SMART Fitness LTD.

You probably suck at rowing.

That’s okay, I did too.

Stop rolling your shoulders forward, stop shrugging. 90% of your problems will improve.

K, peace out, bye.

As a fairly average fitness goer, I watch, study and learn from those that have created and produced exceptionalities.

Whether it is wealth, sport performance or business growth.

Now, obviously this isn’t exhaustive, but these three traits seem to be consistent in all groups above.

Why this matters:
1) if you aren’t hitting goals: you probably lack focus to the task you want
2) probably lack consistent direction
3) probably always chasing the next shiny thing, instead of putting your head down.

High performers have grit.

Training to failure…likely not the only reason you aren’t making gains, and progress has stopped.

But it can be a big reason, if your training isn’t rebounding and trending up.

Oftentimes, we can use failure as a strategic way to create a scenario where our body works a little hard and does a little more: called super compensation.

When we do this too much, gains stop. Strength stalls, muscle growth diminishes, speed goes down, power isn’t any more significant, and so forth.

Having a proxy in place to regulate your training, allows for consistent longer term growth.

Novice vs non-novice lifter: slightly more in-depth, yet somehow to the point.

More is less, less is more. But sometimes more is more, and less is less.

The devil is in the individuals details.

How do you train?

What are some key differences moving from a novice lifter to a non-novice?

From a coaching side: there’s a fairy pronounced transition from doing pretty much anything, and having success, to having to use techniques and tools to push the needle slowly, and gradually. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

From a more observing role: what I see athletes adopt: a more mature approach to how they select loads, how they prepare for training sessions, less of a need to “find the next best thing”, more consistency, more delayed gratification, and least but not least: less imploding when something doesn’t go as planned.

Training is cool, what do you notice in your training growth?

Many a times we here, just get stronger.

While this is true, if your job isn’t to be stronger in the weight room, but it is what you’re doing. You’re likely leaving many pieces of the puzzle left out.

At a certain point, you probably don’t need to just get stronger, but rather use your strength acquisition into other areas of your training and sport.

If you’re too weak to jump on one leg, get stronger. If you squat 2-3 x bodyweight, but can’t stand on one leg, you’ve got a gap that needs addressing.

Fatigue: currently the big trending topic amongst hybrid athletes, science based bros, and those afraid to push it.

Fatigue is real, but it’s not a death sentence.

The nocebo effect: is the phenomenon where a harmless substance or treatment causes negative side effects or worsens symptoms simply because the patient expects or believes it will.

Train, when you feel crappy rest, but chances are it’s not just “fatigue” that’s ruining your gains.

At the start, showing up is hard. When it becomes a habit it becomes easier. But what do you do when progress stops? What do you do when gains aren’t coming easily?

We have a few options: blame everyone but ourself, or: audit how you are in the gym. Your effort, your attention to detail, your ability to focus on the task at hand. It’s not hard, but it isn’t easy either.