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Comment by MFLoon | Hacker News Reader

In response to some of the endorsements of Starting Strength/Stronglifts on this post, I'd like to advocate for an alternative source of strength training information, Barbell Medicine, https://www.barbellmedicine.com/. SSLP/SL are both solid options for a complete beginner, but Mark Rippetoe's overall approach is somewhat outdated and less evidence based than BBM. They're quite similar (they were actually formerly associated, but have since split), but I find BBM's approach somewhat more sensible and nuanced; Rippetoe tends towards dogmatism in some of his beliefs about biomechanics.

No association other than being a happy customer (of all three mentioned actually, you can't really go wrong, I just think BBM is the best of the three).

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Just go with anything. Strength regimens basically all work, as long as you eat enough and increase the weight, just as all diets work when you eat less. People have gotten incredibly strong lifting rocks. I used to lift barbells, then switched to more functional strength of carrying 40 lb packs up mountains and climbing vertical faces.

> Strength regimens basically all work, as long as you eat enough and increase the weight

Agreed, but I'd also contend that for a total beginner (which is the context SSLP comes up in), choosing a well structured program that will allow you to experience consistent progress will greatly increase their chances of sticking with the habit.

Not to mention minimizing risk of injury.

A second recommendation for BBM here. I especially appreciate their evidence-based approach to training programming and lack of dogmatism about resistance training. They tend to program mainly for barbell movements, but if you want to use machines or bodyweight alternatives, go for it.

That said, I'm pretty sure that any of them would regard the original link with a high degree of scepticism. I'm happy to assert that every single "weakness" identified on that page could be avoided/rehabilitated with any basic whole-body resistance training routine. People have an unfortunate tendency to latch onto information like this and assume a worst-case scenario (e.g. "if I don't immediately do all these exercises daily, I'm going to fall apart").

Agreed (and third-ed).

Also, I guarantee they would regard this info with a lot of skepticism. I compete in powerlifting, Austin @ BBM is my coach, and I have been to several of their seminars. Austin's lecture on pain and injury included a strongly worded statement (verbatim): "Weakness does not cause pain" (along with a thorough explantation that there is no evidence to support that it does).

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