Carl started training at Chicago S&C in July 2017 and has been wonderfully consistent in his barbell training, rarely missing a training session. He usually trains in the evenings and on weekends so if you train regularly at Chicago S&C, odds are that you have had the good fortune of training with both Carl and his wife,Ā Nicole,Ā who is also a member of the gym.
Carl is a calm, disciplined, positive presence in the gym. He never complains, gets his work done, and approaches his training from a deliberate, rational perspective, which is no surprise given that he programs computers for a living. He has many varied interests so between sets, you may hear him talk about a new board game that just came out, public choice theory, or his upcoming trip to Japan.
Carl puts himself out there and is never afraid to try new things. He has completed in two strength competitions and absolutely rocks his red and black singlet. And according to several members of the gym, his lats are really coming in. Let’s learn some more about Carl:
Please share a little about yourself. Profession, family, age, backgroundā¦
Hello, Iām 34 and I program computers. I studied Japanese in college and I just bought a house and got married to my wonderful wife, Nicole, last year. I have one brother who does not lift, though I’m working on him.
What was your exercise history before Chicago S&C?
I have very little history of a concentrated exercise regimen. I did some strength training, aerobics, and even capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music) for a couple many more sedentary years. I occasionally did a semi-active sport like windsurfing or sailing, but those things do far more for balance, dexterity, and endurance than they do for strength.
How did you find out about Chicago S&C and what was the catalyst to get you to contact us and come on your first day?
When I was working at Groupon, I met Coach Dave when he joined our engineering team. He introduced me and others to Starting Strength and encouraged everybody who asked to get the book and start barbell training. I took him up on an offer of a private introduction at his home gym, and made a habit of it.
What are your current personal bests for all the lifts? (Squat, bench press, deadlift, press)
Before I started? Nothing, zip. I started in Daveās garage with a 30 kg squat and went linear from there to 90 kg before needing a break. I trained on and off after that first year in 2014, progressing to a 106 kg deadlift with Dave, competing in my first competition, and then I began training on my own. I trained on and off after that before joining Chicago S&C in July of 2017. Since training at Chicago S&C, my best lifts are:
- Squat: 130 kg for 5 reps [286 lbs]
- Bench Press: 79 kg for 5 reps [174 lbs]
- Deadlift: 132.5 kg for 5 reps [292 lbs]
- Power clean: 68 kg x3x4 [150 lbs]
What is your favorite lift and why?
My favorite lift is the power clean because when I do it right, it feels awesome, and itās always challenging me both in intensity and consistency. It also looks great in slow-mo…
How long after starting at Chicago S&C before you noticed a difference and how has barbell training made a difference in your life?
The first couple of weeks were rough. Every half-inch crack in the sidewalk risked totally collapsing my gait and climbing down stairs, I looked like a geriatric. But it quickly got better.
My biggest strength moment was about 6 months into training. My wife, Nicole, and I went to Ikea and stuffed our little Scion so full of furniture I had to move the seat up to the point I almost beeped the horn by breathing. When we got home, I put a 40-lb shelf assembly on my back and climbed three flights of stairs to our apartment and then did it 4 more times with the other shelves. Thatās when I knew that being strong is more than a hobby and competition; Itās a gateway to a healthier, happier life.
How is strength training different than what you did before for exercise?
Strength training teaches grit and adaptation. It requires grit to come to the gym and train, even when you donāt want to, and discipline yourself to the suffering. You go to the gym knowing youāre going to suffer and you leave having done so. Through this cycle, your body adapts, and you simply increase the weight each time. Through this you learn that your body can adapt to hardship and become harder itself, and so too can your mind. Barbell training is meditation for your meat.
What would you say to someone who is unsure about starting a barbell strength training program? How would you convince a friend to get started training?
Decide what outcome you want and pursue that outcome directly and with discipline. If your goal is to open that gateway to a happier, healthier life, then get under a barbell and start meditating.
