Sacrificing performance for long term health | Ask Rip #46 

From 14:45 on they just talk about movies if you want to save yourself some time

I actually agree with the guy asking the question. I just want to be stronger than average, look like I lift weights, and be heart healthy. I don't need to squat 600 lbs and tear my ligaments to do those things.

I am a former boxer, and indeed I found going up in weight class a difficult decision. If, for example, you decide to put on an extra 20lbs in muscle and go up a couple of weight classes, you will be getting punched by much stronger men. If the extra muscle does not lead to an increase in punching power that will put you on equal footing with the heavier athletes (i.e., they generally punch harder than you) or if are unable to tolerate the stronger punches of the heavier athletes (i.e., you're getting knocked out all the time), then it is probably inadvisable to go up in weight. Most fighters find that they belong in an ideal weight class, and they stick with it. This is not a mistake.

I love how this seminar turned into a Ridley Scott movie review battle. Priceless. 10/10 would watch again!

Rip always hails getting stronger since it will make you tougher to kill and all that shit but also as a way of keeping a person healthy and mobile in old age. I think the guy was asking about a level of strength that is considered enough. Why should someone aim to get his squat from 200 to 235 kg if he does weightlifting only for the health benefits? I like Rip's style and I'm not really the middle kind of guy but it seems to me that he roasted this guy for no good reason.

That Karwoski squat was so badass.

11:00 Rip is not acknowledging that height definitely factors into fighting, particularly striking. That's why someone who is 5'8 is not keen on going up to the 220 class, he'll be facing guys who are 6'3 and will struggle to get past their jab.

He didn't really discuss longevity, he just stated you need to choose of two options. Sounds really simple but doesn't really help anyone. There's probably an optimal compromise between the two when it comes to percentage of 1RM, rep range, deloading etc. I think this is obvious as you don't NEED to max out to gain strength, also you can add reps to get stronger without adding weight (to a certain point).

Not many top athletes live to be 100 years. There you go. So the young guy definitely has a point. Let him do things the way he wants to Mark. He can still train with barbells to make himself better. Better doesn't have to be all in or nothing. There's a middle ground for people that want that. PR's as you said yourself has a price. It's also more taxing on the body to train yourself to get a deadlift of 8-900 than staying at 500. If you want longevity there comes a point in your life where you'll just back off and keep working the same numbers. And that's fine.

11:28 He is just not only a great coach, but also has a life lesson to give us. 'miring.

My new favorite video, Rip.

Rip was tough on that guy, but that guy needed to be shaken up. He was striving to be mediocre, talking timidly, no car, wanting to be careful. Mark lives his life full on and rightly believes that is the way to go. He might have hurt that guys feelings but maybe through that he'll get angry and bust out a bit. Being safe and careful is no way to live a life.

To answer the question quickly and efficiently. Part 1: Make sure you do every exercise with good form. It's in the basics of starting strength. "The heaviest set of 5 you can do with correct form." That's how strong you are. Add another pound and you find where your form falters. Get your form right, add another pound, repeat. Part 2: Eat healthy for the vast majority of your week. Exactly what the most healthy eating consists of is unclear, but we do know a lot about what is clearly not healthy so at least you can avoid that.

great content! thanks!

If you're interested in longevity, look up Dr. Peter Attia and "Longevity Solution". You know as you get older after a point, you get weaker. The question then is, how strong do you need to be ((now)) to be strong enough to do the things you wanna do at 100? Most of the literature says the hormonal climate to grow and* be strong is counterintuitive to staying alive in old age.

I like how the most heated discussion is about the movie Prometheus.

That Rip insulted this poor fella just because he wouldn't want to be the strongest that he could be? I have myself a new hero.

I gotta get into one of this seminars damn it!! , movies, nutrition and jokes....plus I will be stronger after !

