9/11/12

Lessons Learned

I have been training myself and others for over two decades now and one thing I have discovered is that there is always something new to learn.  I have learned some of my greatest life lessons through training.  Here are some of those lessons.

Don't judge a book by its cover.  Our workouts prove that there is no discrimination between race, sex, age, height or weight.  The little woman who looks like an easy win may just wipe the floor with you.  It is sort of like when teenagers assume that because you are bald or gray that you are also old and unable to perform at their level.  Nothing makes me smile more than that expression they get halfway through a workout when they realize that maybe they overestimated themselves and underestimated their much "older" workout companions.

What you see is not always what you get.  Sometimes a workout with only two exercises and workout times of 5 to 6 minutes looks easy but turn out to be the toughest whereas an hour and a half workout at the local globo gym can be easier than a walk in the park.  One of the most used statements from our clients is "that workout didn't look that bad on paper."

Maximize your Return On Investment (ROI).  If you really think about it, the goal is to get the maximum gains with as little effort as possible.  That sounds strange but studies have shown that the body can only adapt so fast and that efforts beyond that adaptation process are unnecessary and risky.  We invest high intensity, functional movements for shorter workout times while still maximizing our fitness levels and health benefits.  At the same time, not all programs are the same although they may appear so.  Some workout programs similar to ours invest more time and emphasize increasing load far too fast and too often with minimal, if any, benefits beyond our programming.  Again, maximize your ROI.

Never quit! Whether it be a workout, a tough family situation or schedule, taking care of an aging parent or child, you never quit.  Our training builds upon that principle.  These workouts can get really tough but every time you finish one, it reinforces the habit of not quitting when the going gets tough.  Tough workouts make tough people.

The reps that follow the temptation to stop is where the growth comes. Your victory may just be one rep away.  Doing that extra rep or two is what builds character and confidence.

You reap what you sow.  You get what you give.  Giving your best in a workout, having integrity with your reps and range of motion will produce the best results.  They emphasize habits that lead to success.  The same goes with life.  Integrity and hard work will lead you to a better life far faster than taking the easy way out, cheating, or simply settling for average.

A strong body can make a strong mind and spirit.  Let your physical training carry over into the other aspects of your life.  Although we are firm believers that our spiritual man is more important than our physical, we are still carnal by nature.  We live in physical bodies and when we take care of those bodies, it honors God.(1 Cor. 6:20)  The bible says that the "spirit is willing but the body is weak."(Mark 14:38)  Therefore we should "discipline our body and bring it into subjection."(1 Cor. 9:27)  I hope and pray that after training with us that you also feel renewed in your mind and spirit and feel a since of clarity and motivation to be a light that guides both your life and the lives of those who cross your path.