Friday, 7 February 2014

Update!

It's been a long time since I posted anything substantial on this blog, but I'm hoping that some people might still read this, so this one is for you guys. The last few months have been one crazy whirlwind of training, and for me it's been going from strength to strength and I'm seeing some real results. For anyone that's just starting out or maybe just lacking in motivation, I can honestly tell you that seeing those results is pretty much the greatest feeling in the world. Stick at it and those results will come; trust me when I say that when they do, you'll just want to push yourself even harder and even further.

With regard to my own training, I started experimenting with some pretty intense stuff in the form of Muscle and Fitness' 'Rock Hard' workout. In all honesty when I first looked at it, I doubted that I could even attempt to complete such a high level of workout, and worried that I wouldn't have enough energy to complete a full week. The first month consisted of a four day split of Legs, Chest, Back, and Shoulders. Two of those days also included an abs circuit at the end, with legs day also consisting of 30 minutes of steady state cardio post workout. I should also mention that I was averaging around 40 sets with reps 12+ in each of these workouts. At this point my diet wasn't quite on point, although I was eating healthily. So with such an intense plan I saw a considerable difference in my body, and my fitness skyrocketed thanks to the intense volume and the inclusion of cardio (I've never been a big cardio person, struggled to run for ten minutes straight around 18 months ago.

After the first month of this workout, I was pumped and ready for a new challenge; so I decided to progress to the more intense second month of the plan. This was structured with a five day split consisting of Quads and Hamstrings, Chest, Arms, Back, and Shoulders, Calves and Forearms. I suddenly found myself completing less sets overall each workout, but an element of German volume training had been dropped into the workouts, though the Muscle and Fitness variant was to perform 10 sets of 10 reps in 10 minutes, so each set and its rest time would be encapsulated in the same minute. Abs were also included three times a week, with three sessions of HIIT and two sessions of steady state cardio being split between the routines and performed post workout. As with the month before, I was eating healthily but my diet still could have done with a lot of tweaking.

Its safe to say that after completing that level of training over the course of the two months, I became much fitter, faster and stronger than ever before and I noticed a drastic change in my body. This continued up until Christmas last year, but in the New Year I was searching for a new challenge; I decided that I was ready to take my diet to the next level and to freshen up my workout formats. I'd noticed Icon Nutrition were advertising a 90 day challenge. All you had to do was purchase a pack which included a tailored nutrition and training plan, 2.2kg of whey protein, a large tub of their pre workout 'Ignite' (Which still remains my favourite pre workout), a t shirt and a bottle. They offered 10% off on this plan and I snapped it up straight away. Needless to say the training plan is an intense one, including three weights sessions all followed by an intense ab circuit, and three cardio sessions per week. They're all detailed and perfectly explained, there's also a home workout that you can complete which is pretty damn intense too. As for the nutrition plan, I'm finding it to be completely spot on, I've seen a huge change in my body and I'm really starting to shred fat. Plus, its a pretty cheap plan to follow and you can always chop and change some things to your liking, although the plan is varied with multiple options already. It's safe to say that since I've been on this 90 day challenge, I've been getting the perfect amount of nutrients and this is the best that I've ever felt. So anyone that's really interested in toning up and getting really healthy, the stack is definitely worth buying. I'd better also mention that they do other plans for specific goals too. I'll drop links at the end of this post for everything that I've mentioned so far.

The last thing that I want to focus on is the importance of choosing your environment very carefully. By this I mean that one of the most important things is to surround yourself with likeminded and/or wholly supportive people. Even if it's just through social networking sites like Twitter, find people that inspire you and let them continue to do so. Personally I've had endless support from my family and friends and I couldn't ask for any more from them, they're pretty damn amazing. However, there are so many people that I follow on Twitter that continue to inspire me and the fitness community is full of people that love to support eachother and you'll find that a lot of people will pass on their advice free of charge and with a hell of a lot of enthusiasm. For example, I've found that big communities and companies like BodyActive, Icon Nutrition and Machine Fitness are absolutely amazing for encouraging and recognising the people around them and they're in my opinion both at the pinnacle of the fitness community with regard to the effort that they show. You can find all of them on Twitter if you're interested in seeing what they have to say.

