscular physique without using barbells? I think so, with sufficient dedication and persistence to challenging yourself. Maybe not the same raw strength and power, though.
Since my teens I experimented with all sorts of modes/styles resistance training, but if I where to say which specific mode I gravitated to and used the most, I'd honestly say it would be machines in general. I've said this in past videos (and maybe I'd disagree with Grant on this one) but whenever I did dominant barbell only (powerlifting / Starting Strength), I'd get stronger in those lifts, but my muscle size would be smaller. When I first started using sliding benches heavily in early 2020 I was coming off heavy traditional weighttlifting where I'd say I was actually less muscular. But this is no surprise to me. If I want definition / size, more volume/stress seems to work best (obviously diet as well). There's a lot of variables / nuances, but I think regardless of tool, if muscle is what people are looking for, it's a matter of stressing them repeatedly in a specific manner.
I think the key point why I bought the TG Fit and resistance bands was to put less stress on my joints and still be able to stay toned. I understand he is running a business selling weights but I found out through the years that I should have incorporated this type of resistance exercising to prolong less wear & tear on my body.
Thanks for the comment John.
I love how you interview and get opinions from so many different style of trainers. To many online fitness so called experts have the idea that it's their way or you're wrong. There's such a wide variety of methods and equipment that can be used why would anyone close themselves to only one way of training. Please keep up the interviews as all these folks have something to add.
Thank Lou. Spot on, many ways to skin a cat. Also so many interesting and fun ways to get a workout in.
My favorite is " free weights" the only way and the most efficient way. Not true.
that was a great interview mike,different resistance,muscle building with barbells,bands,getting stronger with barbells,dumbells,weighted vest movements, i use them all so ill never get bored,i see that great podcast work mike,yr the man!😂
Thanks Elad. My weight vest is one tool I often just forget about. Might have to break that out again on the next workout.
@SlidingBenchTrainer yes brother,better pump then a barbell press
When your young, barbells are great. But once you hit your 60s, shoulder and joint issues can really inhibit your ROM. TG and Bands overcome those issues.
I definitely hear you and am very cautious of that possibility in the future and obviously I'm a huge proponent of TGs and Bands. One reason I wanted to have Grant (or other Starting Strength Coaches) on is because he trains with a surprisingly large number of seniors who have been lifting weights far surpassing strength levels of their peers. We get into that a little more in the full interview.
Your videos have helped me a lot. Had 10 surgeries and trying to get back in shape to strengthen my body
Great to hear, thank you. Let me know if there’s any content that I can make that will help you out.
Loving these interviews Mike!!!
Have you guys are enjoying them
Well i'll be honest...i get some joint pain when i use free weight. I'll be 53 years old tomorrow and for people in my age bracket or older i think a total gym is the way to go for workouts. I know people on your channel are of all ages. But the total gym works for me ! And you can get stronger and have good definition if you use it only 3 times a week. but i do know you can maintain that strength you develop & have good tone with the help of that cable on the sliding bench. As you have said many times "Doing something is better than nothing"
Thanks for the comment Robert. I've certainly heard about the joint pain from traditional free weights. I do think they can be a little less forgiving or flexible compared to other modes. I don't hold any allegiance to any type of resistance training (even the sliding bench trainers). Like you're saying, find what feels good to you, what you can adhere to, and hopefully hits your goals.
Hi, Sliding Bench Trainer, Weight training is excellent, and you can get stronger, but you need a spotter for benching or squatting because you do reach limits, and can be dangerous to lift heavier than what you can handle. This is where it becomes a problem for many people, they get stuck and hurt. It does happen not using common sense to train knowing their limitations. I have been using different forms of training and I find you can get stronger through many different forms of training variation of training also generates different muscles in different ways and you don't get bored. Of course, I believe Grant is referring to training for the sport you play or perform in so you have to train specifically for that sport. Of course, certain sports require a certain method of training in order to perform at a high level of course that is dependent on the sport.
