Levi Markwardt, Trainer

07/12/2025

Summer is flying by!

Another solid training week in the books. Doing my best to control the things i can & roll with the things i can't. Looks like today will be a good day to get outside & give my bells a break from me 😁

07/06/2025

Happy (70th) Heavenly Birthday Dad ❤️

Lots to reflect on today. Well everyday but especially anniversary type days.

I choose to remember & reflect on the overwhelming good from having loving parents & not having to experience the evils of weak men & fatherlessness. Forever grateful & always wanting to be better for my Shai.

06/28/2025

Wrestling through HS & college you had to certify at your competition weight. Governing bodies would require that you pass a hydration test then get your BF tested (calipers). They would then determine how much weight you could safely cut. A very inexact science with never any cheating going on 🙄

I haven’t had my BF “officially” tested since college. My results were always in that 24-27% range. I was a fat HWT. Thinking back to those days, 27+% was likely more accurate

Because of my competition/training history & job, I’ve always been curious about BF as a way to track progress. As a former fat guy, I had a very complicated relationship with my scale. Truthfully, we don’t get along now either. A much younger & inexperienced Levi thought BF testing was more accurate & a far better way to track progress vs the scale. This current, jaded version realizes both are just tools. They have value but neither are special. BF testing has so many variables & each method has different strengths/weaknesses so it all just ends up being an approx

BMI is another way, but its best value is for mass calculations, not individuals. Say what you will about BMI, but the lower my number is, the better I feel

Maybe a better tool is a mirror (are you happy with your aesthetic?) combined with waist-to-height ratio (measurable results). Research suggests that if your waist is > ½ your height, you may have an increased risk of obesity-related illness

Enough rambling. Again, not that it matters, but as I’ve gained experience, tracked performance & maintained a healthy BW, I’ve guessed my BF to be around 12%. A few weeks ago I came across this website: https://leanlens.ai/. I’ve used numerous photos at different times of the day in different settings with different lighting. Screenshots from mid-day workouts before eating, selfies in the bathroom at night after supper, etc. Results ranged from 10-12% to 11-15%. I found the consistency pretty surprising considering I tried to make it tricky by changing variables

Does this change anything? Of course not, it’s AI. It’s a guess. If results were 7% or 30% I’m not changing anything I’m doing. Still lifting KBs while eating the way I do.

06/24/2025

I'll never grow tired of but I'm dedicating a lot more focused time to building single bell limited switch sets **ch **ch &

Today was my "heavy" limited switch set -

36kg but I didn't have it upstairs today

HSn + LC. 8 HSn in 25"- 5" pause; 6 LC in 30" each Min

Lt: 5'
Rt: 3' - r1' - 2'
i couldve gut out min 4 but definitely did not have a 5th min in right arm today

14/m x5' left (70 OH) is a solid PR, but it did get ugly 😬 vid on YT

05/31/2025

- specifically - has completely changed my life. As i shared yesterday with the anniversary of my Dad's passing, i was on a very unhealthy path. I'm very grateful i was introduced to by my good friend all these years ago

Exercise must be sustainable to provide all the necessary benefits. Its gotta be routine. Time is your friend!

YT reminded me yesterday (random ) how many fail & weight regain is "inevitable" so why even try? I was 210lb/95kg yesterday. I've been able to keep 75+lbs/34kg of fat off my frame because this life is sustainable for me. Eating & training both. Im not looking for reasons to quit, Im finding ways to continue to challenge myself. Lean into this life. Rinse & repeat

until the Lord calls me home!

05/04/2025

Big day for yesterday. Members competing & staff learning

& Chris Beck all competed at competition in Davenport.

This is Jason's 3rd comp & he scored high enough to earn 💪in Veteran category

The 2nd time Chris has competed & his score landed him in 😳 territory in Veteran

Luke's 1st time on the platform but i know he's just getting started! Barely 17 & hitting rank 💯

All 3 competed in 2KB - 5 events all 3' work & 3' rest btwn. **ch & in the category with Thanks for making look good & reppin 🫶

& i headed to for some continuing ed. Well done by all presenters but I was definitely there as a fanboy. Thanks Cal!

