Levi Markwardt, Trainer

05/30/2026

20 years. Doesn’t seem possible.

I used to hate May 30. But with each passing year my perspective is refined. My focus had been on what I lost. With time I’ve learned to reflect on the memories & consider the blessings of my life. Where I am today vs the path I was on.

He was a great Dad & friend & I was fortunate to have 28 yrs with him.And I got to say goodbye

The hardest part now? He would've been the BEST grandpa & would be so proud of .markwardt & the woman she is . Shai’s life is moving very fast & he’d have some wonderful Grandpa wisdom to offer!

Part of the mindshift, from loss to living in the blessing, is recognizing that I was chosen to be Shai's Dad & to never take for granted the moments I get with her. A lesson I definitely would have liked to learn sooner but grateful regardless.

Love & miss you Dad. You’re always on my heart & mind.

05/20/2026

Well, I'm off to 💪 .k.m.f


Half Sn**ch Half Marathon but hopefully not a 😬

18 hr road trip but enough bars to keep me from consuming 💩 on the road 😁

Speaking of they have a sale going on! 40% off subscriptions & 25% off 1x orders. 3rd party tested & 90 day money back guarantee!

www.equipfoods.com & Linked in bio

Use code LEVISHTKTRAINING at checkout 💯

05/15/2026

I graduated HS 30 yrs ago this week 😳

1st pic is Sr year (Feb ‘96 & 17) vs 48 today. I wrestled 189lb/86kg & graduated HS somewhere between 195-200lb/89-91kg. Today I weighed in at 194.75lb/88.5kg. Making it down to a lighter weight than HS graduation is an unexpected bday present as I’m reflecting on my wellness over the years 🙂. Pic 2 is my Dad & 2 of my brothers. Pic 3 is my handsome self in a Sr pic 🤣

By the time Wrestling Preseason started my Soph (‘97) season of college, I was 260lb/118kg (pics 4 & 5). I should have written a book, “Bulking for Idiots”. Or better, “Getting Fat like a Boss”.

Later, in pic 6, I was wrestling in the Czech Republic in May of ‘99 (turned 21 while there). I remember weighing in at 270lb/123kg before that match. The highest number I remember seeing on the scale shortly after my Dad passed was 288lb/131kg (pic 7)

Some of you may read this & look at my pics & sigh, “More topless pics”. I get it, it’s a lot of Levi to take in at once. But as it's my Bday & 30 yr HS graduation, so to me it’s a celebration of what the Lord has done in my life & allowing me to participate in a journey worth every step.

Is being overfat morally wrong? Am I a better person now? Of course I don’t believe it’s morally wrong to carry excess fat. Your value as a person & to your family is much more than a number on a scale. But I do believe the data point matters & that I do add more value to my family & community today than the life I was living. Prioritizing your health has far reaching ripple effects that you may never see in your lifetime. I will absolutely be embracing my upcoming 50s & will continue to celebrate aging like fine wine vs milk!

05/02/2026

Kind of a shameless marketing plug here. I hope you read but I'll forgive you if you swipe 😉

As I continue to reflect on my trip to Switzerland & the reason's for the opportunity, it comes down to results, like anything. Maximizing effort, systems, methods & for my money, utilizing the the most effective & efficient way. I am n = 1. My own marketing billboard. I am my #1 resource. In my marketing & networking efforts, this matters greatly to my bottomline

I look like i do (good or bad) because of how i EAT & train with KBs. I'm clearly no bodybuilder or powerlifter. You can see the imbalances in my lower back, hamstrings, lower abs & hips/quads. Part of that is injury, its exercise choice & its genetic (swipe). In college i was known for my wide hips & big butt & that singlet did me 0 favors 🤣. In fact, my teammates referred to my butt as Chubby White. As in, "hey Levi, be over by 7, & bring chubby white with you" Thanks guys 🤦‍♂️

