4 Rules to Follow in Training (and Life)

As I was thinking about a topic for this week's post, I began to reflect on my own training over the last month. Since the holidays ended, I have had a great month of training. I set a couple PR's in the gym and have been feeling pretty motivated. This got me thinking about some of the lessons I have learned, allowing me to continue growing physically, professionally, and personally over the last few years. Here are a few rules I think everyone can benefit from following:

1. "Train" don't "work out"
This is a topic that you might have seen or heard of before, but it bears repeating. "Training" is a mindset that you should have every time you set foot in the gym. Everything you do from the warm up to post workout stretching should have a purpose. You should be setting goals and your training program should revolve around accomplishing those goals. For example, if your goal is to deadlift 400 pounds, you should be doing plenty of deadlifts, pull ups, abs, and other posterior chain work. If you want to lose fat, intensity should be high and rest periods should be short. "Working out" is like being a single guy. It might be fun and you might feel free, but you really have no clue what the hell you are doing. Your house is trashed, the heat was shut off last week, and you are eating pizza and leftover chicken nuggets from between the couch cushions.

Don't be that guy.

This myopic approach will get you mediocre results at best. Don't be one of those people that go to the gym, day after day, and execute yet another random workout.

2. Overcome Fear
We have all been afraid at one point or another, but fear will get you nowhere.
Fear is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Think about it. How many times have you been afraid to pick up that heavy-ass weight in front of you? "Oh theres no way I can lift that." Are you afraid to ask your boss for a raise? "I'll just ask him/her next month." Well guess what. You've already failed.
Once you convince yourself you can't, you probably wont. People who are afraid are weak. They never get anywhere in life because they are afraid to try. Believe in yourself! Have the courage to conquer your fears and the sky is the limit.

3. Educate yourself
Whether you are training for your first half marathon or attempting to cook for your family, learning as much as you can about a particular topic will only increase your chance of success. The Russians developed a training philosophy long ago that required their athletes to develop a complete understanding of the function of organ systems, physiology, biomechanics etc. They believed that this contributed to a more complete athlete. No wonder they kicked our asses for so many years. I am shocked at how many people enlist my services and have no interest whatsoever in learning about how the body functions. How can you expect to take control of your body if you have no clue how it works? The same can be said of any new endeavor. Go pick up a book and learn something.

4. Find a Good Coach
If you are not sure where to begin, the best course of action is to seek out someone who can help you. A good coach will listen, inspire, and motivate you to achieve what you never thought possible. When looking for the right coach (or trainer), there are a few things you should be looking for:

• Does he/she do some kind of assessment? (Nutrition, Movement Screen etc.)
• Does he/she have a system in place used for program design? Remember, random sucks. If they aren't taking the time to design a program specific to your needs, find someone who does.
• Does the individual conduct themself in a professional manner?
• Are they certified?

Becoming a stronger individual really isn't all that complicated. Approach your training with a purpose. Don't be a coward. Expand your mind. Find someone to help you along the way.

Have a great week!