This wasn't very helpful and it appeared that the interviewee was not very familiar with total gym training (he kept on referring to bands which are a different beast).
Of course he's going to promote what he's selling (weight based strength training) so I took everything he says with a huge grain of salt.
That said regardless of the efficiency of either system folks use the total gym because:
Limited space: not everyone has a free garage for a power rack, cable machine and olympic sized barbells. With a total gym you can get a total workout in a relatively small footprint with a device that is easily stowed.
Injury prone: I'm an old guy and I've had multiple strength training endeavors derailed when I twerk something take weeks to recover and fail to resume my program.
Even if you "know" good form when you are tired it's easy to mess something up that takes weeks to heal.
Beginner friendly: This goes with the injury prone but if you have no experience with weight training and you are going it alone it's easy to not get it right reducing efficiency and chance of injury. The total gym is so simple it's hard to screw up. I've done both and for me the total gym is much more forgiving, much more beginner friendly
Work out alone: If you are working to failure with free weighs alone that's can be a recipe for disaster. Sure a lot of folks do it but you just need one screw up to mess you up plus the feedback on form can be invaluable. At no time have I ever felt I need someone to "spot" me on the total gym.
Recovery: My physical therapist has a total gym at her facility because it's great for the controlled motioned needed to help with recovery from injury. She does not have a power rack and olympic barbells.
Cost: Start pricing out everything you need for a typical weight training regimen and you quickly exceed the cost of a total gym. You can might be able to get cheap setup (cement filled weights, crap bench etc) for less than a decent sliding bench but the sacrifices you make cutting corners and leaving out essential safety equipment like a good power rack may not be worth it.
Those are just a few of the advantages I find with the "sliding bench". I'm sure there's a few other I've missed but I'm disappointed that for the most partt these advantages are not really properly addressed in the interview or in the monolog afterwards.
Thanks for this long comment. I obviously agree with you about all the merits or "pros" of using a sliding bench trainer. In talking with Grant more in the full interview, he definetly more practical and open about the "pros/cons" of barbell training than most "starting strength" coaches. I think every tool or mode of exercises just needs to be placed into its proper context. What I did want to highlight with Grant and other coaches who are using barbells as a primary tool for their training is how barbell training is not inherently dangerous or not "not good" for older individuals by default.
You should interview tom campanero the inventor of total gym
All I can say is that I've tried on that one.
When I contemplate different training methods I always think about a famous Bruce Lee quote. “Using no way as a way, having no limitation as limitation”
100% my friend. My brother used to tell me my method was JKD when he worked out with me back in the day. I basically would be mixing in BB with the "functional training" trends of the day using stability balls and random stuff.
Great interview excerpt and I think that both your conclusion and Grant’s about the efficiency of barbell training is on point. There’s a reason that powerlifters and many bodybuilders use barbells as a primary tool and let’s be honest Mike, your own foundation in both bodybuilding and powerlifting benefited greatly from barbells, yes? But you’ve also done amazing maintenance on that foundation using other modalities like resistance bands and the Total Gym.
Would others achieve similar size and strength without using barbells? It might be more difficult to accomplish. But could you get a cut, reasonably muscular physique without using barbells? I think so, with sufficient dedication and persistence to challenging yourself. Maybe not the same raw strength and power, though.
Since my teens I experimented with all sorts of modes/styles resistance training, but if I where to say which specific mode I gravitated to and used the most, I'd honestly say it would be machines in general. I've said this in past videos (and maybe I'd disagree with Grant on this one) but whenever I did dominant barbell only (powerlifting / Starting Strength), I'd get stronger in those lifts, but my muscle size would be smaller. When I first started using sliding benches heavily in early 2020 I was coming off heavy traditional weighttlifting where I'd say I was actually less muscular. But this is no surprise to me. If I want definition / size, more volume/stress seems to work best (obviously diet as well). There's a lot of variables / nuances, but I think regardless of tool, if muscle is what people are looking for, it's a matter of stressing them repeatedly in a specific manner.
If strength is the goal then I agree.