I believe the system I'm continually tweaking speaks for itself in terms of results & effectiveness when combined with proper fuel, hydration & recovery. saw the value in what Ive been sharing online in relation to GPP training with KBs (a shared passion). How i structure formats, exercise selection, loading & "PACE". This is what i do. I'll be 48 in 2 wks & only train for 30' per day (its a jam packed 30'... no fast & loose or talk tests. We go when the clock says)

And as a competitor, I've got a LOT of SPP training too guided by - the major benefit from the SPP work? Becoming very proficient in the movements to maximize my efforts. Skill & movement development

What I'm developing works, when you work. I'm not saying "if i can do it anyone can", because dammit, I've given up so much to walk this path. Not everyone is willing to do that. And that's ok. Not all things are for all people. But I've earned these changes with patient, dedicated intention. There is overwhelming value if you can commit to the entire process.

04/26/2026

Wrapped up wk 8 yesterday with a solid effort - 393 reps in 24’ with 32kg. It’s my first solid w/o3 in 3 wks! Time to dial in these last 4 wks & get my mind right. That’s Priority 1. Second is to tighten up my nutrition so there is no question how I’m feeling that last 6’. One more big push to leave everything on the platform. 2 Chron 15:7, right .markwardt 😁

Spending a lot of time reflecting on my trip last wknd to Switzerland. & really took care of me. I thought I was going because they wanted to experience my unique training style (when not training to compete). Turns out, they poured into me & I left blessed! Something I definitely needed. It re-motivated me to not only finish this race (IKMF) but to refocus on my businesses. Part of that process last wknd was discussing my own journey back to health

Last week I was 202lb/92kg. My known high was 288lb/131kg. I started caring for myself in Oct ‘06 - 19.5 yrs of keeping that excess fat off my frame. I don’t regret any of the sacrifices I’ve made for my family or myself. I haven’t always done things well nor would I consider my path balanced, but I can’t imagine changing a thing. This difficult process has many lessons to teach & the more comfortable I am, the longer it takes me to learn

One thing I’m very grateful for is how simple the process really can be. I didn’t use any body scans or special treatments/therapies. No wearables. No high end training programs (just books from ). No fancy supplements. Speaking of, according to the Boston Medical Center, Americans spend >33 billion/yr on weight loss supplements (not including the GLPs). If you include the cost of all these special treatments, therapies & scans to sell you even more products & programs… yikes!

So here’s my “how to” in 5 easy steps to become successful in cutting excess BF for good & save money in the process: (1) Eat your meals at home prepared by you & (2) get your blood work done annually. Otherwise all you need is (3) a mirror, (4) a scale & (5) a tape measure for WHtR = ≤ .5

A mirror (with an honest perspective) will give you more accurate, consistent feedback than any of these scans. And a scale & tape give you a number, a data point, to help you easily track. If you’re honest, you know whether or not you need to lose fat. A scan guessing your BF% provides you no real data as the variables are vast (unless you’re going with an MRI). Using me as an example, I look like this whether my BF is 10, 12, or 15%, i truly have no idea. I look like this at 202lb. If I don't like how I look, then I need to adjust my consumption & output to move the data points (scale) in the correct direction based on the feedback from the mirror, scale & tape. If my blood work is healthy & I like what the mirror shows, who cares what the scale or scan says? It’s very easy to become obsessed & assign value to numbers. You'll be successful based on your commitment & effort, not scans, therapies & supplements.

04/22/2026

sets 1-5 Gloved 24s
sets 6-12 Gloved 26s
sets 13-15 26s

set 10 here

Slowly recovering from my trip. Still processing everything. A lot consider & evaluate.

Podcast is live: https://youtu.be/UtFqb__ViB4

04/21/2026

48kg Sn**ch - 20+20 - 6 yrs ago today. I think that's still a PR 1 switch. I've done 30 with right but did left as a different set

Working out in a warehouse during covid shutdowns 🙄 what a stupid time in history

04/18/2026

So it begins

04/12/2026

8 yrs ago today
30+26 stacked bottomup
My heaviest in this variation was 34+36. Somewhere on YT 🤷‍♂️

04/05/2026