Very valuable advice about young wrestler losing weight. I was training a, terrific athlete kid, freshman. Teaching him to powerlift. His mom was the big "push" in his life. Kid loved powerlifting training after a great freshman football season. Weighed 165. Mom wanted the glory of being a wrestling mom. Two wrestling coaches both super heavies. Never lost a pound in their lives. So the kid loses 20 pounds down to 145. Because they "need" him there. Kid is constantly spitting to keep weight down. Finally blows out the left elbow of his pitching arm. Needs a screw to get everything "right as rain". Direct quote. All that under the control of two coaches who weighed well over 300 each. Kid still had a great his school career. Hated wrestling for the weight reduction. But mom got to be a four year wrestling mom. I even shake my head now. It was 20 years ago.

Ok I think most people are missing Mark's point: The question of how much training is sensible and virtually risk free can be expressed as an approach to lifting that says I don't push myself too hard, I don't take chances, and I don't want to see how far I can go. Mark then says that that idea is incompatible with the idea of pushing yourself hard, taking chances, and seeing how far you can go. Therefore, he will never reach a point of going too far because he doesn't train in a way to get him to that point due to his mindset.

I really wanna know Rips thoughts on The Matrix

this guy is awesome

“There is no progress without compromise”

The weirdist thing happnned the other day, I was getting low back pain on my dead warm sets, then had my nice long rest for my working set ( and this shit was hevay for me like veins bulgin light headed n stuff) and after my working set the pain was like 95% better is this a common exsperience?

Everyone that is crying about Rip's response to the longevity question obviously doesn't understand post-novice strength training, or the stress-adaptation model. If you want to train to get stronger, you have to keep putting weight on the bar. Putting more weight on the bar every week (in intermediate programming) is hard, and it is going to hurt eventually. If you don't care about getting as strong as you can possibly be, do a different type of program after your novice progression. Rip is not the person to ask about these programs because he is not interested in them. If your goals are different, seek advice elsewhere.

For the first question, Rip really isn't the guy to listen to. You want to look at someone like Scooby1961, who has lifted for decades without any real injury.

ordered the book it arrived in German language.. than ordered from eBay it never arrived..

7:23 Re: which strength exercises? Easy-- sport-specific ones.

Left after the question was asked.

lets say this guys current squat is 315 x 5. he could cycle from 275 x 5 up to 315 over the course of 6 weeks. if he did that for the rest of his life he would have longevity. an 80 year old man who can squat 315...or shit 225 for that matter will not have an issue waking up stairs, mowing his lawn or playing with grand kids. Do that simple pattern for all the lifts and you can have longevity of lifting. trying to chase bigger numbers will always wear you down over years. The other answer is variety. keep your basic lifts at a good level and do some cardio, stretching/mobility/yoga, and assistance work to keep activity high without over stressing the system.

I like Rip's t-shirt.

I'm surprised no one there mentioned the look of strength they gave the Engineers in Prometheus. I found it quite admirable in a world where people believe the more advanced we get with technology the less muscle and strength we'll need, which is a slippery slope into feminism.

Mark should read how to win friends and influence people. Im sure some of these people will go home and never listen to rip again. Good videos though

I’m 5’8 but fu*k that 220 bs. I’m 295 looking to be about 327. Wide as I am tall. Basically a tailor’s nightmare. And I can forget about wiling my own a$$. But damn I’ll be able to squat and bench a metric ton…

damn I usually enjoy these but what happened to meaningful training talk ? Was it the group ? or what but this was awful

R.I.P. is one intelligent dude.

Why does Rip purposefully misunderstand some of the questions? I mean he can't just be that stupid? It almost seems like he does that on purpose just so that he can get to insult people.

Hey dose everyone have experience lifting with spina bifida

ill be 75 yrs old moving 135 on everything...dig that mutha fuckers...guarantee that shit. been l.ifting since im 14 yrs old and i wont stop til death....cervical herniated discs wont stop me ever....

rip is wrong about the weight class stuff for boxing. Tall guys may want to stay light for the range advantage. More to boxing than strength.... At least he admits he's the wrong guy for that...

