Blitz only Thread

grrthetree · 08-12-2009, 19:57

I'm a little skeptical of this program, to be honest. Not to take anything away from the creator or the program itself, but I just can't see this doing anything except changing your routine for a short time while stimulating different aspects of muscular endurance that could be done without making an entire routine of it.

This program doesn't look like something that will truly improve "strength" in the real sense of the word. Also, the exercises prescribed go against everything I've been taught about strength training for two reasons. From what I know, isolation exercises are good additions to programs based on compound movements, so setting up a whole program based on doing circuits of mainly isolation movements doesn't make sense to me. Another thing is that certain exercises and methods leave you more prone to injuries, while the program is designed to strengthen your tendons and joints. What I mean is that it is recommended that you use certain machines, which lock in a fixed range of motion, and exercises like leg extensions, which are proven to be bad for your knees.

So I'm just throwing this out here not to bash or degrade the program or creator, but to state my opinion, and wonder if I can get a better look at it from the designers perspective. So if you could retort some of my statements, I would appreciate it. I'm not trying to set up an argument, though, honest discussion.

**The Reaper** · 08-12-2009, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by grrthetree

I'm a little skeptical of this program, to be honest. Not to take anything away from the creator or the program itself, but I just can't see this doing anything except changing your routine for a short time while stimulating different aspects of muscular endurance that could be done without making an entire routine of it.

This program doesn't look like something that will truly improve "strength" in the real sense of the word. Also, the exercises prescribed go against everything I've been taught about strength training for two reasons. From what I know, isolation exercises are good additions to programs based on compound movements, so setting up a whole program based on doing circuits of mainly isolation movements doesn't make sense to me. Another thing is that certain exercises and methods leave you more prone to injuries, while the program is designed to strengthen your tendons and joints. What I mean is that it is recommended that you use certain machines, which lock in a fixed range of motion, and exercises like leg extensions, which are proven to be bad for your knees.

So I'm just throwing this out here not to bash or degrade the program or creator, but to state my opinion, and wonder if I can get a better look at it from the designers perspective. So if you could retort some of my statements, I would appreciate it. I'm not trying to set up an argument, though, honest discussion.

High school students here should probably neither be seen nor heard. You will learn more with your mouth closed and your ears open.

I recommend that you wait a long while before jumping into a food fight here with both feet.

At 17 or 18, your opinion and experiences carry little weight here. There are a lot of QPs, several physicians, and more than a few people with advanced fitness training available on this board for expert opinions.

Move out, draw fire.

TR

Blitzzz (RIP) · 08-12-2009, 21:15

Saved me from going over all that has already been gone over..some folks should read all of the thread.
An aside; There are now 106 members with copies of the Blitz. I think I should be getting some feed back some day...Thanks Dave

**Razor** · 08-13-2009, 08:40

Dave,

To help with dac's problem about not having a machine for his squats and calf raises, could he simply hold dumbells to add weight?

Blitzzz (RIP) · 08-13-2009, 09:13

Minus the weight of one's legs, squats are body weight. To Blitz properly He's have to find his !RM half squat with weight (plus his body weight) and then take a third of that.
Example; Can do 1 rep half squat with 250 lbs nd he weighs 200 lbs then total weight is 450. Start weight is around 150 lbs (minus the weight of his legs) about 40 to 50 lbs. So he would squat with about 100 lbs of weight. Doesn't seem like much but at the high reps it will be fine. Is this sounding clear to anyone but me?

dac · 08-13-2009, 11:49

Sounds clear, but I don't want to chop off my legs to lose 100lbs.

The gym I use is the condo complex gym, but I'm only a block away from a large real gym. I'm going to check out the inside and prices, maybe I'll join. I am running into quite a bit of problems on the current equipment. I just can't go any faster without the weights bouncing.

Blitzzz (RIP) · 08-13-2009, 14:52

When we used it in the Physical therapy dept we had that problem a lot. So patients could not get the complete benefit but they still recovered fast.

jlcoad · 08-17-2009, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor

Dave,

To help with dac's problem about not having a machine for his squats and calf raises, could he simply hold dumbells to add weight?

what's wrong wih using a ruck sack with sand bags or weights for squats and calves?

Never mind. Where are you going to find a ruck that would hold enough weight. How would you put on 200 - 250 lb ruck on your back

Milktrckcopilot · 08-17-2009, 20:12

PM sent

Irishsquid · 08-17-2009, 21:32

Question:

I'm preparing to attend SFAS. Will be going in the next couple months. I have been doing Crossfit, then switched over to militaryathlete.com, and have just started doing their "SFAS Prep," program. I find it to be an absolutely amazing workout, but it leaves me feeling absolutely drained. Because of this, I find it harder and harder to get up in the mornings, as I work 1600-0200.

1) Would the Blitz protocol be a good workout program to do during my SFAS Prep time?
2) Would I be less fatigued, and more able to perform well at my civilian job in the meantime?

--Irishsquid

**Razor** · 08-18-2009, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlcoad

what's wrong wih using a ruck sack with sand bags or weights for squats and calves?

Never mind. Where are you going to find a ruck that would hold enough weight. How would you put on 200 - 250 lb ruck on your back

Even without the weight issues (which are partially mitigated by the lower weight used in a Blitzz), IMO dumbells would be a better choice for balance. A ruck would put the weight too far behind one's natural center of gravity. I guess one could supplement the additional weight from the hand-held dumbells with a weighted vest, or rig a behind-the-neck type sling to hang sandbags close to the body.

Just thinking out loud on this.

dac · 08-19-2009, 13:14

Completed Day 4 on Monday, tonight is Day 5. Here are results from Monday:

Exercise | Weight | Reps 1 | Reps 2 | Reps 3
-------------------------------
Lat Pulls | #70 | 65 | 64 | 59
Seated Rows | #60 | 69 | 64 | 56
Chest Press | #90 | 77 | 72 | 53
Bicep Curls | #25 | 76 | 63 | 59
Half Squats | #0 | 64 | 62 | 53
Hamstring Curls | #40 | 67 | 61 | 61
Knee Extensions | #50 | 74 | 75 | 69
Crunches | #0 | 66 | 45 | 40

Some notes:

1. My calves were still really tight from Friday so I switched those out for crunches.
2. I don't think I need any extra weight for free standing squats, as you can see from the numbers.
3. The Lat/Row machine just can't go faster than ~1/sec without bouncing the weights.
4. I had previously been doing front and side hanging knee raises for abs and apparently I have no endurance there.

5. I updated the tracking spreadsheet to make it a little prettier and have all 8 weeks on two printed pages.