WD and gaining strength?

[Zendefone]

Hello guys, i am asking if the WD is siutable for me if my main goal now is to gain strength. By gaining strength i don't mean gaining weight or becoming bulky. I think a more appropriate term is gaining strength relative to bodyweight, but main priority is becoming stronger.

Have anyone tried gaining strength while on warrior's diet? How is the result? And btw, i doing 3X a week fullbody barbell strength training which is a program called ''Starting strength''.

Thanks.

[fdnyceguy]

Zen:

Though beginning the Warrior Diet while following a strength and conditioning (fat loss) routine, the majority of my experience (well over one year) has coupled the nutritional strategy with a strength oriented kettlebell program.

Without question, as I maintain a training journal (log), the weights used have increased steadily, surpassing those used while at a significantly heavier bodyweight. Though a smaller kettlebell is now needed (due to the loss of body fat), I can now Clean and Press one half my bodyweight. Admittedly, I can only do this with one side, but that will change over the next month or two. Of greater importance is that this is a weight that I would not have been able to move at all, while being thirty to forty pounds heavier.

Undoubtedly, diet has a great deal to do with appearance. Bodybuilders, and I would imagine models, have known this for quite some time. However, strength training requires proper technique and protocols as well. Ensuring that your "Starting Strength" program fulfills those needs, I have no doubt that the Warrior Diet (applied correctly) can help you achieve your strength goals.

Personally, I have applied the programs from Enter the Kettlebell: 'the program minimum and 'the rite of passage.' As these relate to kettlebells, and not a barbell, you may find this information useless. However, I've heard a number of good results from utilizing the programs in Power To The People, by the same author (Pavel Tsatsouline). Hopefully, this will be of greater assistance. Marty Gallagher's book, The Purposeful Primitive is another possible source of information (and arguably one of the best books on weight training ever written).

In any case, good luck with both your nutrition and training.

(In closing, I just want to indicate that, endorsements aside, I don't work for Dragon Door Publications.)

[Zendefone]

Zen:

Though beginning the Warrior Diet while following a strength and conditioning (fat loss) routine, the majority of my experience (well over one year) has coupled the nutritional strategy with a strength oriented kettlebell program.

Without question, as I maintain a training journal (log), the weights used have increased steadily, surpassing those used while at a significantly heavier bodyweight. Though a smaller kettlebell is now needed (due to the loss of body fat), I can now Clean and Press one half my bodyweight. Admittedly, I can only do this with one side, but that will change over the next month or two. Of greater importance is that this is a weight that I would not have been able to move at all, while being thirty to forty pounds heavier.

Undoubtedly, diet has a great deal to do with appearance. Bodybuilders, and I would imagine models, have known this for quite some time. However, strength training requires proper technique and protocols as well. Ensuring that your "Starting Strength" program fulfills those needs, I have no doubt that the Warrior Diet (applied correctly) can help you achieve your strength goals.

Personally, I have applied the programs from Enter the Kettlebell: 'the program minimum and 'the rite of passage.' As these relate to kettlebells, and not a barbell, you may find this information useless. However, I've heard a number of good results from utilizing the programs in Power To The People, by the same author (Pavel Tsatsouline). Hopefully, this will be of greater assistance. Marty Gallagher's book, The Purposeful Primitive is another possible source of information (and arguably one of the best books on weight training ever written).

In any case, good luck with both your nutrition and training.

(In closing, I just want to indicate that, endorsements aside, I don't work for Dragon Door Publications.)

Thanks for your reply.

wow, u mean u can clean/press half your BW with 1 hand of kettlebell? Thats pretty impressive!

And such a coincidence, i have just ordered the book ''the purposeful primitive'' from amazon yesterday. And may i ask, is that book about specific training programs, or about the author's philosophy about strength training and you can go create your own program/training habits with it? And i heard there is a section about steriods, but i don't use or intend to use steriods, am a strength training beginner and still very weak, so is the book suitable?

thanks.

[fdnyceguy]

Zen:

The Purposeful Primitive is broken up into four sections (Iron, Mind, Cardio, and Nutririon), the synthesis of which provides a comprehensive strength and fitness program. Ignoring any section would, unquestionably, leave one's training program incomplete.

Each section begins with several biographies, briefly introducing 'master's' of that particular topic. Thereafter, the author provides a number of applications of the principles discussed.

Without a doubt, the book is suitable for your purposes. All you have to do is apply the necessary effort, coupled with patience and common sense.

Best of luck with achieving your goals. Your recent purchase will be a great aide.

[Zendefone]

Zen:

The Purposeful Primitive is broken up into four sections (Iron, Mind, Cardio, and Nutririon), the synthesis of which provides a comprehensive strength and fitness program. Ignoring any section would, unquestionably, leave one's training program incomplete.

Each section begins with several biographies, briefly introducing 'master's' of that particular topic. Thereafter, the author provides a number of applications of the principles discussed.

Without a doubt, the book is suitable for your purposes. All you have to do is apply the necessary effort, coupled with patience and common sense.

