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I often wonder how a Strength Coach thinks in his early days of coaching athletes. For me, when I began training athletes, I was viewed as an outcast. Seriously...... Coaches were training on Bosu Balls, using the Functional Trainer cable, wearing collared shirts tucked in all neat and there I was, having kids carrying stones, pushing trucks and sprinting up hills.
In my concerns, I had a friend send me his training program for a wrestler. He was a highly certified Coach with all the letters after his name. When I got the workout, I was disappointed. It was all the machines and nothing that would push the athlete out of his comfort zone.
When you become too concerned with following the perfect workouts, the type of workout that would only be approved in an Exercise Science Lab by people who don't actually train, you end up hurting yourself more than helping yourself.
In sports or life, nothing ever goes perfectly according to plan. Nothing.
Optimal rest periods, optimal sets, optimal reps and optimal weights.
This sounds great in theory when you live in a training camp in Siberia, do nothing but eat, lift and sleep. Your Coach is an expert of several decades and knows exactly what you need to a point where you don't have to think about doing anything besides showing up and doing what your Coach says to do.
But, I am assuming you don't live in Siberia with an expert Strength Coach? Yes?
Your meals are not prepared by your private chef, your clothing is not picked out for you, washed for you and chosen for you......
I'm pretty sure that is NOT your life.
Here is how you need to start thinking AND training to break the so called "rules of lifting" to ensure you dominate Both in AND out of the gym.
[youtube width="640" height="360"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfVhiy5p4PA[/youtube]
[youtube width="640" height="360"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N578NQMV2Hk[/youtube]
The question I have is WHY do certain men lose their edge? They were once upon a time Savages and then, they lost it. They stopped chasing challenges, they avoided the work and became the man who sat on the couch and avoided challenges.
The day you stop chasing the challenges is the day you begin losing your edge.
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable......
Follow workouts that push you, break you down, then build you into a stronger man. Become IRON.
Drop a comment / question below with your thoughts.
Let me know how you're going to start going against the grain to kick ass and take names in life AND lifting.
Live The Code 365
--Z--
Zach's Books on Amazon - Details HERE
2 Responses
Great point on pointing out the misconception of the “perfect workout.” The perfect workout is the one you finish with having given a 110% of your heart. That is as close to perfect as anyone can expect to get.
By the way I love Arnold’s quote too. “Do whatever it takes to be a champion. Break the rules, not the law.” Very good share Zach!
This is one of the best lessons I’ve learned from Z. I’m less concerned with the “perfect” workout or following rigid plans. Although I’m surely no expert, I listen to my body and will often change things up and wing it. I guess that is for better or worse sometimes, but hey, somedays I just want to get outside and carry around heavy crap or do all bodyweight even if it’s not on the schedule.
Big Chris