Here is the link to the Rock Hard workouts -
http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/rock-hard-training-plans-build-serious-muscle

and of course the Icon Nutrition 90 day challenge -
http://www.iconnutrition.co.uk/ICON90

Hope you all found the stuff I had to say interesting, and I hope that I can at least help one person with the resources from this post.

Alex.


Sunday, 17 November 2013

Motivation

Motivation, its a powerful thing. It keeps you chasing your goals and encourages you to work harder and harder to bring those goals closer. Motivation can come in a variety of forms from direct or indirect influences. Since I've started to really train (16 months ago) people have commented on my commitment and asked me where my motivation and drive comes from. It got me questioning myself and at first I struggled to see what set me apart from a lot of others. I don't see training/dieting as a means to an end, and I absolutely love everything about them. My motivation boils down to the fact that I see this as a lifestyle and not just a chore. That's not just a self centred and narcissistic claim, take a moment to think about some big fitness icons. They love to train in the same way that any sports people love to train. They do this because they want to and not because they have to.

A phrase that always rang true for me was 'A Product of My Environment' I first heard this from Fitness Made EZ (Paul Corkery) and its a term that needs little analysis but has rather a strong meaning. Everyone is a product of their environment in some way or another. What if you constructed your own environment? By this I mean that you could surround yourself with people and communities that support and reinforce your own goals. Find those positive influences that encourage you to make that change for the better and connect with them. The fitness community is vast and usually extremely welcoming (in my experience). If you put in the work to surround yourself with these influences then you will definitely reap the rewards.

One thing that I've always been guilty of is beating myself up about my appearance and if it weren't for the people around me I'd still see myself in the same way. Its hard to see your own progress when you're so used to looking at yourself in a mirror on a daily basis. Pictures can help, but I prefer to rely on the input of friends and family. I've become so frustrated at points after months of clean eating and hard training and not seeing a difference, it took an outsider's view to make me realise that I'd made a lot more progress than I'd first thought.

So, the bottom line? Motivation can come from anywhere, but it doesn't just appear out of nowhere. You have to put in the effort to find your positive influences and to adapt your mindset. At first it all might seem like a chore, but give it a chance - you might learn to love it.

This is the part that I love the most, the name dropping. Like I said, you have to find your own inspiration; but maybe you could start by looking at who inspired me. In the beginning I had one single inspiration in the form of Fitness Made EZ - Paul Corkery (@Fitnessmadeez on Twitter and Facebook). I've learned a lot from him thanks to his non-bullshit, tenacious and active approach. As both a fitness source and a fighter, his input and support have been a huge help to me and he continues to be one of the big influences on my lifestyle. Next are the guys over at BodyActive. They included me in their community and offered me so much support and even gave me the opportunity to blog on their website (which I'd love to do on a regular basis), frankly I'm humbled to be a part of that community. Icon Nutrition have also been a huge influence, especially lately. They're amazing to interact with, always there to offer their input and they have a great team of athletes to help with that. Also they happen to make some of the most amazing supplements that I've ever tried. Kavan Byrne also provided some specific input, I had trouble training certain areas and he pointed me in the right direction and had me making gains again. I also recently discovered Emmy Glover's blog (lovelaughandlift.blogspot.co.uk) which is actually a really refreshing and balanced view on training and a healthy lifestyle, and I look forward to reading more of her posts.

That's all from me for now! Hopefully I'll be able to get some more posts up soon. Make sure to check out everyone that I've mentioned and see for yourself why I rate them so highly. As always, if you've got any questions then you can catch me on Twitter (@Wrighty__).

Thursday, 13 June 2013

The Weight Training Antidote - REVIEW!

I've been telling myself for a while that I'd sit down and take a long look at this FREE E-book, after all - what's the harm in taking advantage of free advice from an experienced source? There's no harm at all, in the health and fitness industry, experience acts as a huge cornerstone and its something that allows people to pass on tips and advice to help maximise others' training. For anyone that's not heard of this E-book, its written by Adam Kitchen, the founder of DPA Fitness - which is based primarily in Hong Kong. I first discovered Adam through the forums over at BodyActive whilst I was partaking in my trial of X Factor Advanced. He's a big contributor to their forums and always on hand to offer advice and words of support. Basically, what I'm saying is that the author of this E-book is a trusted and sincere source - he's not going to try and sell you wonder supplements, or bullshit you with mountains of unnecessary technical jargon. Instead he keeps things as simple as possible and makes his points as easy to understand as possible. He achieves this by first introducing his topics, then breaking them down and analysing them, before concisely bullet pointing the key points to be taken from those topics. Therefore you're receiving this information in three different styles, all of which compliment each other and make it all easy to understand. The text is also structured simply which again makes it easy to understand. Although this book is relatively short (53 pages) - it contains concise and reliable information, backed up by solid scientific evidence.