1:39 Rip, you quit power lifting and horseback riding because of the injuries

Seemed a fair question. It's common sense that if you want to be the best in the world, make a career and money out of it, you're going to have to risk fucking yourself up. But if it's just a hobby, why the fuck would you? What's the point mouthing that you once squatted 600 lbs when you knees/hips are fucked and you can hardly walk, or bragging you benched 300 lbs - before you had to have a shoulder replacement because of it and now struggle to put a shirt on, or wipe your own arse. If you are willing to permanently fuck your body up so that you can say you once squatted a big number, that isn't 'excellence', it's fucking mental illness.

If you go up to 205 because you are 205 it means you fight someone who is 230. We should make a stand and take all weight cutting out of sports.

Look at OLY lifters Very strong, must maintain consistent weight.

Have these people ever heard Mark speak? These fucking questions...

You didn't know but you're actually here to hear a review of the work by ridley scott

They should change this from "ask rip" to "nervous laughter"

get the fuck over it. Epic and true. People don't like to hear this but you either get over it or stay the way you are. Simple choice.

10:47 - 11:11 - Cracks me up how these guys always treat RIP like they’re abused kids. “Dad/RIP is saying some stupid shit, but we’d better not correct him, or we’re going to get smacked upside the head.” LMAO!!

Dude what is wrong with Orlando, I mean he was named after a town in Florida.

Wish Rip was my dad.

Did anyone catch the reference to the 1000lb squat youtube video Mark mentioned?

Strongly disagree with the PTSD comment enough to - well, comment. Rip should take a trip to the VA hospital and tell them to get the fuck over it.

"Get your testosterone checked" I lost it at this point! Hilarious. Rip is the straightest shooter in the game.

Hi, my name is Timanthia; I'm a barista at Starbucks. I want to get strong, but not too strong, just strong enough to say i'm strong, but i want to eliminate my chances of hurting myself because getting hurt to be strong is just dumb when i can live to be a hundred and drink cappachinos. Can you direct me to the nearest home furniture store so i can finish soundproofing my apartment with pillows and comforters as i believe the world outside is getting much to aggressive and doesn't understand my identity as a man bun.

Before I buy your book I need to Clarify something coz I ain't gonna waste my money on something that I think is a good source of information but turns out otherwise and am a doctor so yeah anyway,Nobody joins the gym to get injured, why the fuck would someone look forward to eventually/ultimately getting injured no matter what program one chooses to follow (not denying that strength training is the answer), also no one on this planet can get EXPONENTIALLY strong with time, if so then people would be able to squat/deadlift/press/bench press 4000 pounds or beyond irrespective of age.Can you do that? No, can any of your trainers or clients do that? No. Why? Because that's not possible. Training for strength can be done to ones highest natural potential. So with age it has to be trimmed to such an extent where one does not get injured but remains strong as fuck at the end of the day. It's not always so that one gets injured then recovers and becomes stronger once the person is back to training. So,what and how much load one should lift has to be monitored with age and time, just enough to make sure that the person does not get injured, because no one can quantify the magnitude of one's injury. You facing a spinal injury because you squatted 515 pounds and somebody else doing the same might have a more severe injury that might lead that individual to a bar that can only allow 215 pounds for the rest of his/her life taking safety into account here, noting that there is a grantee that the person will never get injured if he/she chooses to stick to 215 pounds. Therefore ones quest should always be to look after ones bio mechanics and physiology no matter what program or goal that's been decided to conquer. It is optimal for someone doing a strength program to be able to atleast deadlift 3x, squat/press/bench press 1.5-2.5x one's body weight. If for instances my safety lies in the above mentioned parameters I would definitely not choose to go and push myself beyond that and unnecessarily invite an injury that maybe fatal as well. And sir! Getting hit by a car or a monster truck is not someone's choice, people don't sign up for that shit it's just something unfortunate, knowing that going beyond a certain load capacity may fuck someone up even for good who knows? Is in fact a voluntary choice made by the respective individual. So biological reports and physical Assessment should be carried out for all to track data then simultaneously assisting the load that can be lifted by one to his/her highest natural potential irrespective of age. Cheers!

Harsh AF with the PTSD question. LMAO.

Rips black and white outlook on everything shows him to be a caveman when he is unable to consider differing opinions. He brings Karl's name into the conversation when Karl may as well be an alien.

