Ad Ligtvoet
Ad Ligtvoet is a training instructor and former MedX therapist for Keiser Training in Aachen, Germany. He also runs his own business, Ad Ligtvoet Training Therapy Nutrition, which focuses on helping people restore metabolic health through an efficient and practical application concerning muscle training and nutrition. The exercise programme takes place at Ad’s private facility and his nutrition counselling is based on the Bodymed system.
As a young adult, Ad trained for 2-hours per day, 7-days a week. He now trains for ~15-minutes once every 4-6 days, and at 53, he looks incredible.
There was one moment during this episode where I said that in regard to optimising gains and fine tuning “some people argue against me, but I don’t really care”. That’s not true. I do care. I welcome alternative views. This was recorded quite a few months ago. It’s funny how quickly you can grow up.
You can listen to Part 1 HERE
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In this episode, we cover:
- The different high intensity training facilities and machines available in Europe.
- A detailed look at Ad’s 5-way split.
- The difference between workout optimisation and maximisation
- … and much, much more
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Enjoy!
- Listen to it on iTunes
- Stream by clicking here
- Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”
This episode is brought to you by ARXFit.com, ARX are the most innovative, efficient and effective all-in-one exercise machines I have ever seen. I was really impressed with my ARX workout. The intensity and adaptive resistance were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I love how the machine enables you to increase the negative load to fatigue target muscles more quickly and I love how the workouts are effortlessly quantified. The software tracks maximum force output, rate of work, total amount of work done and more in front of you on-screen, allowing you to compete with your pervious performance, to give you and your clients real-time motivation.As well as being utilised by many HIT trainers to deliver highly effective and efficient workouts to their clients, ARX comes highly recommended by world-class trainers and brands including Bulletproof, Tony Robbins, and Ben Greenfield Fitness. To find out more about ARX and get $500 OFF install, please go to ARXFit.com and mention Corporate Warrior in the how did you hear about us field – Learn more HERE
Selected Links from the Episode
- High intensity training
- MedX
- Delphex
- Clinical Exercise Congress (Barcelona)
- Airbnb
- ARXFit (mentioned “Corporate Warrior” for $500 OFF)
- Mitolab
- Kieser Training
- Resistance Exercise Conference
- Mint Fitness
- The ARX Alpha and Omni comparison
- PowerBlock Dumbbells ( Amazon US / Amazon UK )
- Nautilus, Inc.
- Nautilus Next Generation Super Pullover
- Nautilus Nitro Leg Press
- Nautilus 2ST Seated Leg Curl
- Nautilus 2ST Compound Row
- Nautilus 10 Degree Chest Fly
- Pareto principle
- Dr. Doug McGuff – Area Under the Curve Physiologic Headroom Across a Lifetime
- Project Kratos
People Mentioned
- Dr Doug McGuff (Listen to my episodes with Doug here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5)
- Mark Alexander (Listen to my episodes with Mark here: Part 1 and Part 2)
- Lucas Leal
- Albert Vidal Comas
- David Vázquez
- Werner Kieser
- Eggert H. Barwich
- Matt Nairn
- Gary Knight (Listen to my episodes with Gary here: Part 1 and Part 2)
- Marcelo Mesquita (Listen to my episode with Marcelo here)
- Dr. James Steele (Listen to my episodes with James here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4)
- Drew Baye (Listen to my episodes with Drew here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, and Part 7)
413 – Cardiac Rehab & Cabin Gyms: An Intimate Look at Jon Allen’s Personal Training Business
412 – Dr. James Fisher Unveils Trainee Perceptions on Supervised Resistance Training
411 – Maximizing Profits: Secrets to Boosting High-Intensity Training Prices Without Losing Clients with Luke Carlson (Timeless Throwback)
Although I don’t think I gained much new information from this particular podcast, it was enjoyable to listen to the conversation. There is value in hearing experienced people talk about the details of what they are doing, and why.
One question: Ad mentioned something about 10 second reps at one point. So I wonder if he mostly uses Doug’s 10/10 (super slow cadence) or mostly uses Kieser’s approach (4-2-4, I think)?
Hey Ad, that was very nice of you, to share your experience and practices. I enjoyed listening to this conversation, thank you!