Now, enough about the structure of the book - on to the content! I'm very wary of giving too much away with regard to the information contained within the text, so I'll try and omit any chance of spoilers. Basically, Adam introduces a system to break up what he considers to be the most important aspects of a healthy lifestyle (A simple system which I thoroughly agree with) - He then goes into these key aspects in detail in each chapter. Basically, any aspect of healthy life that you can think of - Adam has it covered in one way or another, whether it's in regard to Training, Nutrition, etc. He also offers a complete and detailed structure for successful training plans, and even goes as far as to offer a sample of these workouts. The structure that he offers is something that I'd toyed with the idea of but I'd never really looked into it in detail - after reading his explanations of this structure, its something that I'll definitely be adopting with regard to future training. It's safe to say that this method has completely blown my mind and changed my outlook on training! He also offers some solid nutritional advice that I'll most definitely be adopting, as its the thing that I most struggle with. You can probably find some of this nutritional advice by piecing together countless other sources, but 'The Weight Training Antidote' is the only place that you'll find this information plus more in a coherent and effective manner.

For all of those people that are reading this, and thinking 'It sounds like a bodybuilding guide' or 'Its just for men' then you are SEVERELY mistaken. This e-book is about WEIGHT TRAINING - whilst some may associate that directly with bodybuilding, its not the case. Adam describes how and why lifting weights is the most efficient form of exercise and training, not just for bodybuilders, but for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, or even beginners that are looking to get healthy and fit and tone up. In addition to this, he explores the myths and reasons behind the inhibitions held by women over weight training, and why it won't turn them into hulk-like figures, and just make them toned and sexy instead. He offers training tips for both beginners and more advanced enthusiasts too. Overall, within 'The Weight Training Antidote' - Adam Kitchen provides his readers with a tried and tested system which is designed to allow people to lead a healthier lifestyle without having to sacrifice their social life or put things on hold. He doesn't aim this at a specific audience, he aims it at EVERYONE - It doesn't matter if you're Male or Female, Beginner or Advanced - this book will give you the tools and advice necessary to make a huge change in your life, without drastically affecting the other important things. In short, if you're interested in health and fitness in any way, then this book is a must read, I'm giving it a huge 10/10 for both content and structure!

For anyone that's interested in reading this E-book, you can download it for free from the DPA Fitness website  - http://dpafitness.com/the-weight-training-antidote ; Also for anyone that's interested in getting involved in BodyActive's community (Which is also free) then just head over to www.bodyactive-nation.co.uk and create yourself an account. If you're on Twitter then get following @DPAFitness and @BodyActive. You can also find me on Twitter @Wrighty__ and on Facebook - www.facebook.com/A.Wright.Fitness. Now get over to DPA and download this book, you will not be disappointed. Happy reading!
Take it easy
Alex.

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Weekly Update

First off I'd like to apologise for the lateness of this post, I'll try and have updates up every Monday in future. Now, on to business - I've just completed my first week of training and its been an interesting experience. I'll hold my hands up and admit that I haven't been strict enough with my diet and I'm rectifying that this week. However, despite my cheat days I've still managed to make some major headway in the form of weight loss and muscle gain. For anyone that missed the previous post, my stats at the beginning of last week broke down like this -
Legs - 25.5 inches
Arms - 16 inches
Chest - 42.25 inches
Weight - 96.5kg

Max Deadlift weight - 100kg
Max Squat weight - 95kg (Below Parallel)

I managed to stick to my training completely last week, completing full body workouts in the gym on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and also partaking in cardio exercise on Tuesday and Thursday. On Sunday I managed to fit in a fasting day, despite wanting to eat everything around me by the end of the day. With regard to supplements, I've been taking three Warrior Blaze capsules per training day, with a Diet protein shake post workout. Anyway, on to the results; I weighed in and measured up on Monday of this week, and here is how the stats have changed:

Legs - 26 inches
Arms - 16 inches
Chest - 44.25 inches
Weight - 92kg

Max Deadlift Weight - 130kg
Max Squat Weight - 112.5kg

So as you can see I've managed to make some major strength gains which I'm hoping to increase again by the end of the week. I've also managed to lose some significant weight - 4.5kg (9.9 pounds) whilst gaining muscle mass on both my legs and chest, whilst maintaining muscle on my arms. Its safe to say that the past week of training has been a successful one, despite my nutritional lapses. However, due to the huge weight loss this week, I'm not expecting anything big in the following week, I'll be happy just to maintain the weight that I'm at, as I'm hugely ahead of target, sitting just behind the half way point for my target. 

I've had a few people ask me how I manage to lose the weight and how I keep myself motivated. With regard to the weight loss, its all about the amount of effort you put in. I pride myself on pushing myself past my limits in every gym session and working as hard as possible - to put it simply, if you're not sweating heavily and feeling your muscles start to ache at the end of a session, then you're just not doing it right. With regard to eating, the last week has been an exception for me. I've learned to love healthy foods just as much as junk foods, and I try to keep my diet interesting. If you've got a boring and tasteless diet, then its more likely that you're going to want to cheat it and eat junk food. With regard to motivation, I get my motivation from seeing myself in the mirror week after week and seeing the improvements that training is having on my body, but most importantly I don't see my training as a chore or something I have to force myself into. It's become a huge part of my life now, and spending 3-5 sessions in the gym per week is standard to me, its just a bonus that I see such amazing results from it. Also, its all about who you surround yourself with, I try to surround myself with people that are passionate about fitness, Icon Nutrition have helped me massively with workout tips and info, Kavan Byrne has also been a huge source of info. Of course Fitness Made EZ has helped me massively with regard to motivation and my training approach, my last 5 months of training have been attributed to his advice and guidance. Also I encourage you all to get over to the community at bodyactive-nation.co.uk - its an amazing community to be a part of and they've helped me a lot over the past few months.

Well I hope that everyone's enjoyed this post, for anyone that's interested in my workout routine or the structure of my diet, its all in the post preceding this one. If people have any feedback or questions or even want to join me in my journey (as I've said before I'm happy to offer nutrition and exercise tips) then you can catch me on Twitter (@Wrighty) on Facebook (www.facebook.com/A.Wright.Fitness) or alternatively just leave a comment in the box below! 
Take it easy
Alex.

Monday, 3 June 2013

Up and running once again!

I thought that its about time that I updated this, apologies for the long wait in between posts. Since I've been away there's been so many new developments and my own training has come on massively, so much so that I've decided to share my experiences. Around the beginning of March I had the honour and pleasure of test driving a supplement for BodyActive (www.bodyactive-nation.co.uk) My entire log and final review for the product can be found here - http://www.bodyactive-nation.co.uk/forum/Supplement-Logs/4912-X-Factor-Advanced-Log. The supplement in question is called X Factor Advanced, essentially its a product that utilises Arachidonic Acid (an omega-6 fatty acid that has been proven to have anabolic benefits) to help build some serious lean muscle and promote strength increases. The trial itself was a 50 day trial, consisting of an intake of four servings (in capsule form) of the XFA per day. To give the supplement a chance to reach its full efficiency I increased my meals to four per day and increased my protein intake massively. The product not only did exactly as it promised, but it produced results that I wasn't ready for at all. For example due to my neglect, I was only able to deadlift 60-70kg before I tried the product. By the end of the cycle my deadlifts had increased to 120-130kg which was an increase that I couldn't ever have fathomed. In addition to gaining some serious strength and muscle, I also managed to drop 6kg in weight in the process thanks to a strict diet. 