Best of luck with achieving your goals. Your recent purchase will be a great aide.

Thanks alot fdnyceguy, you've been a great help.

[jordans4]

Hey I just wanted to drop in a quick response saying that w/o question you can gain massive amounts of strength on the Warrior Diet. I've been on the WD for almost 7 months now and only been focusing on strength for the last 4, and with learning how to feed my body and the right ways to train for strength...the gains are mind blowing. However i will say that I am not as lean as i was when i wasn't training for strength, but i can still see my abdominals and i am a stronger healthier athlete because of it. If you have any questions I'd be glad to help.
-Jordan

[Zendefone]

Hey I just wanted to drop in a quick response saying that w/o question you can gain massive amounts of strength on the Warrior Diet. I've been on the WD for almost 7 months now and only been focusing on strength for the last 4, and with learning how to feed my body and the right ways to train for strength...the gains are mind blowing. However i will say that I am not as lean as i was when i wasn't training for strength, but i can still see my abdominals and i am a stronger healthier athlete because of it. If you have any questions I'd be glad to help.
-Jordan

Thanks alot jordan for your input. But i see that the main concern of not being able to gain strength is not eating enough. I wonder how do you 'eat enough' on the warrior diet? Is it important to include many small mains of protein in the undereating phrase to counter this problem?

[fdnyceguy]

Hey Zen:

How's the 'Purposeful Primitive' coming along?

Application of the Warrior Diet is described in the aforementioned book. As Gallagher has written, I will reiterate the importance of recovery meals in the pursuit of strength. You can go with berries and yogurt or a balanced shake, following your routine. If necessary, have another serving of protein about an hour later. (Be honest with yourself, whether or not your program warrants it.)

Personally, I've been utilizing Defense Nutrition's Warrior Milk and Warrior Whey following the workout, and yogurt or kefir an hour later. Recognizing the potential expense of the supplements, I just mentioned Ori's yogurt and berry option.

As always, best of luck with your nutrition and training.

[jordans4]

Zen,
fdnyceguy gave you great options for your recovery meals. I too utilize kefir and/or warrior milk depending on how I feel that day as well as how I performed during my workout.
You are right that a main topic of concern in the strength community is how much one eats. Most people say that you need a certain amount of protein per lb of body weight etc. etc. etc. However, most people do not eat like warriors, do they? I've realized that the quality of my food is much more important than the quantity. Additionally, listening to my body rather than feeding myself what people tell me I need is just as important. For example, the past 3 nights, despite the fact that I've had great strength workouts, I have felt very little need for a huge amount of protein and stuck to mostly raw vegetables, yogurt and raw unsalted cashews...Tonight I can tell that I'm craving some meat so I'll by all means have as much of the chicken that I bought today as I can. Since I've been following the philosophy of eating what I need rather than what others tell me I need, I have been consistently noticing massive strength gains. I know this differs greatly from what many people say about needing to have a lot of food to make strength gains, but the warrior lifestyle differs greatly from what many people say about eating in general. Try it out and let me know how you feel/how you're strength gains are coming along. If you have any more questions please let me/anyone else know! Good luck!
-Jordan

[KBwarrior]

At first I rapidly lost weight and was struggling to maintain my one arm over head presses.  I thought that I was losing strength at first.  I but I now realize that I was just having a hard time adjusting to my mass dropping.  As you loose over all mass, over head presses become difficult.  It's hard to stay balanced when you don't have all that fat anchoring you to the ground.  That being said as my technique has adjusted, my KB size has gone up, and my BW is down 30lbs.  So to answer the qustion.  I am gaining max strength and strength/body weight.

Good luck.

[Zendefone]

Thanks people for the great information you guys have offered, i appreciate it! i will refer to this thread for reminders.

Hey Zen:

How's the 'Purposeful Primitive' coming along?

Application of the Warrior Diet is described in the aforementioned book. As Gallagher has written, I will reiterate the importance of recovery meals in the pursuit of strength. You can go with berries and yogurt or a balanced shake, following your routine. If necessary, have another serving of protein about an hour later. (Be honest with yourself, whether or not your program warrants it.)

Wow, i have already read the 1st few chapters of Purposeful Primitive, and here's my honest thoughts about the book: It's a must have for one who is aiming to be strong, lean and conditioned. What i love about the book is that it covers all aspects of strength training(as well as all round fitness), mind, training, nutrition etc. and that's just all you need to know to get strong, there is no need to go for some complicated, ''scientific'' programs. It emphasizes the main, simple points so damn well. What you need together with this book is just hard work. It gets me so motivated to strength train everytime i read that book.

Anyway, i haven't reached the cardio, mind, nutrition parts where Gallagher talks about WD. I will read it once i get there.

[Ajax]

Great points made by all, I would add that mixing in some eggs as part of your recovery meal works as well. I gained functional strength quickly by adding basics to my KB routines. Pushups (hindu and regular) squats (hindu, regular weights and KB) rope climbing, pull up, chin ups and any body weight excercise. Check out you tube for body weight excercise. You may not see any size gains on WD, but you can definately have major strength gains.