Levi Markwardt, Trainer

01/10/2026

I’ve found myself in multiple online health conversations the 1st wk of 2026. I supposed it's the newly motivated Resolutioners timed with the updated RDA guidelines. For some reason, I took the bait & engaged 🤦‍♂️. That should be my resolution… stop taking the bait in 2026!

One gentleman aged 40 claimed, “I’m slim, but have a belly. I’m fit & use a 20lb KB”. Another at the age of 41 said, “I’m grossly overweight at 345, but also lean & strong for the weight.” And same guy, “I look like I weigh 270”

Wait, what?? Looks like we’re starting 2026 at delusion.

A male in his 40s with a belly isn’t slim. He’s skinny fat. And if you’re using a 20lb KB as a grownass man, you’re not fit, you’re weak. You’re a skinny fat weak man. Start there. Which is fine. You have to start where you are. Wanting to change is a great new goal and I’m here for it!

At no point in this life does 345lb & “lean” belong in the same sentence. And what does “I look like I weigh 270” even mean? I competed at heavyweight at that weight, no part of me was lean or athletic & I was 20 yrs old (swipe). This guy is comparing himself to other Americans at 345lb to convince himself “at least I’m not THAT fat.” Guess what your heart thinks?

You need to cut the BS & cope if you want change. Results won't follow when you start your “new year new me” from a place of dishonesty. I also used to dress up my weight & health problems with cope & it wasn’t until I could be honest with myself that I could really understand how unhealthy & overfat I was. My original weight loss goal was 240 because I had “such a large frame & so much muscle that any lighter & I’d look small.” Hard LOL Levi 🙄. When I stepped on the scale at 242 I thought, “Hmm, I have a lot of work left to do. I’m way fatter than I thought”

I’m just glad I stopped believing my own BS at 28 & didn’t carry it into my 40s. It’s a lot of intentional training & eating to stay below 210 at 47. But this life is far better than the one I was living nearly 20 years ago. It’s a journey worth taking.

01/04/2026

I'm not a resolution guy. I forsee my 2026 the same as the previous 19 yrs. Consistent, intentional eating & training has treated me well & there is no reason to fix what isn't broken

Three things (no order) for 2026:
1) I have 1 competition planned
2) I have much to learn (or lear) with the County
- and with that will come more opportunities for Ethnee at 💯
3) And I'm looking forward to see what 2026 has in store for my Shai ❤️

Here's to a balanced & prosporous 2026 🍻 when in doubt, get those bells OH 💪

12/25/2025

12/16/2025

Post Workout Reaction

I like it. Improved support was immediately noticeable even walking and it felt solid during the burpees - and you know I love my burpees. Also, the compression on my calf was a nice surprise.

The pain issue is there but it needs repaired so its not fair to expect pain to disappear. I'll add some loading to both single bell and double bell this week and see how the knee feels stability wise. Part of my issue has been the feeling of instability, especially with two heavier bells Overhead (as today was just Danish Interval samples with mod loads 32kg & 34kg)

Im encouraged thus far 💯

https://anacondafightwear.co/?snowball=LEVI43008 - also linked in my linktree in bio

12/13/2025

I woke up today from an email from my mom that said "you look different" & the photo on the left attached.

I believe i was going into my Sr season at (Sept '99?) weighing in around 260-265lb. I ballooned upto about 290lb at my heaviest, as I've shared.

Your size/weight/aesthetic doesn't determine your value or self worth, but it does tell the world how much (or little) you respect yourself.

A little discipline goes a long ways

12/06/2025

Yup, same topic. Why? Cause “you” keep asking...

My most asked questions: Can you really build muscle just using KBs? What else are you doing with bars & DBs? What’s your stack?

