Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Weights for Change

I am always surprised when I meet people who do not lift weights. I will probably never understand how folks know that there are tools out there (barbells and dumbbells) that will get you stronger, but they choose not to get stronger. And it is just that, nothing but a choice.

Anyone can get stronger. One of my good friends is in his 40's and squatted a new personal best today, and came into my office and told me that he was stronger now than anytime in his life.

He is a changed man. And what does he do in the weight room? Squats, Deadlifts, Benches, dips. He is not concerned with looks( although he has gained muscle), he is concerned with being stronger. It has now become a lifestyle for him, something that he does at lunch time three times a week. He also told me that he feels awful when he does not get his training in each week.

You see, the difference is, he gave it a shot. A legitimate shot. He didn't question what my staff and I told him to do in the weight room, he just listened and then did it. He has added some  biking for cardio and he runs some hills sometimes, but the foundation of the program are his weight workouts.



And it got me thinking. Why would anyone not train with weights? All you have to do is squat, bench, press, and deadlift a few times a week, and your life will actually change more than you could ever imagine. Daily tasks will be easier, you will look and feel better.

And you don't have to kill yourself in the weight room. In fact, it is actually counterproductive when attempting to get stronger to work to failure. Always leave a few reps in the tank, and then make some progress each time you go in there. And little by little, it will become a habit and you won't be able to live without it.

All About Being a Lifer

What's a Lifer? Someone who isn't in to something for just a day, a month, a year...it's for life. Whether its training or your family or your job...it doesn't matter. You work at it, you build on it, you see the big picture . You don't miss workouts because it means something to you. You are like a Shakespearean actor- no matter what is going on in your life, you block it out when it's time to train. You walk into the weight room and all else disappears. Worry about it later.