Ever seen a lifter absolutely rip into a heavy bar and think ‘I wish I could be that aggressive too’?
Here we talk about what it takes to be more aggressive in your lifting and why you should even bother. Read More→
Archive for Mindset
Sometimes it seems like we are going to the gym and putting in the work, but don’t get stronger.
When I talk to people about their training, 9 times out of 10 it is something quite simple that they are not doing.
Be honest with yourself – what out of the list below are you not nailing? Read More→
Shakespeare reckoned there were seven Ages of Man. I’ve limited my stages of progress to five.
The complete beginner (the “baby” stage)
This is an exciting time for both lifter and coach. You go from knowing absolutely nothing, to being able to lift an actual weight. You’re like a baby, developing fast; every day is a new miracle. You can get a personal best practically every session. Read More→
Staying consistent with your training is one of the toughest tasks out there – for all but the most dedicated gym rat/student/young PT who has all the time in the world to spend in the gym.
Life happens.
Shit happens.
Work gets really fucking busy!
Other responsibilities distract you, you fall out of routine and all of a sudden the spell is broken. You haven’t been to the gym in weeks, and it seems pointless to start again. Read More→
So the Eng. Lit major in me has a little chuckle at the title of this post, which is deliberately ambiguous. It should really read ‘failing in order to succeed’.
This is of course a reference to the famous Michael Jordan quotation: Read More→
As a lifter, this is one of the most painful situations you will be in. Emotionally painful, that is.
And with the deluge of social media, it has become even worse! Everyone and her dog is dying to tell you about their latest Personal Best.
It feels like the whole world is rubbing your miserable failure in your face. Read More→
The best training for fat loss is the kind that makes you forget about your body hang-ups and enjoy what your body can do.
What if instead of hating your thighs, you marvelled at how much they can squat, or how strongly they carry you up that hill?
What if you stopped worrying about a wobbly belly, and got carried away by the joy of mastering a pull up? Read More→
Often people struggle to focus when lifting heavy weights, especially in the olympic lifts, which happen so fast.
Other thoughts muscle their way in just as you are preparing to lift the bar. You’re distracted, you’re overthinking it, and all of a sudden your lift is gone.
I’ve found that one of the best ways to improve focus is to play games – either with yourself or with an entire class, if you are a coach. Create a situation where lifters are more likely to act on instinct and less likely to overthink.
Here are 3 ways to improve focus when lifting heavy. These methods apply to olympic lifters, powerlifters and anyone who loves the challenge of heavy single lifts in the gym.
Is fear of lifting heavy weights affecting your progress in the gym? You’re not alone!
I work with a lot of adults taking up weight lifting for the first time, or coming back to it after decades of not weight lifting. As we get older, we naturally feel more fear and it becomes harder to overcome. Read More→
Here’s a new way to look at new year’s resolutions.
If you have trouble sticking to your goals, this could be the answer! Read More→