It was very interesting to me, that you follow the “feeling” of stimulation, when working out. I have also developed such feeling of stimulation over the many years of training. But in the same time, I also more and more come to the conclusion, this feeling of Mine very often is quite subjective. At this point of time, I try to focus as much as possible prior to executing a certain exercise, remind myself why am I doing it and what is my real objective. Then I give it a go and sometimes, even after reaching mmf I would feel like I didn’t stimulate as much. But I personally do not try to fix it on the spot. I simply tell to myself, I’ll fix that next workout. Strangely enough, this approach works much better for me. I almost certainly I’ll do something more or better on the next workout, every time I didn’t do a fix. This is my experience with that matter. I currently also tend to do shorter TULs with relatively higher resistance and this way it seems more genuine to me that my muscles failed and not my mental motivation. And again it would often feel like more could be done, more thorough stimulation was needed, but when during the next workout things “suddenly” look better, it turns out that the stimulus was good enough in the end.
I would also strongly recommend you try the ARX. You can test the lastest models of both Alpha and Omni machines at Mitolab training studio in Madrid, Spain. There is a really awesome person there, who will help you with your trip. I visited the place in May and am much satisfied with my experience. I could provide contact if you need it.
Greetings!
This episode is an example of how “wisdom is in the details”.
Just listened to it for the 4th time. I catch something new each time.
Thank you Lawrence and Ad for this episode.
Ad, regarding the 2nd phase of your exercises, where you do the same exercise after a 20-60 sec pause, two questions:
1. about how long would you say this 2nd phase of the set lasts, just a rough estimate?
2. I can’t tell from the talk if you ever do a 3rd phase or if it is 2 phases at most. Can you clarify, please?
Thank you very much,
F
Hi kamen,
Thanks for asking. I agree that feeling is subjectie but I argue that one can”t leave out the subjective anyway since it us that experience the resistance. I too set up mentally what I want to experience and have some timeframe in mind but never watch the time during exercise. The afterfact of what I got regarding TUl and what I had in my mind mostly matches since not much progression is possible for me(as I explained). It couls be very well possible that regardless my feel I still could achieve the same with my workouts. But, the feel of keeping tension on the muscles and the need to increase effort from second to second without loosing the best form is what I want anyway. If ,as I talked about, I “feel” the “stimulus”wasn’t “enough or good” I jsut do the RP set. Just a little bit extra investment that gives me the “sense”‘ that it’s enough now. Needed in reality od not…….kind of getting a satisfaction for the mind……but on the otherhand one doesn’t know for sure with not doing this and then waiting for the next workout to check results.And that won’t happen any workout. Then comes also the question of…..what now? So, comes down to experience and some standardisation .
I don’t like long TUL’s myself. If it gets toward 90 seconds this means that the first 60 seconds or so are relative light and that bores me from the start. Kind of waiting for magic t happen but it last to long.
Respond this way since a direct reply isn’t possible.
Hi Greg, you are right…..nothing new under the sun. I never say that I have a ” secret ‘since I know there isn’t one. I also never want to exploit this idea of a secret, there many that do and did so and make or made a decent amount of money. Not me. So, we are indeed left with experience in the context of the specific context of the experience and experiencer. Think equipment, body structure, personal life circumstance etc. However, the stimulus itself must be adressed regardless the circumstances…….it’s the same for all of us…..nature doesn’t care about this. Otherwise one could get a Bodybuilder by cycling, the othe with swimmimg etc. It would be a matter of by luck finding out what activity matches with ones specific nature!!! But, we know that.
I mentioned 10/10 reps because that’s what’s used at Protraining in Barcelona. I don’t use a specific rep speed and it even is a bit different depending on the machine I use. Never fastethen 5 seonds positive or negative. For legcurl e.g I get about 7 seconds positive but 5 negative. Otherwise the respite during negative is to long, even start to bore me right away.
Kieser now uses 4-2-4-2. I don’t like that either. 2 Seconds rest in lower turnarounds do I experience with inertia/sticking and distracts my “flow” of contraction even keeping tension and good form. However, good form is one aspect why Kieser uses this cadence. But that has to do with the fact that many didn’t use good form to begin with IMO.
I may have the chance to work in Barcelona (goddamn Brexit pending) next year, will have to stop by Protraining!
Still can’t post a reply!!
Hi Andrew,
That’s cool, working in Barcelona! For a Spanish company? Anyway, visiting Protraining will be worth the time. Let us know.
It will only be 2 days work, not a full time job. Nothing confirmed, will turn it into a mini break maybe!
Hi Ad,
Excellent podcast – tons of wisdom and gems in here. I’ll definitely be re-listening to it.
Do you mind explaining what your two leg routines are? I think you only mentioned one in this podcast:
-Leg press
-Leg curl
-Leg press
-Calves
-Neck ext / flex
What’s the other one?
Thank you!
Scott
Hi Scott,
OME calves
seated legcurl
leg extension
OME squat
abdominal ( reverse crunch)
Thanks for listening.
Thanks!