Strong, Not Big

Strong, Not Big

Yes there are many taking up lifting, but if you want to take up lifting weights you don’t necessarily have to do it to get ‘big’, just ‘strong’. Let me explain with an example . . .

In 2023, an elite CrossFit Athlete Danielle Brandon, possessing a heavy gymnastics background, but also a respectable weightlifting background - this is CrossFit after all - ‘Blasts’ through this obstacle course . . .

Notice how athletically defined she is, but not ‘big?’

This, I’ve been informed, is what some people desire, to have strength and endurance, but not the ‘bulk’ that goes with it . . .

It’s all in your training, and in the ‘kitchen!’

So, you have to ask yourself ‘What Kind of Body Do You Want?’

Weights & Cardio

Let me share with you another example . . .

In the 2021 CrossFit Games elite athlete Brent Fikowski wins ‘Event 9’ and “crushes it” to use their words. Brent Fikowski has a solid and respectable weightlifting background and is meticulous in his lifting technique, but notice how he isn’t as big as some of the other male athletes?

Sure, like a lot of both the male and female athletes in CrossFit, they have some noticeable size, but not enough to make you want to say ‘ew.’

Proof Is In Performance

Now, let’s take another look at Danielle Brandon, this time using a weightlifting event: The ‘1-Rep Max Snatch’. She hits 190lb’s on her second attempt. Note: that in one go of that same weight, CrossFit athletes are only allowed 2 attempts, and if they fail, it’s over . . .

This Event took place 2 years prior to the Handstand Walk Event that you saw in the earlier video.

Notice how she’s maintained a very similar physique throughout the those 2 years of training?

If you wanted to maintain that physique, how would you do it? 

Method Behind The Madness

To get the body shape and definition you guys want takes a long time. It takes eating correctly 80-100% of the time. It takes not skipping a workout. It takes a mentality of ‘I am going to the gym regardless of how I feel.’

These athletes started of just like everyone of us. They started in the gym working on their general fitness.

Eventually. they got some guidance from professionals and started using ‘Periodization’ to work on different elements of their fitness, such as endurance, strength, power, speed, and technique.

These athletes also set aside a lot of time for stretching, mobility & rest.

They ‘mastered the mundane,’ working on the same elements of their training repeatedly, until they felt they were sufficient for competition.

Bradley Abbott

Contact: 07376 941640