Be strong do not just appear strong

Appearances are deceiving!

I am a strength coach and was a strength athlete. Strength is obviously the focus of this blog. There are many who believe appearance based work (ABW) is actually training. It is not. At best, appearance based workouts are exercise. Training is chronic. Exercise is acute. ABW is limited in duration. Strength training should span our entire lifespan.

Lifting wights is fun!

I competed in powerlifting for two decades. I have never had an injury. I have had aches, pains, and problems which needed to be fixed. Never anything serious enough to send me under the knife. I will die before I have a surgery. Anyway, my first coach taught us we must train conservatively to avoid injury among other things. There is a training zone for training any aspect of the human body. That zone exists between 50-85% of the current maximum. Cardio, strength, agility work, it does not matter, do the work in the training zone. It will save you years of disappointment. How long does it take to recover, completely, from a torn rotator cuff or, worse, a broken back? Too long! Live to train another day.



My point is that living in a constant state of soreness is a bad idea. I was talking to one of the few trainers I know, in CA, and he said he was thinking of doing some bodybuilding reps. He also did not want to be sore all the time since it interferes with proper movement while lifting weights. He is correct. Tight and sore are too prohibitive. Ryan is a trainer. I met one trainer in the year I lived in L.A.

The look created by comic book artists and media sources are unrealistic. Huge shoulders on top of a minuscule waistline are a back injury waiting to happen. One should be able to see the muscles of the mid-section but not competitive bodybuilding ready at all times. The human form is designed to store and use fat deposited over time. We do not need the level of body fat most American hold but we need more than the fitness community is telling us. A man should be around 15% body fat. A woman should be around 20% body fat. Our health depends on these numbers. There will be exceptions to this rule of course. The margin of error is smaller than one percentage point.

Testosterone feeds on body fat stores. This is one reason average men hold less fat than average women. An egg has a yolk to provide energy to the developing chicken. We need fat for the organism to maintain a particular energy level, constant. If you want to look lean add muscle. Then hook that new muscle up to the motor unit it serves so it is available to produce strength at will. Stop eating like you are going to starve. The great depression is over.

There are millions of ways to exercise the human body. Pick one and tailor it to fit your personality. Do not be a part of a group. Be yourself and show yourself what you are capable of accomplishing. I am a powerlifter. I do not follow any cookie cutter routine to reach my goals. I have gained enough knowledge to think freely. I analyze new information when it crosses my path and utilize it and/or discard it as needed. These days I discard most of it as it is selling something or pigeon holing people to follow rather than lead. I did not become competitive to follow. I am a leader. This is my personality and powerlifting is the most functional, helpful, and useful, means to that end. If one wants to be a follower join a CrossFit gym and stay average while looking stronger than the average person (5’8″ tall and 175 lbs. / 5’4″ tall and 135 lbs.).

The average American is not in good shape, let alone great shape. If we are strong we look strong no matter what the magazine/television says we should look like. Think about it before you follow the program. More often than not it is marketing for a cheap under performing program. Training is not supposed to be fun. It is supposed to cause changes. Change is difficult. Appreciate this point.


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