Work or Don't work
I have gone my whole life trying to figure this one out: why people show up to a training session when they dont feel like being there. This is definitely one of my all time pet peeves/least favorite things in life(along with licking fingers, soft handshakes and rap music) Im talking about people who go to a training session and really half ass effort the damn thing. Dont ever do that, it stupid. Just leave. Or dont go. JUST DONT GO. Why would you go to train and have give a half hearted effort? It would be like me going to, I dont know, a ballet class or something. I would never do it. Cant make myself try to do it, no matter what. I would barely get up on my toes and twirl around one time before I would hit the floor running.
Shut up and Listen
The problem with the strength field, or rather the Strength and Conditioning field is that everyone thinks that they know everything about it. A little knowledge, to be blunt, doesn't mean a damn thing. A lot of knowledge backed up with experience in the field and under the bar or on the platform means everything. I use this example all of the time, but when Kirk Karwoski corrects me on the deadlift or squat, I shut up and listen. Why? Because he knows more than I do about squatting heavy weights, and just squatting in general. Ever heard him talk about lifting? A pure technician. Now, If you are 137 pounds and never squatted any significant weight and are wearing a visor and have a pencil behind your ear, I'm shutting you off.
Let it go
Having a bad day training? Feel like scrapping the whole program because you just didn't HAVE it? Don't . I heard Rob Wagner say this one day, "A bad day is just that, a bad day." Come back the next training session and attack the weights with a vengeance. But don't dwell on the last workout. It is over and done with and you can't go back.
Useless Worrying
Its like worrying. All that does is hurt you, and nobody else. I used to worry all the time, I thought that was a way of showing that I cared. And once I had a bunch of bad stuff happen to folks that I loved and worried myself to death over it, I just one day stopped. I just decided that if I was concerned with something, I would tell somebody what was bothering me, or write about it, and then let it go. Or I would do some type of action instead of sitting around with my thoughts going nuts. That works. People always ask me, "Aren't you worried about ..."whatever it is, and I say, no not at all. They think that I don't care, but that ain't it. I care, I just know that if I cant do a damn thing about it, why worry?
Get big
Its hard as hell to get big, Folks I train who bodybuild, especially women KILL themselves to gain muscle. Forced reps, high reps, lactic acid buildup, supersets, going to failure, multiple sets to get there.
And their nutrition is perfect. When I here somebody say, "Well, I don't want to get too big.", I say, "Oh, don't you worry a bit about that!" Because 99.9% of the people in this world don't have the dedication or guts to get like "that". Now plenty of people can get fat and blame it on the weight room. But its impossible to gain fat in there. That is understood, correct?
Nothing Better
There is nothing better than seeing someone reach their goals or change themselves.. I love watching folks hit a new personal record in the deadlift, or lose weight and fit into a new pants size, or work their way out of a depression with exercise. I train a bunch of "older" ladies(they hate that term) who have made some crazy gains and changed their lives around. And its not because of me, its the lifestyle, and the confidence gained from getting stronger. Weight training is measurable right away. You have more weight on the bar than last session? You are improving. And then they start asking about diet, and then they use their new found strength in some way- it could be carrying something heavy that they used to need help with, or noticing their time g0t better in a jog around the lake. And then they are hooked, man. They start coming to every workout because they love the changes.They are born again, emboldened by the feelings of strength and being fit.