Despite the amazing results that I saw on the XFA cycle, I'll be the first to admit that I've slipped in recent weeks - not so much with training, but with diet. Due to that fact I've managed to go back to 96kg in weight, whether that is due to some muscle mass or fat or a mixture of both remains to be seen. In light of this, I've decided to dedicate my summer (the next 12-14 weeks) to finally ridding myself of the rest of the weight that I'm carrying. As extra motivation I'm being joined by a friend (who will also be allowing me to post his progress on the blog) in my efforts. We'll be recording our stats at the beginning and at the end of our transformations and in addition will be sharing our diets and training plans. Personally I managed to shed 25kg of weight last summer, and I'm aiming to lose 12 kg in total this summer. Although this is only half of the weight that I shed last year, I'm anticipating that its going to be a lot harder to lose - due to this I've upped the intensity of my training and scrutinized  my diet to get the maximum results. So anyway, here are the stats for me at this moment in time - 

Weight - 96.5kg
Arm Size - 16"
Leg Size - 25.5"
Waist - 36"

My workout split at the moment is breaking down like this - 

Dynamic Warm up (Circuit, 2 sets)
Alt. Lunges - 12 each side
Deadbugs - 15 reps
Woodchops - 12 reps
Side Chops - 12 reps

Set 1 (Circuit)
Barbell Squats (5 Sets, 6 reps)
Dumbbell Chest press (4 sets, 10 reps)
Barbell Row - 4 sets, 10 reps)

Set 2 (Circuit)
Bent Leg Deadlifts - (5 sets, 6 reps)
Lat pulldown (4 sets, 10 reps)
Push Press (Dumbbells, 4 sets, 10 reps)

Set 3 (Circuit)
Press ups (2 sets, 15 reps)
Y Raises (On bench, 2 sets, 15 reps)
Cable Row (2 sets, 15 reps)

Due to the fact that my routine covers the whole body, I have decided to execute this three times per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). On the days that I'm not in the gym I'll be performing cardio (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) with Sunday being effectively a rest day. However as I'm a glutton for punishment I'm going to use Sunday as a day to fast, which will probably include me participating in fasted cardio, most likely brisk walking. After six weeks of this particular routine I'll be re-evaluating my progress and looking to switch things up to keep my training fresh and keep those positive results coming in. With regard to supplements I've kept things simple - I'm currently taking Warrior Blaze (Which happens to be the best and most powerful fat burner on the market, plus it gives you a huge buzz so doubles as a pre workout supplement), I'm also taking a multivitamin from MyProtein and Cod liver oil capsules. The protein that I'm currently using is MyProtein's diet whey, which is tasty and cheap and seems to be delivering promising results.

Anyone that would like to join myself and Rob in our efforts is more than welcome, just get in touch with me on here, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/a.w.fitness) or on Twitter - @Wrighty__. I'll try and help anyone that is serious about making a change by formulating workouts and helping with nutrition. I also want to say a quick thank you for the support I've received from everyone throughout my training. I always say this but a huge influence on my training and motivation, both directly and indirectly is Paul 'EZ' Corkery (www.facebook.com/fitnessmadeez, @Fitnessmadeez, www.youtube.co.uk/glyphmedia, www.flexdem.com). He's always there to give tips and offer his advice if its needed, plus he sells some awesome merchandise! In addition to this I'd also like to give a huge thank you to BodyActive and CDS Nutrition who have been really supportive and were generous enough to give me the opportunity to log a supplement (an honour that I hope may be repeated at some point). They also distribute some quality supplements at a really good price so check their website out - www.bodyactive-nation.co.uk. It's also worth signing up to the site and joining the forums, there's so much that I've learned by simply reading through the discussions! Also a quick shoutout to Icon Nutrition and in particular Kavan Byrne who have given me some good training tips over the past few weeks which have helped me make some serious headway with my training. 

Well that's everything that I had to update you all on. Hope that I haven't bored anyone and that you've all taken something from the post. Any feedback on the post is welcome as always, just get in touch with me over Facebook, Twitter or here and I'll reply as soon as I can. 
Train hard, but train safely,
Alex.

Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Update!



Considering the fact that I haven't touched this blog in a while, I've decided that it's time for an update - a bit of explanation behind where I've been hiding. Anyone that's been following my Facebook and Twitter posts will know that for the last 3 weeks I've been logging a supplement for BodyActive Nation. I've also produced some independent blog posts for their blogging community and sadly its meant neglecting this page greatly. The supplement that I've been logging is called X Factor Advanced developed by a company called Molecular Nutrition. Basically, as BodyActive describe it ' X-Factor has the ability to rapidly assist in lean muscle mass gains, increase fat burning properties and amplify your response to training'. It's main ingredient is Arachidonic acid, an ergogenic acid that has a huge reputation for producing muscle gains. I've been taking this supplement for just over 3 weeks now, and its produced results beyond my wildest dreams. I've toned up and gained some serious muscle, especially in my shoulders.


