Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kavadlo Question

I always love hearing from fans of my blog, but it can be a lot of work replying to everyone’s questions individually. I’ve been getting a lot of emails lately and the same topics come up often, hence the creation of this handy F.A.Q. page.

I’ve written over 200 posts since starting this blog, so a lot of the answers will simply refer you to a post with a more thorough explanation.

What is your height and weight?
I am 5’11” and I weigh around 160 lbs. Like anyone else, my weight tends to fluctuate a bit, so that’s give or take 5 lbs. I don’t weigh myself very often though because I don’t really care what I weigh. What matters to me is how I feel and how I perform.

al kavadlo deadlift

Do you lift weights or just do calisthenics?
My routine currently consists solely of bodyweight calisthenics, but I have lots of experience lifting weights. My three favorite lifts are squats, deadlifts and Turkish get-ups.

If you’re so strong then why don’t you have bigger muscles?
Size and strength are not always correlated. Check out this article for a more detailed answer.

How much do you work out?
As much as I feel like, which is almost every day. Read more about how I train here.

Human Flag

What is your diet like?
I don’t have a very strict diet that I follow, but I generally try to avoid heavily processed foods. My eating habits are similar to the paleo/caveman diet, but not as restrictive. Follow the link for more of my thoughts on diet and exercise.

The human flag is so cool looking! How did you learn to do that?
Thanks! I’ve blogged extensively about the human flag! Start with this human flag post and then follow the links there for more.

How did you get so good at pull-ups? Can you help me get better at them?
I’ve been doing pull-ups for over 25 years! It takes time and patience to truly master an exercise. Check out the link for tips on how to get better at pull-ups.

Tattoo

What’s up with all your tattoos? Is there some deep meaning to them?
Some of my tattoos relate to my fitness philosophy, some I got just because I think they look cool. Others showcase my sense of humor – the ink on my left hand index and pinky fingers is a good example of this. The tattoo depicts a pair of devil’s horns. I’m amazed how often people think it’s supposed to be my finger bones. Hasn’t anyone ever been to a heavy metal concert?

You can read more of my thoughts on tattoos and working out by clicking the link.

I’m considering a career in personal training. Can you give me any advice?
Personal training can be a very rewarding career, but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Check out this post I wrote about becoming a personal trainer.

KavadloMeditate

Do you practice meditation?
I tend to look at exercise – especially distance running – as a form of meditation. Anything that brings you into the present moment can be an opportunity for mindfulness. I also occasionally practice formal seated meditation (Zazen). I delve deeper into this topic in my first book, We’re Working Out!, as well as my more recent work, Zen Mind, Strong Body.