• It primarily uses four barbell lifts (squat, bench press, overhead press, deadlift) with an emphasis on using the correct movement patterns. The Starting Strength model designs each movement pattern based on biomechanics, physics, anatomy and physiology.

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• The four lifts are compound movements, meaning they each use a large amount of muscle mass. There is no need to do a large variety of exercises to get strong. Simple really does work!

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• It leverages the Stress/Recovery/Adaptation Cycle, which describes the pattern of responses your body goes through after it has been exposed to a stress. In terms of barbell training, you stress your body by performing the lifts. Your body recovers with time, nutrition and sleep. Your body adapts and is able to lift more weight at the next training session. This cycle can work for months, and the best part is that it works for everyone.

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• It uses a barbell as the primary tool to get you strong. Barbells range from 5 - 45 lbs and can be incrementally loaded with weights as little as .5 lbs.

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• It differentiates between exercise and training. Exercise is a physical activity you do where the beginning and end of the effort is each workout. While exercise is better than inactivity, it lacks a plan on how to get to the end goal. Training takes a systematic approach. It is the process of intentionally accumulating a specific physical adaption (such as strength or endurance) over a predetermined period of time. Training is significantly more effective when compared to undirected physical activity (exercise), as it more efficiently uses your time.

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• More information can be found on the  Starting Strength website or in Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training, 3rd edition, Practical Programming for Strength Training: 3rd edition, and in The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40.