Also had to show all staff the always important AA board at 😉









S/O to & his fancy AI skills

04/19/2025

It’s always the same question-
Can you really build muscle with KBs?

I look exactly how I eat & train. So do you

So yes, you can absolutely create the physique you want with KBs. But just because you can doesn’t mean you will

Your genetics matter

Will you eat well? Remove the garbage & consume what’s needed?

Will you consistently train? And train in a way to achieve your goal? Because not all KB “lifting” will offer the result you might be after. Exercise choice matters. Programming matters

Are you tracking the process? Volume, intensity, pace, rest, etc. Real programming will offer real results. Checking your exercise box is fine but doesn’t mean your desired result achieved

The KB is marketed as “fat blasting” or “endurance” equipment, not “muscle building”. So I get it, I suppose. Why would marketing be dishonest? So weird 🤔

I lost all my excess BF without touching a KB. Then spent the next 13-14 yrs all in with the . From hardstyle to Master of Sport (World Class even) to 2 Bells Overhead. HOW you train matters more than the tool you choose to use. In my later 40s, I’m definitely a non-specialized human & no part of me needs a bar to look or feel accomplished

03/29/2025

Results based training vs checking a box

Im cetainly a guy (duh). More specifically a guy, at least in methods & techniques. I'll die on my hill 💯

This is really a results conversation. Are the tools & methods you're implementing giving you what you're hoping to achieve? Is it enjoyable? Sustainable? Are you remaining intentional? Does your training help you manage your nutrition?

Personally I dont think I could ask for a higher ROI at my age. Yes, I've got my share of aches & pains as aging isn't for the weak!

But overall, my version of KB training has enhanced my life personally & professionally - in ways I'd never imagined. But Ive also done the work & committed to the process in ways most just dont care to.

Competing in opened my eyes to a different world, renewed my focus & connected me with people to foster a *growth mindset*. It might look different now that Im not competing, but still intentionally growing my strength & brand.

This has been my experience & I'll be forever grateful for this journey of self discovery.

Btw this happens with all training disciplines . Even with somehow 🤷‍♂️ Find your niche.

01/02/2025

Order yours today!
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11/01/2024

Many have asked & we're ready! Code LEVI15 for some sweet training Ts. Or if you're like me, Church Ts 💯

johnsonwear.shop or linked in bio 😁 big thanks for your help 🙏 Im making another order 💪

10/31/2024

asked me what Im doing for halloween. Im the Girevik, obviously. Dont stop by looking for candy, Im only handing out weeping & gnashing of teeth

10/26/2024

I've had multiple convos this week concerning Men's Health, aging, "my cycle" (🙄) & medical treatments in general.

We live such distracted lives that we get caught up in our daily hustle that we wake up one day & think we've landed "here" overnight. So if we got here overnight getting our life back shouldnt be this massive time commitment, right?

A shot, a few pills, maybe a cream? Truthfully, that might be your best option to get you headed in the right direction. NOT every male but YOU might need to consider. But even if that's your best bet, we must begin to address why you "woke up" unwell

You know this took dedicated effort on your part. I know you know. Youve eaten & not moved yourself to illness. Many have eaten & not moved to deformity. That's why your knees hurt. Probably unrelated to your knee sprain playing JV football as a sophmore.

Many years of self harm isnt reversed quickly. You no doubt need to make many significant changes & that can seem so overwhelming that you dont even know where, or how, to start.

What needs to be a priority?

Dont major in the minors. Ask for help. What can you address right now that can get you successful & get positive momentum? Think & his Doing everything all at once is a great way to ensure failure

For me its & eating in a way that replaces & prepares me for... more kettlebells 😉. If i ate to satisfy my cravings & emotions no one would accuse me of PEDs 🤷‍♂️ Where do you think i get the hate for my pre-workout?

What do you enjoy? What is repeatable enough to get you in a positive routine to get results yet offers enough nuance you dont get bored & quit?