I want to hit something important for everyone in Heavy Duty Nation, because most of you train the way I train — all-out intensity, precise reps, and real muscular failure. If you’re over 40, or even in your late 30s pushing serious loads, you need to understand this clearly: Traditional squats will not let you reach true failure without your lower back shutting down first. Your legs aren’t the weak link —your spine is the thing getting taxed before your quads ever get a chance to fail the way HIT requires. That’s why so many guys stall or get hurt. The belt squat is the solution.It lets you: - Load the legs directly - Remove every ounce of spinal compression - Push your quads and glutes into deep failure safely - Train HIT the way it was meant to be trained Cable setups, landmine variations, plate-loaded hip belts — they all work.If the load hangs from your hips, you can push your legs into the red zone without risking your spine. This approach is core to my newest eBook, Stronger 40 — a full, high-intensity blueprint built for lifters who want to keep training hard without sacrificing longevity. Inside you’ll find: - The complete over-40 HIT system - Spine-safe programming and movement selection - How to structure intensity without breaking down - Why the belt squat is essential for long-term progress - A step-by-step plan to stay strong year after year Presale access is live for HDN before the public release: Stronger 40 Presale:https://pay.highintensitycoach.com/stronger40pre If you’re part of Heavy Duty Nation, train like it — smart, intense, and built for the long run. Want a pinned version for the top of HDN?

Training after 40 isn’t about being careful — it’s about being intelligent. You still push hard, but you push smart. That’s the difference between building muscle and collecting injuries. These rules protect your joints while allowing for brutal intensity. 1. No Spine Compression This is non-negotiable. The spine is the main load-bearing structure of the body. After 40, unnecessary compression creates: - Disc irritation - Sciatic pain - Hip issues - Chronic tightness And none of that builds muscle. Eliminate: - Barbell squats - Front squats - Smith machine squats - Heavy barbell overhead press - Any lift behind the neck Replace with: - Leg press - Belt squat - Goblet squat - Machine overhead press (elbows forward) - Chest-supported rows You still train hard — you just stop trying to prove something to the gym floor. This is an excerpt from my NEW BOOK "STRONGER40" - it will be finished next Sunday but is available already for Pre-sale at a 10 dollar discounted offer - here is the link to order guys. https://pay.highintensitycoach.com/stronger40pre Markus https://pay.highintensitycoach.com/stronger40pre

Check out this video I recorded guys .

https://youtu.be/Fa4g8Jdq2S8?si=emutfWxaxNbR3_d1 Stumbled across this video online — funny enough, it’s one I was planning to make years ago. The message hit me right between the eyes: rejecting dogma, questioning everything, and thinking independently — not just in life, but in training. It’s raw, unapologetic, and exactly the kind of mindset that defines Heavy Duty thinking. Give it a watch and tell me what you think.

1️⃣ Introduce Yourself: Go to the Introduce Yourself section and post a short intro using the template. Tell us your goals, your background, and where you want to go. This helps me coach you better and lets the community connect with you. 2️⃣ Watch Module 1 (Start Here):This gives you the foundation of how HDN works and what to expect. Take 5 minutes and go through it — it’ll set the tone. 3️⃣ Jump into the Feed: Comment, ask questions, vote in polls, and get involved. The more active you are, the more value you’ll get. 4️⃣ Explore the Course Library: You’ll see all programs, manuals, and video modules. Everything premium stays locked until you upgrade — but looking through the vault gives you the full roadmap of what’s inside HDN. 5️⃣ Need help? Ask anytime. Drop your questions in General Discussion. I’m here daily Let’s get after it — welcome to the Nation. 💪🔥— Markus