Craig Bongelli: Strength Coach Built on Discipline

Craig Bongelli is a former professional strongman and no-nonsense strength coach who helps people pursue their goals through disciplined training. His approach combines lessons from elite athletes and mentors with a belief that strength creates physical and mental capability.

From Strongman Inspiration to Strength Coaching

Bongelli’s interest in strength began at 17 when he met Scotland’s Strongest Man, Jamie Barr. The encounter changed his view of what the human body could achieve and inspired him to explore serious strength training.

After five years of training, a severe back injury led him to Westside Barbell and founder Louie Simmons. Later, a life-threatening incident while opening his first gym tested his resolve, but he continued competing against athletes who had finished on the World’s Strongest Man podium.

His career eventually included coaching Olympians, world-record holders, top professional athletes, and the world’s fourth-strongest woman. He describes his role as passing on useful insights from experienced strength and conditioning professionals.

Why Training Is More Than Simply Working Out

Bongelli draws a clear distinction between exercising and training. In his view, a workout is movement for its own sake, while training follows a specific purpose and direction.

He also treats strength as a form of capability that can support the rest of life. Beyond physical performance, he values the mental control that comes from working toward a clearly defined goal.

Choosing Movements and Building Weak Points

Strength training is his main focus, and he favors movements suited to a person’s individual needs. Rather than prescribing one exercise for everyone, he looks for weak areas that need targeted work.

If he must choose a favorite movement, he picks the deadlift because he sees it as an indicator of overall strength. This reflects his coaching principle: exercise selection should serve a purpose and address the athlete’s requirements.

Weekly Training, Nutrition, and Recovery

Bongelli trains three to four times each week using the Westside Barbell conjugate approach. His schedule includes two upper-body sessions and two lower-body sessions.

• Training: Three or four sessions weekly, split into two upper-body and two lower-body workouts.
• Nutrition: A simple diet centered on red meat, fruit, vegetables, and other recognizable whole foods.
• Carbohydrates: Adjusted according to training workload and body weight.
• Recovery: Low-intensity options such as walking while pulling a sled.
• Supplements: Non-dairy protein powder for convenience, plus magnesium and vitamins B and D; a post-workout shake may be added during demanding cycles.

He favors straightforward foods and practical recovery methods rather than complicated protocols. His supplement choices support his existing nutrition, while his preferred magnesium glycinate product is part of his routine for recovery, soreness, and sleep.

Advice for People Starting Strength Training

For beginners, Bongelli recommends acting like the person you want to become. Progress brings doubts, and not every thought that appears during a difficult session deserves acceptance.

His central message is to keep following the plan instead of negotiating shortcuts or excuses. Consistent follow-through, in his view, is what turns the intended version of yourself into reality.

Every effort should support the person you are trying to become.

Bodybuilding.com was one of his early sources of accessible coaching information, exposing him to expert advice that helped deepen his training knowledge. The resource connected him with information he could use to progress.