Chase Lindley coaches AJ through his squat warm ups at the Squat & Deadlift Training Camp held at Starting Strength OKC last weekend. [photo courtesy of Phoebe Hightower]

Oscar locks out on his deadlift during the camp in Oklahoma City. [photo courtesy of Phoebe Hightower]

It's a full gym at the 5:50 pm MWF session in Starting Strength Plano. [photo courtesy of Matt Hebert]

Marcus Shimotsu rack pulls a set of 320 at Starting Strength Houston. [photo courtesy of Tony Stein]

Andrea Mates coaches Abha Mallya through her squats at Starting Strength Austin. [photo courtesy of Jack Berger]

Avery and Gretchen coach husband and wife, Victor and Sarah, on the correct overhead press form at Starting Strength Boise. [photo courtesy of Rachel Fox]

Kathleen from Starting Strength Denver hits another PR - 215x3. [photo courtesy of Jay Livsey]

Chase Lindley’s second attempt clean and jerk at this past weekend’s Classic Weightlifting Meet held at WFAC. [photo courtesy of Nick Delgadillo]

Rusty Holcomb prepares for the press part of the clean and press at Saturday's meet. The meet tested all three classic weightlifting lifts - clean and press, snatch, and clean and jerk. [photo courtesy of Nick Delgadillo]

Lifters, coaches, staff, and spectators from Saturday's Classic Weightlifting Meet held at WFAC. [photo courtesy of Nick Delgadillo]

Meet Results

WFAC Weightlifting Challenge - Results

Ishsavvy

Rip, I heard you talk about opioids not having any effect on you in one of your YouTube videos. You did mention something else that you said did work; what was it? All I can remember is that it started with a “T.”

I’m asking, because my husband has the same problem. He found out after having a heart attack. They gave him several doses of morphine and it had no effect on him; except for giving him dry mouth and making his back hurt.

Mark Rippetoe

It was probably E.H. Taylor bourbon.

Lupo

You didn't tell me that after doing Starting Strength I have to discard my entire wardrobe. When I started I was 6ft3 and around 220lbs, now I am (surprisingly still) 6ft3 and north of 250lbs. I had to throw away all my clothes! Undergarments and tailored shirts included! Although I am pretty pleased with my body, I can only shop at the fat man store! Now what happens if I start doing intermediate programs? I'm really not thrilled about heading up to 300lbs, although as I already mentioned, I can't complain about my physique. Maybe people can share what they generally do about clothes? I used to be very picky when purchasing, but under these circumstances I might need to change this attitude.

Mark Rippetoe

You wear "undergarments"?

Gerald Boggs

Think of it as an opportunity. Now you can justify the new wardrobe needed to comfortably carry concealed.

Satch12879

If serious, then the obvious solution is to stop training.

FatButWeak

LOL it doesn't stop. I'm 6'4-5" and my weight keeps moving up. Over the past 7-8 years I've slowly gone from 220 or so to 275 or so. I'm now 295 and a bit "fluffy" but still have a vein on my bicep and can do chins for reps. So it ain't all fat. My chest, shoulder girdle and back width keep expanding. And I'm 50.

JC Penney is a good place for shirts and not very expensive suits. They do have big, fat guy sizes in slimmer cuts, which look pretty good (i.e. not boxy, blowsy or goofy) and have a lot of stretch to them.

Elle

Unfortunately, like you mentioned, some of the answer to this is "custom tailoring". If you buy a shirt that fits everywhere, a tailor can bring in the too-big parts for $10-20 per item. Fewer, higher quality clothes is the way to go. But it does suck when your weight is constantly in flux and even those high quality clothes don't last long.