I am sometimes asked if I believe that body weight training is the only way to train. Let me make my answer clear. No I do not believe that body weight training or body weight exercise is the only way to train. However, it is at this point in my life the preferable way to train at least for me.

I do have 700 lbs of weights in my garage to go along with a bench and squat rack. I no longer use it all that often due to the wear and tear on my tendons. Body weight exercise allows me to continue to train and gain strength without having to lift weights. However, I do not have it in for weight lifting like some.

One of the things that I love about body weight exercise is that you don’t require much else to get a great strength training workout. It removes that excuses that you couldn’t get to the gym or that you didn’t want to spend the money on weight equipment.

Some of the fittest people in our country are our military. They just about exclusively use body weight exercise for building muscle and for improving their overall fitness levels. I figure that they must know something. On top of it all they are functionally fit. They are equipped to handle the fitness rigors of military service and everyday life not merely equipped to perform a barbell curl.

You body will build muscle if you put a stress on your muscle. You body will adapt. You heavier load that you place on your muscles that more they will grow to handle that load in the future. Your own body weight is sufficient to stress your musculature to the point of growth.

And if you have never done body weight exercises then I suggest that you do them. You will find out that they are not easy to perform. Your heart will begin to race and your muscles will begin to quiver. Give them a try. You will be glad you did.

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