I've definitely been floating around the "NAZ" zone for the past few years...times of greatness, followed by disappointing results, followed again by moments of greatness...and the cycle repeats...such is life 😂
Sully, Whatever the trials you face in your life. Whatever is to come, know that we all see you as a wise and caring person and coach. Listening to you caused me to join Greysteel.
I’m 62 and just ending my 5th week of the Novice Progression. I’m so glad I found your channel and got curious about about who the hell this Rippetoe person was! Thanks for all your efforts! It’s really life changing.
Lovely video. I think I`m in the NAZ, now, 76 years old and four years into serious lifting with a trainer (I was always active, but more into cardio until lately). The cycle of modest gains, temporary setbacks and more slow progress is becoming familiar - but still managing to get the occasional PR ( the last one was a week ago, doing deadlifts). I like the Camus allusion (a much more accomplished novelist than philosopher in my opinion, but he still spoke to a generation); and BTW as a Christian myself I can still appreciate him. What I would add is consonant with another part of your message, and comes from another French author: deCaussade, from the 18th century, who wrote the spiritual classic 'L'abandon a la providence divine`. The basic message is: do all that is in your power, and that done, leave the rest to Providence; that really is all that is asked from you. In short, working like Sisyphus, except not as some eternal punishment but rather with something to work towards - Camus, without the absurdity. In that context, I can feel like Sisyphus in any heavy workout week, and indeed be happy.
Sully, this is timely, necessary and perfect. I have both The Barbell Prescription and Starting Strength; they are the best resources ever. I've been experiencing everything about which you spoke, and my boulder rolled quite far down the hill. I'm following Sisyphus back up, and I keep in mind something from The Barbell Prescription: I'm paraphrasing here, that some of us never quite get far from the the Novice phase because... Coach Life. So I may be a permanent Novice, and I'm damn close to my 80th decade, and that's fine. So, thank you Sully!!
I am 69 and have been using Starting Strength & Barbell Rx for three plus years. You describe very well the challenges to maintain and continue progress as life happens. Thank you
The great improvement advantage for the novice, and slow, sometimes zero gains from severe effort at the advanced end, is good argument for getting the great novice gains at strength, then also getting the novice gains at running, cycling, swimming etc, one or two other disciplines. The huge effort of attempting slight advanced gains at one discipline, can be better spent being a great all round athlete. It's also better for your health
Oh I love this, you’ve given a fantastically eloquent version of what I was just calling my training no man’s land. I’ll steal your NAZ term now instead. Interestingly I was trying to describe a similar principle with regard to body weight. I feel like I have to unreasonably restrict to shift the needle down, and uncomfortably overindulge to shift it up. So I stay in a 1kg buffer zone and accept it’s what’s meant to be.
I''m a 72 year old man who has been in the flat part of the curve for a good while. The next several months are the time period where I try to get the ball up the incline a bit. As you said life happens along the way. One of the reasons to get me under a bar, was to extend the years of big game hunting. I killed a nice bull elk earlier this month. That interruption and Thanksgiving kept me out of the gym for a month. Sadly, I think even knowing that strength training is very beneficial, only a small number of seniors will put in the work.
Yup been there done that. 625 done at 60+ in comp, one month later partial micro torn hamstring. Been doing this since I was 14 ain't no stopping this train. 5, 3,1 and 8 reps at 405 in under a minute and we are back at at least 80%. Keep rolling the stone up hill and love it❤😂
Thanks for the video and the ongoing "kick in the pants". I am off the left side of the graph. Actually today was my first day in the gym in decades (first squat under a bar in my life), so I guess I'm right there on the left end. I've found my bodyweight exercises have paid off and it is time to push further to the right. Thanks
when my rock starts to roll back downhill, I intend to put a chock in the way to prevent it from rolling all the way down hill. LOL I have a genetic condition neurofibromatosis which I battle both physically and mentally the later takes more of a toll on me than the former. I am 66, 5'9" 145 other then the NF I am in good health., skinny as a rail, but in good health. I do a full body workout but emphasize a certain part that day (arms, legs etc). my goal is to maintain what I have but get stronger. I like your videos for us not so young people.
I’m in the NAZ. Working my way up slowly. I’m happy, considering the alternative. In my mid seventh decade and enjoying the process more than the outcome - I still get to train. Great topic and video.
55, just came across your channel. Lifted off and on, always worked physically in construction. Lifting last year, walking and feeling great. (Few extra pounds, but working on that.) In a simple movement working in the yard I snapped my distal bicep tendon off my forearm. (Not lifting related) had it reattached. I’ve been ready to get back lifting and trying to get over the physical and more so MENTAL block. I believe it’s time to lift. I am going to get lifting but do you have any advice for lifting after tendons have been reattached? Thank you and so happy to find your channel. Cheers.
Start low, go slow, be patient with yourself, and take your time. Focus on range of motion first. That will be a big hurdle for you but you will get past it. Had to wait slowly and give that tendon time to adapt. You will get that ball up the hill. Then something else will happen and you will deal with that too. For that is what it is to be human. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Your NAZ explanation is excellent. But it can also be dangerous to get too comfortable with the NAZ. Lately the NAZ zone had been in my mind, but I had to break that thought down to hard numbers (training log analysis). From the numbers, the NAZ had become a "nah" zone. "Nah, I was hurt last month & better not over-do-it, yet." or "I'll just hold at this weight another week" or any other excuse not to add SOMETHING to the bar. One pound, half pound, just something more than last time. Make it go up.
That's not the fault of the NAZ....THAT sounds like a personal problem! 😄 Any useful concept can be misapplied...I've misapplied a few myself. Glad you figured it out.
@@GreySteel LOL. Yes it was absolutely a personal problem. I mentioned it merely as a cautionary tale. As the old saying goes, "Learn from the errors of others. You can't possibly survive making them all yourself."
Camus was a God-less, anti-Christian philosopher and Sisyphus his metaphor for man accepting his fate and responsibility minus the safety net of faith in God's plan and wisdom. Sorry, I ain't buying what Camus is selling: I wake up everyday and thank God for another day, hardships included. When it's time to slide all the way down "the NAZ", I'll be in good hands. In regard to weight training, there is a genetic limit to each individual and training is often 3 steps forward and 2 steps back, but key is not giving up. Learning is ongoing. If you're going through something now that's given you this fatalistic view via the lens of Camus, then I hope (might I say pray?) you get through it soon. I find the content of your channel helpful and encouraging for older folks like me (+60 yrs). God Bless and keep the faith brother.
Sisyphus was certainly a greek hero. I have followed Sully for years, he is terrific, and found him to be quite astute. Perhaps he did not think that the origin of Sisyphus needed to be explained?
Sysyphus was a mythical Greek hero, not the founder of a philosophy. Camus made him the central image of a philosophy for moderns. Surely not a subtle distinction.