The assumption is that ‘safe’ will save you. I’ll tell you after being an EMT for 8 years, it won’t. Death visits everyone. The difference is how gracefully you exit, and being as strong as you can allows you to do that. There’s not a lot you can do to ensure you’ll make it to 100; most of that is based on genetics, and Epigenetics, what kind of job you have, how much sleep you get, how much city smog you inhale. Live your brightest life.

Some people are smart at some things but dumb at others.

bad questions :/

From 15:00 and beyond, things become bizarre and disturbing, listening to nerds lather themselves into a frenzy while discussing and debating unicorns and sci fi.

Mass moves mass ....

Cue everybody laughing at the dude who want to take care of his body and not lift 1000 lbs for the sake of it get your testosterone checked when someone else not wanting to live your lifestyle threatens your manhood

This notion of only getting stronger if you get bigger is somewhat misinformed. Teaching your body to fire as many motor units at once in a coordinated fashion will result in you getting stronger, without getting bigger. Google how a muscle is activated and motor unit recruitment for more information. Of course, there is a point of diminishing returns...just like everything else.

15:34...I think Mark hit a nerve..geez dude relax

Wonder why Rip has PTSD

For fuckssakes Prometheus is not a bad movie.

Link to the 2x1000lbs?

Lost some respect for Rippletits after this. Clearly shows that he lacks perspective.

Not so great with movies Rip.

Prometheus sucked, Rip. It was a fun watch, but it was dumb. A director's cut filling in some holes doesn't change that fact. We came from the Engineers? What about the entire process of evolution? That was completely swept under the rug. Did they come down and create life with the express intent of eventually evolving a human being? Obviously that's flying in the face of literally everything we know about evolution, but it's also pretty fucking elaborate (about a BILLION year process) for creatures that can CREATE LIFE. We can clone creatures with our current technology. Yes, that was fucking stupid that the biologist ran from a hologram of an alien dying, but sticks his fucking face into the face of another, completely unknown alien creature. You pointed that out, so whatever. And yes, getting lost WITH A MAP? The fact that she said half a billion MILES from Earth, meaning they're just past Jupiter. Weyland being related to anybody went literally fucking nowhere, so that's just script fat. The girl running in the direction the spaceship was rolling. The ARCHAEOLOGISTS being so upset that they'll "Never know" about why the Engineers created them, like a minute after landing, just because they're supposedly all dead, when archaeology is DEFINED as the study of dead civilizations. There are many more. You may define this all as nitpicking, but these are all called for due to their volume, the tone of the movie implying that it's saying something profound, and the very obvious, glaring flaws that nobody bothered to factcheck. Tenet was just as bad.

about the fighters and weight - you want to have greater reach so you want to be taller and this means you want to be skinny to get an advantage; this is wrong; classes should take weight and reach into account cause this way everyone would be able to fight in their 'natural' weight class and noone would have an advantage; this would also be to hard to understand for a typical ppv viewer;

8:24 Rippetoe has good advice, but damn is he out of touch with reality. 5'8 elite lifters mostly compete in 180-195 weight class, definitely not 242+. In the first few Olympics, weightlifting heaviest class was 181 lbs. He has some serious issues with weight.

If you ask stupid questions, be prepared for some Texan face palming... “Rip..” current year..

"Get your testosterone level checked" ROFLMFAO!!!!!!!

How can rip say that he is not in the business of getting people stronger who want to stay in a certain weight. what if you are an athlete in a combat sport.. where weight makes a HUGE difference in you getting hurt. Those athletes NEED to be as strong as they can but stay at the peak of their weight catagory.. if they move up then they are going to suffer. Its easy for him to say... yay just fight at the higher weight.. but people cut weight then fire it on to a MAD amount.. those guys are naturally much bigger and heavier than the poor lad who just crept into that category.

His take on PTSD is interesting given he likes to evaluate evidence and champions logic and rationality. What he says about PTSD is fucking ignorant and he ought to be ashamed of that or at least admit he's joking.

holy fuck rip...breathe much?

Prometheus was shit.