Ray Gillenwater, SSC I'm Ray Gillenwater, the administrator of Starting Strength Gyms. We're working on building 100 gyms in five years to make training in person with a coach more accessible to more people. I came across Starting Strength in 2012 after searching Reddit for fitness programs. I had spent years traveling for business, which wasn't conducive to a healthy lifestyle. At 6'2" and at as low as 168 lbs during my busiest times, I knew I needed to spend less time working and more time taking care of my health. I was weak. My neck and back hurt. Performance in my favorite sport, Muay Thai, was sub-optimal. And I looked like a "tiny insect of a man," at least according to Rippetoe. After leaving the corporate world to start my first venture, I made a firm decision that trading my health for business productivity would no longer be a part of my lifestyle. As a business strategist, the goal-oriented and systematic nature of Starting Strength appealed to me instantly. Although I was under the impression that squats were bad for your back and pressing overhead would tear a rotator-cuff, I was open to having my mind changed. The thorough analysis in the blue book was enough to get me out of my comfort zone to pick up a barbell. As a skeptic, I followed the program as closely as possible and hoped for a positive outcome while keeping my expectations low – after all, I had tried several fitness programs in the past. But my lifts were going up and so was my bodyweight. The only trouble was that my form was off (more so than I realized at the time) and programming was becoming trickier as I progressed. I finally got to a point where I knew I needed help from a professional – and not wanting to get someone else’s misinterpretation of the material, I sent an email to the author of the book. I asked Rip for remote coaching. He replied, gave me his phone number, and told me to call him. I did. He immediately diagnosed the problem, which he identified as being Californian, and indicated to me that instead of trying to eat healthily, I needed to just eat – everything – for at least a few months. I did that, too. The progress was extremely satisfying. It didn't take long to get my bodyweight to 235 lbs and my squat to over 300 lbs for sets across. My fight game improved both technically and in terms of how much power I could produce. I was sleeping and eating better than I had in years. And most importantly, I felt great – physically and mentally. Fast forward to 2017. After attending several seminars, coaching friends, and immersing myself in Starting Strength, I opened a gym while pursuing my SSC certification. I passed the platform exam, but just barely. And after 44 pages of creating the most technical academic paper of my life, I failed the written exam. I was close, though, and was given the opportunity to give it another shot and passed. Believe them when they tell you: becoming a Starting Strength Coach is hard. In 2018, I partnered with Rip and Stef with an objective of building a complete ecosystem of Starting Strength Gyms, gym owners, coaches, and trainees that is designed to benefit everyone involved. We are working together to bring something new to the fitness industry – something that actually helps people get strong. Articles Starting Strength Changed My Life Your Priorities as a New Strength Trainee Starting Strength for Women Starting Strength Gyms: An Update Starting Strength Gyms: Year One Update We Are the Opposite Gym Business Fundamentals An Open Letter to US Policymakers The First Three Starting Strength Gyms – An Analysis Starting Strength Gyms – The Plan for 2020 A Call for Coaches We Will Not Comply The Future of Starting Strength Gyms Starting Strength Gym Ownership Prerequisites Starting Strength Gyms: Performance Update Starting Strength Gyms – The Plan for 2021 Our Values at Starting Strength Gyms Starting Strength Gyms – The Plan for 2022 Starting Strength Gyms – Where We’re Going Next Videos 7 Weeks of Progress on the Starting Strength Novice Program Where to Put Your Lifting Belt What You Need to Do Starting Strength How to Set Up Your Safeties for Heavy Squats Keeping a Rigid Spine The Labor Market with Ray Gillenwater | Starting Strength Radio #138 Sleep Apnea, CPAPs, and Sleep Studies Improve Your Squat by Narrowing Your Grip Why Chalk Is A Must For Gaining Strength | Gym Tips For Beginners Weightlifting Shoes. A Most Useful Tool For Strength Training Which Barbell to Use? Squatting Right on Day 1 Common Mistakes In The Deadlift & How To Fix Them Ray's First Fitness Industry Interview | Starting Strength Gyms Podcast #49 The Novice Linear Progression: Your First 30 Days Efficient Lifting is Safe Lifting Novice Linear Progression For Women Is It Time to Add Rack Pulls? Training Log A Simple Guide to Eating for New Trainees How To Barbell Press | The Starting Strength Method How To Bench Press | The Starting Strength Method How Does a Weightlifting Belt Help You in the Gym?
