Despite having a lat tweak, Matt pulls a PR deadlift for 5 reps at Starting Strength Boston. [photo courtesy of Stephen Babbitt]

Addy evaluates Coach Tyler's grip width, provides a few post-set technique pointers, then congratulates him on a job well done. The coaching interns keep getting younger and younger at Testify Strength & Conditioning in Omaha, NE. [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]

Participants from New York, Michigan, and throughout Texas for this past weekend’s Self-Sufficient Lifter Camp held at WFAC. [photo courtesy of Nick Delgadillo]

Meet Results

The annual Testify Leprechaun Lift-off weightlifting meet took place this past Saturday (03/16/24) at Testify Strength & Conditioning in Omaha, NE. View a recording of the meet

For the women, the Best Lifter Award (Morgard the Manatee) went to Morgan Johnson, and for the men, the Best Lifter Award went to Tyler Wagner. The Best Lifter Awards were determined using Sinclair points. Full meet results

Geneva returns to the competition platform and hits 44 kg for her 3rd attempt snatch. She went 6-for-6 in her first meet back and is now looking forward to besting this meet's lifts at the upcoming Testify Barbell MAYhem in May. [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]

In his first weightlifting meet, Dave cleans-and-jerks 53 kg for his 3rd attempt. Dave is also competing in the upcoming Testify Strengthlifting Challenge in April, and then he'll be looking to set more snatch and clean-and-jerk PRs at the Barbell MAYhem weightlifting meet in May. [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]

Tyler steps onto the weightlifting competition platform for the first time and goes 6-for-6 on the day. He finished the day with an 82 kg snatch, and here, he nails 93 kg for his 3rd attempt clean-and-jerk. [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]

Rod J

We talk a lot about what it means to be a good coach for barbell training, but what makes a good trainee for a Starting Strength Coach to work with? Besides the obvious, like dedication and compliance, what sets apart exceptional trainees? My apologies if this is discussed more in depth in Strong Enough or Mean Ol' Mr. Gravity as I haven't read those yet, but I did have some more specific questions:

When it comes to programming, how much room does a trainee have to question or discuss their coach's programming decisions (without undermining the coach's expertise or experience)? For example, when a trainee has recovered poorly due to family commitments/ work schedule and thinks a programming change may be needed, a trainee feels like they can stretch out an NLP for a bit longer before going to more intermediate programming, etc.

Is there anything that you think trainees often don't discuss with coaches that may impact training/programming (I guess other than medical conditions)?

Ryan Arnold

The Coachable Client

TommyGun

Any chance someone has experience with this?

My wife made me go to a dermatologist and it was not good. I have to apply chemo cream all over my body which causes the outer layer of the skin to die (essentially redden and burn off). This includes applying to the neck, shoulders, back, face, arms and legs for two weeks.

Has anyone undergone this? How long before the skin heals enough to get back under the bar? Weeks? Months?

I am not rushing it, just curious. Thanks everyone.

(Do not type “chemo cream” into google images. I told you.)

Mark Rippetoe

Does the cream get applied under the bar, on your shoulders?

Jdcuth

Hi, I’m a dermatologist so have some experience in this.

I think you probably mean fluorouracil, not sure of the US trade name. The other cream might be Imiquimod but that is less used for larger areas.

Healing is usually weeks after use. In my experience we review at 8 weeks post treatment where we expect the skin to be back to “normal”.

If you can speak to your dermatologist or primary care physician about getting an emollient to use on the areas until it’s settled. Milder steroid creams CAN be used but it is balanced against them suppressing the actual treatment effects of the cream so would definitely need your dermatologist’s say so.

TommyGun

Thanks for the reply. Yes, fluorouracil is what I am using. I’ll use the 8 week post treatment as a milestone, obviously depending on what the dermatologist says during a post treatment visit. I will set my expectations accordingly. After undergoing this I have a whole new appreciation for dermatologists. Fine work you are doing.

Jdcuth

I guess I didn’t really answer your question and Coach Rip asks the most important question- is the skin affected over an area that would affect good bar position in the squat? If not, I can't think of a reason not to train. Even if it is I guess it’s still possible- resting a barbell on the area probably wouldn't affect healing especially if you take care during the unracking and racking. It’s your call but I don’t think it’s crazy to try to keep training.

Thanks for the kind words. I'm lucky that I love my job and wish you all the best for your recovery.