When scrolling SM I generally see snapshots of random KB exercises strung together. Or people using KBs like they’d use a DB. Or maybe the ever popular KB Flow. What I don’t see very much of is actual training. Now, that could be marketing 🤷‍♂️ Maybe they are just showing a few reps of diff movements they use when training? But you, the consumer, only see what I see. And if you copy what I’m seeing, then it's no surprise I get these sorts of questions. Copying randomized routines leads to thinking, “I wonder what else these guys are doing (or taking)?” Because to your untrained eye, you see me using bells & have no idea that I’m NOT doing what you think you’re doing. After all, we don’t know what we don’t know. And I see a lot of bodybuilders using the KB with very basic movements for IG views. These people clearly (to me) did not end up where they are physically lifting a KB like they are

Yes, KBs can certainly be enough for nearly all of the exercising population UNLESS you compete in a strength sport where max speed or load are necessary. Examples that come to mind: Strongman, Powerlifting, Weightlifting, & sports like American FB (OL/DL), etc. Also, variables matter. You need to address your calorie needs with quality foods while intelligently progressing your training. Showing up without a plan & exercising based on feel is not recommended for long term results. Lasting results require an intelligent strategy while taking much commitment & discipline

My plan for this next training week is basically set because I’ve recorded everything I’ve done for yrs. Small tweaks in pace, loading, duration & rest remove the guesswork, keep consistency high & allow me to improve in some aspect

What you do NOT need: Red light therapy/sauna, cold plunges, HRV tracking, any wearable, special training equip, scanners, etc. Can you benefit from these “add-ons”? Sure. Maybe. You're allowed to use them. What can you really benefit from? A legitimate plan, a mirror, tape measure & some discipline

11/25/2025

People just don't know. They have their minds made up before i reply. They dont ask questions, they accuse in the form of a question

Most people use KBs in a specific generic way. The way they use them is fine for them & their goals. But you wont change your body significantly. They dont know that & believe the BS marketing. They think, "i lift kb, levi lifts kb... samsies... i dont look like levi so levi = drugs"

Ive been training 4-6 days/wk & *dieting* 19+ yrs. 5 sessions/wk x 52 wks x 19+ yrs is over 5k sessions by now. Most of these commentors think 3x/wk for 45 days is commitment

Im "too old" to look like this w/o TRT, they say. But if you don't overeat constantly & continue to move, to resistance train, the muscle you've built just doesn't vanish.

They tell me because I make money "with my body" (selling programs) that I'm enhanced 🤣. If i looked like this & was enhanced Id be so pi**ed. Listen, you dont take drugs to look like a 47 y/o man. I'm trying to sell programs, not bodybuilding. Dorks. All of them.

Also, I'm not an influencer

11/22/2025

I've shared this before but every week is like groundhogs day... or week 🤔

"Is kettlebells all you do?"
"What's your split look like off camera?"
"How much you deadlift?"
"What do you do for chest?"
"What's your stack look like?"

Friends, what you see me do is what i do. I wish i had the time, ability & recovery to do more training off camera. As a business owner, elected county official, husband, father (i should've put those first 🤦‍♂️) & aging, aching man, these half hour sessions are more than enough.

What's the difference? My challenge to you is to patiently match the consistency & intention while eating the food necessary to support the goals you have.

What about cold plunge? Red light therapy? Hyperbarics? Body scans? New training equip? Wearables?

I don't know, they arent for me. My KBs are enough. Programming matters. The tool matters but its also how you use it. That new leg press or chest machine isn't going to change your life.

What about supplements? Maybe. But I reccomend you learn to prepare your meals at home first.

What about TRT? Ask your Dr. I'm not against it & will likely start when necessary. I'll let you know when i do. Until then I'll keep doing what I'm doing

Train smart, eat well, be consistent, embrace patience & see what happens 🤷‍♂️ do that for 10+ years and you won't be disappointed.

It's not always about what you can add or all the fancy gadgets, equipment & fitness marketing hacks. There are no shortcuts without consequence.

11/01/2025

upgrdes incoming! Website updates. More services. Training at home with will be "easier" than ever 💪

Big thanks to 🙏

10/02/2025

19 yrs ago today (10.2.06) was my Day 1. As Ive shared countless times, my Dad had passed earlier that yr (5.30.06) at the age of 50 from pancreatic cancer. I was medically obese & a bad weekend or two from 300lb.

Im grateful to have been introduced to & his communication at that time in my life. His methods changed everything for me & got my eating habits on the right path

Later, introduced me to hardstyle training & that ignited a fire in me i didnt know existed. Making the switch to leads us to today. Training to compete & stepping onto a platform has opened my eyes to a world (including business) i didnt know existed. Thank you 🙏

Existing in illness to thriving in life. I could have never imagined this life Im blessed to live 19 yrs ago. I think about my Dad everyday. I miss him terribly. But I dont live this life w/o his passing. He gave me everything with his passing. That's what good Dad's do - set their children up for success.

