My trek to ElitsFTS began the first year that Dave Tate founded his business and subsequent network, Ironsport Stars. I was seeking more information on how to implement Westside training methods so that I could increase my total. I would print and archive into binders the old EFS Q&As as well as articles by Louie Simmons, which to this day I still go back and reread when I’m in need of trying something different or need a reminder of something that worked well for me.
I purchased the better part of my gear and a fair amount of equipment from EliteFTS, though, without knowledge, no amount of gear or equipment can make one strong. Reading Louie and EliteFTS articles motivated me to purchase the Russian training manuals and everything that Mel Siff has ever written. These books would serve me well in the future, not only in terms of my total but also academically.
I gained employment at a local fitness center as a manager. This would turn out to be one of the worst jobs I’d ever had (number one would be a “sports training” facility where I coached, but that could be another article altogether). At the time that I gained employment at this center, I had no more than a high school diploma. The fitness director wasn’t much older than me and certainly wasn’t going anywhere. My only ticket to a better life was to go for a higher education. I phoned Dave Tate (in the early days of EliteFTS he was the only one answering the phone) and asked for his advice. He graciously spent close to an hour on the phone with me—a relative stranger. He offered me advice on what classes I should consider and what NOT to do, and by the end of our conversation, I’d practically heard Under the Bar before it had even been written.
So at the age of 31, I began looking at colleges that would suit my needs. I was accepted into Skidmore College’s UWW program, which is a distance-learning program. My advisor was very open-minded with regards to training methodologies. Before I had embarked on my education there, the college library had the Mel Siff books. I was encouraged to write my thesis paper on a comparison of training methodologies for the competitive bench presser. I employed what I had learned reading books and articles from EliteFTS and wrote a paper that taught me more than I could have imagined by comparing what we read on the EliteFTS site every day to NSCA methods. The literature review section of this paper is archived on the EliteFTS site.
I was fortunate to meet an old time powerlifter at a local hospital, and he accepted me for an internship that I needed as part of my program. Today, I’m still employed at this hospital, and my boss, Bob Catalini, and I still often apply EliteFTS training ideas and materials to our clients and patients. I graduated Skidmore College after three long, hard years of working full-time and attending to my studies as a full-time student. During all this time, I continued to train, and I can’t express in words how great it was to have my gym located right under my feet in my own basement. I could train whenever I could and did roughly two meets a year.
During this time, my wife had an aunt whom she wanted to visit in Cincinnati. I had struck up a pretty good rapport with Jim Wendler, and after viewing a map (I live in Philadelphia), I thought it would be a great idea to visit EliteFTS, get sized for my gear, and maybe even catch a training session. Traveling 1600 miles by car in nine days with a two-year-old proved to be the greatest challenge of all. When we arrived in Columbus, I called Jim and he told me what time would be best for my visit. Since he has had such a great influence on my pursuit of education in our field, I was excited to meet Dave Tate. However, it wasn’t meant to be. Dave, like 90 percent of America, was on vacation that week. If I have any regrets about my trip, it was missing the opportunity to meet him face to face to express my gratitude for his influence.
I can’t express in words how patient Jim Wendler and his staff were while waiting on me and sizing me for my gear. My son had been cooped up in his car seat for at least four hours and was ready to rock like his hair was on fire from the time we arrived. After purchasing my gear, Jim told me that I could come back for a bench session. He didn’t even mind me bringing along my wife and son.
When training in a different environment, I’m quiet by nature. I just took in all that I saw and did, which was board pressing. On my visit and an all too brief visit to Westside Barbell afterward, I took many notes. At the end of our training, I saw the EliteFTS belt squat machine. I have an old Westside belt squat machine that I bought used on the internet. The old machine uses a nylon strap that loops through your weight belt and just about castrates you while doing the exercise. I tried the Spud, Inc belt and decided to purchase one almost as an afterthought while we were leaving. It was worth every cent and has helped my squat by making the exercise performed more effective. I consider myself fortunate to have had the experience of being welcome to visit and train with the unequaled staff at EliteFTS!
Lee Zimmerman works at Holy Redeemer Hospital in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania, where he’s employed in the health and fitness, health and wellness, and injury prevention departments. He has been competing in powerlifting since 1992 and in ice hockey since he was a youngster. He trains high school and college athletes in addition to the patients in the many “special” (seniors, cardiac patients, etc.) populations that he sees daily. Lee is still chained to the rack in his basement, and when he’s not training, he keeps up with the articles and Q&A on EliteFTS. He lifts in the WNPF and is currently in the 181 lb weight class. His best lifts are a 396 lb bench press and a 475 lb deadlift. Lee has won seven WNPF Ironman Worlds and will be competing in full meets this spring.
Elite Fitness Systems strives to be a recognized leader in the strength training industry by providing the highest quality strength training products and services while providing the highest level of customer service in the industry. For the best training equipment, information, and accessories, visit us at www.EliteFTS.com.
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