What if You're Overweight?
This is a very legitimate question.
If you are overweight, obviously mastering bodyweight strength is going to be a big challenge...
BUT one of the greatest things about training with the goal of mastering bodyweight strength is that you effective get stronger for your bodyweight in two ways. By
This can truly be encouraging because you literally always have two ways to make progress and as a result your progress can often feel a lot faster than someone who is only trying to get stronger or trying to get lighter.
Every pound of bodyweight you lose translates into one pound of bodyweight strength gained. And every pound of strength gained translates into one pound of bodyweight strength gained.
You win both ways.
If you are dramatically overweight then the first, and most important, thing is going to be to lose a large amount of fat by utilizing low intensity cardio, a healthy eating plan, and a fairly light/moderate weight training routine. Although we are not big fans of exercise machines, if you are dramatically overweight then it may be prudent to utilize machines for your weight training until you have lost enough weigh to safely begin to engage in bodyweight based exercises. If you are 200lbs overweight for instance, it could be very dangerous to attempt a bodyweight lunge.
However, we have seen many, many people succeed dramatically using this approach...
Starting with diet, cardio, and machine based weight training in order to lose 100-200lbs. Then moving on to more free weights and bodyweight based exercises. Then eventually moving on to very high level difficult bodyweight strength exercises that few people in the world can even do.
It is possible...but patience and prudence is a must.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. All you have to do is take that first step and then the second, third, fourth, etc. Don't quit, just keeping moving forward and you will eventually achieve your goal.
If you are overweight, obviously mastering bodyweight strength is going to be a big challenge...
BUT one of the greatest things about training with the goal of mastering bodyweight strength is that you effective get stronger for your bodyweight in two ways. By
- Getting stronger
- Getting lighter
This can truly be encouraging because you literally always have two ways to make progress and as a result your progress can often feel a lot faster than someone who is only trying to get stronger or trying to get lighter.
Every pound of bodyweight you lose translates into one pound of bodyweight strength gained. And every pound of strength gained translates into one pound of bodyweight strength gained.
You win both ways.
If you are dramatically overweight then the first, and most important, thing is going to be to lose a large amount of fat by utilizing low intensity cardio, a healthy eating plan, and a fairly light/moderate weight training routine. Although we are not big fans of exercise machines, if you are dramatically overweight then it may be prudent to utilize machines for your weight training until you have lost enough weigh to safely begin to engage in bodyweight based exercises. If you are 200lbs overweight for instance, it could be very dangerous to attempt a bodyweight lunge.
However, we have seen many, many people succeed dramatically using this approach...
Starting with diet, cardio, and machine based weight training in order to lose 100-200lbs. Then moving on to more free weights and bodyweight based exercises. Then eventually moving on to very high level difficult bodyweight strength exercises that few people in the world can even do.
It is possible...but patience and prudence is a must.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. All you have to do is take that first step and then the second, third, fourth, etc. Don't quit, just keeping moving forward and you will eventually achieve your goal.