Achieving muscular strength, power, and those perfect six pack abs
I had a subscriber ask this question:
“Is it possible to achieve maximum strength power, knockout fat, sculpt lean muscle and dramatically transform my shape, if I don’t have a power rack and I only have access to a barbell? Not even an Olympic barbell, but one of those old crappy cement filled barbell sets”
I know precisely the weights this guy is saying. I believe nearly everyone of us grew up with them right? They were basically cement weights covered in plastic, and over time the plastic busted up and the cement started to get busted below remember?
I think I’m showing my age 
Anyways
Of course! Why not?! You can absolutely build strength and power with an outdated equipment!
You just need someone to show you how. Luckily you met me. And luckily I just read most of Dan John’s awesome “From the Ground Up”.
In this outstanding little ebook Dan John explains the “Rapid Ascent Program”, which contains three workouts:
1. Pull Move
2. Push Press
3. Front Squat
And here’s how you did the program (from his book):
“The program was very easy. Primarily, groups of four boys were given a bar. The bars were weighted from too lightpossibly 25 poundsup to maybe close to 100 pounds. Each group of boys would lift one at a time, put the bar down, then the next boy would lift. The four would continuously move from lifter to watcherthe bar never stopped. The three sets (explained in just a moment) would not take very longindeed, occasionally it was hard to catch your breath in time for your next set.
The repetitions were incredibly simple
* Set Number 1 — 8 repetitions
* Set #2: 6 reps
* Set #3: 4 reps
The goal was simple: when you got all 18 reps (8+6+4), you added weight. If you started with a bar that was too light, the next workout, you would be bumped up to the next weight and a stronger group. (Of course, actual variations could include making a whole new group with more weight, tooor whatever necessary to make the group work together).”
Sounds simple doesn’t it?
That’s the upside of this program!
You don’t need a great deal of equipment to achieve maximum strength and power and build mega-muscles… all at the same time as increasing your cardiovascular fitness and stripping off stubborn pounds of fat.
What you DO need is a little “do or die” perspective. You must make your mind up you surely WANT to reach your fitness goals, then you’ll find a way to utilize whatever equipment you have available to make it happen.