Of course, its not just been the X Factor that's helped me to push towards my goals as of late. I've recently weighed in at 91.6kg - that's a whole 31kg lost since I started my weight loss journey. I've learned the hard way that if you don't take control of all areas of your lifestyle, then you've got no chance of really hitting your top goals. Since starting to log XFA, I've completely changed my lifestyle and really sorted out my training to ensure that I get the maximum benefits from such a powerful supplement. My diet is now cleaner than ever, and my training is hitting levels of intensity that I could only dream of previously. Of course, I haven't managed to do this all by myself; I've had a lot of help. Most of which has come from EZ, training wise I'm now loosely following his regime with regard to split and cycle. I've also taken some nutritional tips by following his training.


I guess to sum up this post; I've managed to really edge closer to my goals now, and they're almost in touching distance. Lately I've seen a lot of people wanting to commit to their training, but not knowing where to start, or even starting blind. I cannot stress how important it is to really plan your approach to training. A lot of the time, you're going to have to find ways to motivate yourself, you're going to feel like giving up at some point and some things will feel so easy to give in to. I say this because I've experienced it all myself - it's not going to be an easy ride at all. If you really want to reach your goals, you have to put everything you have into getting there. Sacrifices will have to be made, some that you really don't want to make. Believe me though when I tell you that it's all going to be worth it in the end. The sense of self achievement for seeing your goals get closer with each week is just amazing, its one of the best feelings in the world. One of the biggest tips that I can give you is to surround yourself with positive influences. One of the motto's that I live by now is one that I've been introduced to by EZ - 'A Product Of My Environment'. This could not be more true. For anyone that hasn't seen EZ's page, you can find him at - www.facebook.com/fitnessmadeez www.flexdem.com and www.youtube.co.uk/glyphmedia. They've helped me massively along my journey. Anyway, until next time guys,

Train hard, but train safe,


Alex.

XPLODE!


In the time in which I’ve been boxing, I’ve had some comments about the power of my punches and how they’ve improved. At first I put this down to natural progression; however after thinking about it, I discovered that the increased power output was due to my gym sessions – specifically my warm up. I came across this gem of a warm up in a workout video for Terry Crews as he prepared for his role in The Expendables (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-uBxxK4c3U). This short and sweet warm up really gets your engine running for a workout and also it works on your explosive power (perfect for people partaking in contact sports: Boxers, rugby players etc.)
In light of this warm up, I’ve tried my hand at creating a full workout solely based on developing and harnessing explosive power. Not only will it do that, it also works your full body, brilliant for your core and also because the movements are so fast it can serve as some form of cardio. It consists of ten exercises which are set out in the form of three circuits (4, 4, 2). Realistically you’re looking to complete 8-10 reps for each exercise, with two-three minutes rest in between sets. So without further ado, I’ll break it down.
Circuit 1
Jump Squats (With Barbell) – begin with normal squat motion, on ascent explode upwards and propel yourself off the floor.

Push Press (Barbell) – Hold bar at shoulder height, bend knees slightly. Quickly straighten legs and explode upwards with the bar, essentially performing a shoulder press.

Deadlifts (Barbell)

Kettlebell Swings – Using a single kettlebell, keep your back straight and legs slightly bent. Combine the power in your hips and arms to create a swinging motion, bring the kettlebell parallel with your shoulders and lower slowly.

Circuit 2

Power Clean and Press (Barbell)

Jumping Lunges (Holding medicine ball) – Perform a jump lunge and alternate legs, no break between legs. Ensure that you hold the medicine ball out in front of you.

Clap press ups

Swinging plate jumps – Begin in a half squat position with a light weight plate in each hand (2.5kg). Extend the plates behind you. Proceed to swing the plates forwards whilst jumping as high as possible.


Circuit 3

Box Jumps

Upright row (barbell)

So there it is, a workout designed to develop your explosive power whilst getting your muscles toned and ripped. You only need a light weight for this workout, I’d definitely recommend beginning with a really low weight. I again only use 30kg for the whole thing and its enough to really work me hard. Hopefully some of you will feel confident enough to try this workout, please feel free to come to me with any feedback or questions and any results if you do decide to stick with it. It's shown positive results both for myself and for my training partner; its definitely worth a go if you want to really unlock a high power output!
Train hard, but train safe,
Alex.