It's All You Bro!

I was at the supermarket tonight and spotted this ad in a fitness mag, I laughed out loud.
The photo was a of a man working out in a gym, with his shirt off, double pressing a pair of 15lb kettlebells. That's right, fifteen pounds! The funny thing about this ad campaign is that it's targeted at guys that are trying to bulk up. I can just imagine seeing this guy pressing 30lbs overhead (an empty straight bar weights more) while his work-out partners scream "It's all you bro! It's all you!"

I suppose the photo looks cool to someone that doesn't know anything about kettlebells, or strength training. Don't get me wrong, there is a time and place for very lightkettlebell work -it's called rehab.

To put things in perspective, I've a 10 year old client that performs high rep work with pairs of 15lb kettlebells and a 64 year old grandma that routinely uses 20s on her light days. I've had a male client that broke his collar bone use a 15lb kettlebell to regain mobility. Within a few short months he was pressing the 24kg (53lb) kettlebell again.

This reminded me of a recent podcast I listened to featuring Dan John, RKC and strength coach extraordinaire. According to Dan John you know you are lifting heavy enough when...

You know that you are lifting heavy enough...

• when you are in the squat rack and your spotters are afraid!
• when you bench press you blow at least one blood vessel in one eye per year!
• when performing deadlifts you pull for about nine seconds and nothing happens... then the bar moves!

When it comes to building strength remember the RKC Mantra

Lift as heavy as possible, as often as possible, while as fresh a possible.

Another favorite of mine: If you are bored and not even just a little bit afraid... it's not heavy enough.