Testify Newsday - April 07, 2025
/THIS WEEK'S SUBMISSION
From our video 4 Reasons Why Every Senior Should Squat & How to Do It (PLUS Bad Squat Advice & Myths to Ignore) (click the title to watch):
Robert Smentkowski
You are so right about squats. I’ve been doing them for about 2 1/2 years and getting up from a chair is effortless. More importantly, I solo hunt in the high mountains for days at a time carrying about 40 pounds. I still ski black diamond runs. It’s because of excellent trainers like you that seniors like me don’t get senior discounts at 65 – free skiing doesn’t start till about 80 at most big resorts.
Phil
First of all, that's wonderful that you started squatting about 2 1/2 years ago, and second, that's fantastic that you solo hunt in the mountains and still ski black diamonds!
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ARTICLES & VIDEOS
9 Brutal Truths About Lifting Weights That Seniors LEARN Too Late
What are some crucial truths about lifting weights that older folks often learn too late? Phil explains. Click here to watch.
The Press, The Matrix, and You
If you struggle to use your hips effectively when pressing, you’re not alone. We give you a cue to fix this problem . . . with a little help from The Matrix. Click here to read.
Blast from the Past: STOP Making This Deadlift Mistake With Your Legs!
Are you accidentally "kicking the bar" away from you with your shins when deadlifting? Phil helps you fix that problem in less than 3 minutes. Click here to watch.
Blast from the Past: Bar Position and the Squat: The #1 MISTAKE You're Making
We cover the #1 mistake lifters make regarding the bar's position on the back as well as how to correct it. Click here to read.
TESTIFY 3/4 SLEEVE SHIRTS ARE UP!
Baseball season is here, so represent your favorite team - well, gym - in style!
PLUS - you get four different options to choose from!
Click here to head to the Testify Store.
WHAT'S COMING UP
Reminder: We will be closed for training on Saturday, 04/12/25, as we are hosting the annual Testify Strengthlifting Challenge.
Below are a few of our upcoming events, and you can find out what else is on the calendar by heading to our events page at www.testifysc.com/events.
Testify Strengthlifting Challenge
April 12, 2025
The annual Testify Strengthlifting Challenge is back, and we invite you to be a part of it! This is a strengthlifting meet, which means the contested lifts will be the squat, press, and deadlift.
Click here for more information.
Testify IronFest VII
June 20, 2025
IronFest is a team-based strength meet wherein the contested lifts will be the squat, press, bench press, and deadlift. Competitors will form teams of 2 lifters/team and perform all 4 lifts; each lifter will perform one upper body lift and one lower body lift, and each lifter will receive 3 attempts for each lift.
Click here to register or for more information.
Deadapalooza! The Annual Testify Deadlift Festival
August 15, 2025
Deadapalooza is a strength meet wherein the only contested lift is - you guessed it - the deadlift. There will be one bar (possibly multiple bars if numbers dictate), and the meet will be conducted in a "rising bar" format, so the weight on the bar only goes up! It's a ton of fun, so come on out!
Click here to register or for more information.
THIS WEEK’S CONDITIONING
Option 1
Sled Pyramid – 4, 5, or 6 tiers
Go up and down a 4, 5, or 6 tier “sled pyramid” – rest as needed. The distance for each round is 80 m indoors (a down-back on the 40m course) or 200 ft outdoors (2 down-backs on the 50 ft course). Rest as needed.
For example, Bob does the following (4 tiers):
Round 1: Empty sled
Round 2: 25#
Round 3: 50#
Round 4: 75#
Round 5: 50#
Round 6: 25#
Round 7: Empty sled
Compare to 2025.02.03.
Option 2
Bike/row:
4 x 3 minutes
Rest 3 minutes between each round. Score = lowest distance.
Compare to 2025.01.13.
Option 3
Outdoors:
5-10 rounds:
10 sledgehammer strikes (5R, 5L)
50 yd farmer carry (25 yd down-back)
Rest 1 minute
Indoors:
5-10 rounds:
10 sledgehammer strikes (5R, 5L)
100 ft farmer carry (50 ft down-back)
Rest 1 minute
Compare to 2024.12.16.
Option 4
1. 5 yoke carries @ 30 yd (15 yd downback) – work up to heaviest carry
2. 5 rounds of 5 reps on the axle “clean and press away” – work up to heavy set of 5
Compare to 2024.12.16.
As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better!
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.
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