Liftoff

I used to lift weights and was strong. Then I stopped lifting weights for 2+ years, lost a lot of weight and a lot of muscle, and got weak. Then I injured myself trying to do olympic lifting as though the events of the previous 2+ years had not happened. Then I got this book, followed the program, and now am feeling so much better and stronger and more confident and more hopeful than I thought I could – I literally at one point thought I would never be able to lift weights again – and I am very grateful. If you can afford 20 US dollars' worth of anything, and you want to try weightlifting, buy this book/program. It's excellent.

I'm a long-time fan of Casey's extremely funny and incisive writing and cultural commentary (her “She's a Beast” newsletter is a genuine treasure that I highly recommend), and I used Liftoff as a starting point to resume weightlifting. I'm in somewhat unique circumstances: rural area with no gym closer than 45 minutes, and currently in a 31' travel trailer with no room for a barbell. But! Casey's encouraging focus on the well-established basics of how to get stronger and ability to hilariously lambaste diet culture/hustle culture/capitalism/patriarchy bullshit made me feel confident enough to adapt her program for my purposes with an adjustable kettlebell. Unsurprisingly, I'm stronger again! And happy about it! I actually need to get a second kettlebell, yeehaw. Liftoff would be great for someone totally new to lifting, someone who wants a refreshing refresher of the basics, and everyone in between.