The last 19 yrs have been a whirlwind of trials & adaptation. Sometimes I kill it. Sometimes its "WTF are you even doing right now?" But what I do know is I have a relationship with .markwardt that I wouldnt trade for anything. Its developed through this process. And all I need to say is, thank you Dad, for everything ❤️.

09/02/2025

Lets talk - paced in linked vid
min 1) every 4"
min 2) 3 every 12"
min 3) 5 every 20"
min 4) 8 or 7 every 30"
min 5) 15 for time - x5 rounds

375 in 24'40" r1'20" + 25 in 1' to = 400 in 27'
https://youtu.be/w6k9p5ArD0A

I get a lot of questions regarding how I do my burpees - hands on KBs, feet on a box, no jump. I've answered before but here goes, again 😉

Sport KBs are 11in off the floor & allow my hands/wrists to be in a more advantageous position vs floor. When you do the amount of reps I do (both burpees & KBs in hands/on arms), limiting unnecessary wear & tear helps. I kick my feet up to a box to mitigate any pushup advantage by having my feet at least the same height as hands (similar to the floor). The higher my feet above hands the more "intense" each pushup. Don't read into this - 11in KB & 14in box (this vid) is negligible

Also, keeping my body off the floor is MUCH easier on my knees because it lessens the ROM of each rep. In Nov '24 I tore Rt Med meniscus. In May '25 I tore Lt Lat meniscus. In Aug '25 I re-aggravated Lt Lat. Each time requiring a cortisone shot. And I cannot tell you how many prolozone shots in that same time period. Its also why I only stand vs jump. It's why I haven't lunged or squatted in forever. It's why I don't run/jog. I'd rather do this form of burpee than no forms of burpee. This kind of session becomes my "running"

They are "easier" in that less ROM allows me to move faster. I do reps for time intervals (AMRAP), set numbers, specific numbers "for time" (last 25 here as example) & paced (this session). Moving faster is good for my "cardio" & allows me to get more pushups

There is always someone who says, "that's not a burpee!" Fine. But Burpees are my GPP, not my event. I'm not going to compete in burpees. But I will continue to reap the benefits of my version

Also, when done well, they flat out work. Bells & Burpees... who knew 🤷‍♂️

08/20/2025

Rant

Ive come a LONG ways in my pursuit of wellness. Its been a massive under taking & i really needed to forget a lot of what i thought i knew concerning both training & nutrition. Im forever grateful for this process. As always, for the re-education, for the intro to KBs & for the submersion & life altering path of TRAINING with KBs

I honestly dont know my BF%. Until last Mon, its probably been a dozen yrs since tested with calipers. My best guess was 12-13% but wouldnt be too surprised at 15%. That's just based on my lived experience. 100% guess. Slide 3 is AI app which again, who knows & likely not. Used for comparison

As a retired wrestler, weight always mattered. It does in GS too. As a former turd, weight matters. I mean, it shouldnt any more, but it does. Ive used the same scale from my known high of 288lb (left july '06) to 206lb (right today). Ive used it for online KB comps & to cut for in person comps with great consistency

My Doc wanted my to try the Styku scan. Its a fasted scan & claims accuracy 1-2% of DEXA. Sounds legit. So i was shocked to see 216 (i weighed 210 on my scale Fri). I went back to my gym & weighed 210 🤷. Also a shock, 20.8% BF. So i looked into DEXA, the "gold standard". If you really want to know your BF, MRI seems to be the only worthy test. But $$. DEXA seems to do a great job with mass population but not individuals. Muscle mass, bone density & hydration levels can throw it off higher. I read from 4-10% 🤔

What's my point? A few years ago this would have crushed me. All this hard training & food sacrifice for what? This?! Thank God Im mentally healthy enough to just land on pi**ed. Not great but better

A better solution? A quality scale with consistent weigh-in time. + a mirror. Ask yourself honest questions: How do i feel? Do i need to lose BF? Am i happy with my aesthetic? Change what needs changing. Adjust when needed. My weight & BF are what they are. 206 or 216. 12% or 21%. this is my aesthetic & performance at 47. More info isnt always beneficial