How to Load a Barbell for Deadlifts the EASY Way!

Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers gives you a few tips and tricks to make loading the barbell for your deadlifts easier and faster.

(A Blast from the Past video originally published on 06/24/23)

Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

---

At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

Your Lifts Won't Improve Until You Pass THIS Silent Test

The best lifters don't just get stronger – they master the fundamentals first. Learn the overlooked test that can expose weak links and improve every lift you perform. Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers explains and provides demonstrations.

Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

---

At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

When Strength Training, Don't Rest & Try This Instead

Rest between sets is important . . . or is it? Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers covers two simple yet overlooked strategies that can improve your training efficiency.

Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

---

At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

10 Lifting Mistakes in 10 Minutes

From beginners to experienced lifters, these mistakes show up everywhere. In under 10 minutes, Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers covers 10 common lifting errors and how to correct them quickly.

Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

---

At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

Why do I Keep FAILING?!

(A Blast from the Past article originally posted on 11/03/23)

Are you missing reps on your linear progression? Let’s address one potential problem, and it’s one that’s easy to fix.

Specifically, let’s talk about rest periods (i.e., how long you’re resting between sets). I know - not very exciting. However, rest periods are important because they can either support your training, or - if chosen poorly - they can derail your training.

When someone starts training with us here at Testify, we have a conversation on day one wherein we discuss rest periods, and during this conversation, we address two things:

1. Resting Between Warm-up Sets
The short version? You don’t need to do it. That’s right. Don’t rest between warm-up sets. The act of changing your weights will provide enough rest while you're warming up. These are warm-up weights and don’t require much of a break between sets. You are welcome to rest several minutes, but most people don’t have all day to train, and this is the place to save time in the workout.

One caveat - you’ll probably want to rest a few minutes after your last warm-up set, i.e., before your first work set, which brings us to . . .

2. Resting Between Work Sets
You definitely want to rest between work sets. When you’re getting started with the Starting Strength linear progression, somewhere between three and five minutes will probably suffice. Treat that range as a minimum.

Want to squat 225 lb like Sarah? be sure to rest long enough between your work sets.

Remember that the purpose of strength training is - not surprisingly - to get stronger. To get stronger, you need to do the prescribed training for the day - you need to lift what you said you were going to lift - and to lift that weight, you need to rest enough to complete all the reps of your work sets.

The Main Point
That last part is the main point - rest long enough to ensure that you complete the next set successfully. When you read “three to five minutes,” remind yourself that this is appropriate for when you’re starting out, and also remind yourself that this is a minimum. When things get heavier and more challenging, there will come a time when you need to rest longer - you’ll rest six minutes, seven minutes, etc.

Establish the Habit
One of the most enjoyable parts of lifting weights is . . . not lifting weights, so force yourself to get used to resting - even at the beginning of your strength training journey.

If it’s your second workout, take the three, four, or five minute break even if you know you could get back under the bar and complete the next set with a shorter rest break. Start establishing the habit of getting adequate rest right away in your training. If you tend to rush things, a timer can be a handy tool to ensure that you’re waiting long enough before starting your next set.

Practical Limitations
There are, of course, some practical limitations to how long you’ll actually rest, and you’ll notice that I’m not suggesting that you rest 15 minutes between sets. Even if a 10-15 minute rest period might be useful, it simply may not be practical in terms of your schedule for the day.

Wrapping Up
In general, though, rest long enough to ensure that you can complete the next set. Completing your work sets will allow you to get stronger, and in this way, you will still be making progress on your linear progression four months, five months, or even six months into it instead of missing reps in the first or second month.

It may help to remember that this isn’t conditioning; of course, there will still be a conditioning benefit, but that’s not why you’re strength training. You’re doing it to get stronger, so take the appropriate rest, and as always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.

-Phil

PS: Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

(Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Testify earns from qualifying purchases.)

---

At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

3 Pieces of Gym Gear That Separate Beginners from Serious Lifters

If your gym bag only has shoes and earbuds, you’re probably just exercising. Exercise is certainly better than nothing - but if you actually train, then you show up with a few specific tools that quietly separate progress from plateaus.

#1: Training Log
The training log separates training from exercise, and you are showing up to train.

Training means there’s a goal, which means there’s a plan - a program - designed to help you achieve that goal. That plan needs data, and your training log is that data. It’s the history of where you’ve been, and thus, it allows you to make decisions to help you move forward.

I recommend a paper notebook, but if you want to go the digital route, that will work, too. Record your warm-ups, record your work sets, record the cues you should be using, and before you walk out the door, record what you plan to do next time. 

The training log is your most important piece of training equipment - more important than your shoes, belt, barbell, etc. All those items are replaceable, but your training log is specific to you, so be an intelligent lifter and start using a training log today.

#2: Chalk
Any decent, dedicated barbell gym should provide chalk for you, but most commercial gyms (i.e., globo-style gyms and chain-gyms) won’t. If your gym doesn’t provide it, there are two solutions - either buy your own chalk or find another gym.

Correctly chalked hands

Seriously, it’s that important. Sneak it in if you need to or use liquid chalk, but if you care about your training, this is nonnegotiable. You use chalk for the same reason climbers and gymnasts use it - friction. It absorbs the natural moisture and oils in your hands so that you have better - much better - grip on the bar.

#3: Fractional plates
Early in your training career - within the first month or two - you’ll need to start using fractional plates on your press, bench press, and possibly your olympic lifts. Females and older folks will find them useful for the squat and deadlift as well. Sadly, commercial gyms won’t have these, so at the very least, go out and get yourself a pair of 1.25 lb plates. Even better, purchase a full set of fractional plates, which includes a pair each of 0.25 lb, 0.5 lb, 0.75 lb, and 1 lb plates.

The ability to make a 2.5 lb jump (i.e, using a 1.25 lb plate on each side of the barbell)  is hugely useful to making continued progress on a number of the lifts, and the ability to make even smaller jumps (e.g., a 1 lb jump using two 0.5 lb plates) is beneficial for many people as well.

If you take your training seriously, have these pieces of equipment when you train. Your results - and therefore your strength - will thank you.

As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.

-Phil

PS: Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:

• Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.

• Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.

• Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.

• Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.

• Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.

(Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Testify earns from qualifying purchases.)

---

At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?