Introduction

From the author.  I’ve been training for the better part of 40 years.  I’ve competed which made me realize that the dedication and sacrifices necessary to compete seriously were more than I was prepared to give on a regular basis.  I do however recommend that anybody that is serious about fitness should train for a contest so you can be exposed to the dedication and determination that it takes.  That experience will take you a long way. 

Back then in the non-social media days competing didn’t give the exposure that is available now and the potential to monetize that exposure.  Today’s world opens a ton of opportunities for those willing to put in the time, energy, and effort required to compete at top levels.  I look forward to hearing from, and working with those athletes, however I also look forward to helping those get started on their fitness journey and coach them along the way.

As we travel this road together there will be a lot of questions along the way.  I will be here to make sure that you completely understand our undertaking and provide any and all guidance necessary to insure you reach your goals.  Please keep in mind that it will take the 4D’s to achieve your fitness goals; Dedication…Determination….Desire….and Discipline!!

Just in time

I get it!  You’ve finally decided to take a more avid interest in your health and fitness.  You have friends that have done it and are getting great results.  You want in on the fun. You gear up with equipment and apparel.  Weight belt, gloves, wraps, workout clothing, and anything and everything else you see being used and worn.  After all, who wants to walk into a gym looking like you don’t know what you’re doing.  If you’re reading this and it describes you, then I’ve caught you just in time.

In this series I will be offering insight on all facets of training from beginning to advanced.  I will attempt to show you a tactical approach to training, diet, and rest and how each one is just as important as the other and how a balance of all three is needed to build a solid beginning foundation.  We will visit the techniques that have stood the test of time as well as some new advancements driving the industry today.  What I think will surprise you is how many old school techniques and philosophies have been repackaged as new ideas. Nonetheless, we will discuss both new and old to help gain that insight.

Not Rocket Science

I wish I could tell you that fitness is rocket science and that I’m a genius but unfortunately neither is true.  Of course there is science involved when it comes to cell respiration, ATP production, metabolism, lactic acid buildup, and rest.  All of these concepts are only as complicated as our level of understanding makes them.  Throughout this process I will bridge the gap between the hardcore science and your understanding of the science.  As you develop you may want to explore in more depth these concepts but for now I’ll make sure your understanding level supports your progress. 

The Journey

It’s best if you think of your fitness journey like any other journey.  If you get into a car to travel on a 3 hour trip, after 1 hour you want to be 1 hour closer to your destination, not 30 minutes  or 45 minutes but 1 hour.  This is exactly how you want to treat your fitness journey.  For every hour spent you should be one hour closer to your goal.  What exactly does that mean?  Usually it means leaving the cell phone in your gym bag and your worries and woes in the car.  The more you are able to focus the more you will be able to accomplish. Again, not really rocket science, right?  But it doesn’t end there.  It’s imperative to know where that focus needs to be (muscle group) and that the exercises are performed correctly to insure the maximum benefit.

Success as a Function over Time

To further the concept about your fitness being a journey, another concept comes into play.  Success as function over time?  Just what does that mean anyway?  Simply explained is this: If I told you that I had $10M in the bank you would think I had achieved some level of success.  However if I told you it took me a million hours to make that $10M would you still think I was successful?  If you set a goal in the gym and you reach it and then realize that you could have reached that same goal in 50% of the time you might not be so proud.  The goal here is to apply these concepts to maximize effort thus maximizing progress and subsequently the success over time equation. Applying these concepts to help insure success is based on both a maximized mindset set over the shortest productive time period.

80% Mental

One of the biggest mistakes made in beginning a fitness journey is thinking that fitness is all physical.  Of course it involves physical activity, that is certainly undeniable.  But to think that lifting weights alone is going to solely achieve any goal that is set is foolish.  And trust me, the gym is full of foolishness.

I believe an effective fitness routine is about 80% mental and 20% physical.  As an example, take an American football team for instance.  The physical aspect of football is obvious.  Big strong bodies banging into each other in a sometimes brutal fashion.  Now imagine that same game if there were no scripted plays.  No forethought guiding the physical acts!  Total chaos almost certainly leading to injury and a gym workout is no different.  It is paramount that the mind stays actively involved to maximize production and minimize injury.

The Mind Muscle Connection

The Mind Muscle connection is a concept that will grow with more understanding and with more maturity in the gym but a brief discussion at this point will still be useful.  Knowing exactly what muscle the intended exercise is designed to target is paramount for maximum effectiveness and thus supporting the success over time principle.  So often it appears in the gym that people don’t really know the intended target muscle of an exercise movement.  One of the goals of this series will be to increase the understanding of actively applying mental thought to the exercise and muscle of intention.

The Next Chapter

The next article will deal with the specifics of being a beginner in fitness, what pitfalls to avoid and what principles to adhere to.  Again, the goal will  be to create an overall understanding presented in an easy straightforward  and interesting manner designed to keep the reader engaged and learning.