Sunday, March 28, 2010

Project 190 Results

This week wrapped up my self-project, Project 190. If you don't remember, the goals of this project were to get stronger in all aspects and increase my body weight to 190lbs. The project was a 12-week program, consisting of a 4-day lifting split. During the final two weeks I got a head cold and my appetite was hurt during that time. Needless to say, that pissed me off quite a bit. The end results were not where I had planned on being but I still made some nice gains. Overall, I gained about 5-6 pounds, 187.5 being the peak of my weight gain during the 12 weeks. I also gained a total of 5 inches and my body fat stayed just about the same (although I don't trust the Omeron hand held tester). My strength went up on all lifts and my test numbers are below:

Vertical: 30in. - no gain
Squat: 405lbs - up 20lbs
*Bench: 300lbs - no gain
Deadlift: 425lbs Sumo - didn't test before
3RM Pullup: +125lbs - up 45lbs

*Benching was up and down the whole time due to having a spot or not as well as the last two weeks being affected by the head cold.

Overall, I am pleased with the results and the program but far from satisfied. I am now onto a program by Eric Cressey called Maximum Strength. This is a 16-week program working towards developing strength. I have built my strength back up to where it was this time last year so now it is time to blow my old PR's out of the water. Gotta keep building and growing.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Stay Mental

Throughout my work as a trainer I have used various methods, new ideas, and old tricks to help people get in shape, whatever their goals may be. All of these are great but there is something way beyond any superset, circuit, or explosive training. What I am talking about is the number one determinant to success. It not only sets the pace for training and body transformation, it also creates a path for our life long endeavors in health. What could be so important? Mentality.

You can go into the gym and go through the motions all day, every day. But if your not focused, intense, and there with a purpose then you will not accomplish the things you're there for. I have seen it many times. Lady A comes to me, we sit down and determine her goals, how to get there, and what to do once we achieve that. We set a path and start on our journey. After a couple weeks, she is not excited about it anymore, work is getting busier, she doesn't care about the gym, and she shows up to her training sessions just because there is an appointment. She goes through the motions, breaks a sweat, gets tired, and then goes home to another day of normal life, with no attention to those goals we made that first day. Goals will never be reached this way and something has to be done. You can't get where you want to be if you don't have some passion and put some thought behind it.

When starting up in training, a new job, a new relationship, or whatever, you must have goals, plans, and actions. This is the mentality part I am talking about. It is not about just going to the gym. It's about purpose. It's about a mission. You are there for a reason...to get thin, to get sexy, to life 500lbs. That reason is the number one thing on your mind every time you step in that door.

What I want you to do is sit down and get a pad of paper and a pen. Write down the things you want to accomplish. Now write down sub-levels of those end products. Example: Lose 100lbs. would be your end result. So losing 10lbs a month might be a sub-goal. Now for each smaller goal, write down actions you can do to achieve those goals. For instance, avoiding fast food and soft drinks. Once you have these actions down, put them in play. Start keeping in mind these actions and goals every time you leave the house. Every training session should be motivated and purposeful. Every meal should be in line with your goals. Everything should help you get one step closer.

Mentality is the best tool you can have for training. Train intensely and with a passion. Surround yourself with people who can bring this out of you. Listen to some music that motivates you. Read books that keep you moving forward. Whatever it takes to keep you on line with your goal and moving at it with that insanity that will get you there. Stay focused and you WILL achieve.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The past couple days here in Louisville have been some great weather. It has been in the upper 60's and mostly sunny. This is great since we have been experiencing a lot of snow lately. Being that it was such nice weather I figured I would take a few clients outside today to do some training. Outdoor training is a great way to mix it up and avoid some of the boredom that can come from being enclosed in a gym all the time. The outside is also so versatile for training. Anything from bodyweight exercises to med balls to sleds to car pushes and so on and so on. It is such a great resource and clients and athletes will love it for the break of the normal routine.

Below is a couple videos of a client of mine, J-Wow. She has been working with me for about 4 months now and has shown some great strength gains. We went through a circuit of med ball slams to side throws, walking overhead lunges, sledge hammer swings, and stairs. Check it out...



Sunday, March 7, 2010

Arnold 2010

This weekend was the annual Arnold Classic and my second trip to the event. I brought some rookies to the event to share the greatness I experienced last year. We also went two days this year instead of just one. From arrival on it was just as great as I remembered it. Tons of free stuff, huge guys, and in-shape females. Talked to a couple vendors about their products, watched the Strong Man competition and deadlift competition, met some pros, and just took in the atmosphere. It's a great feeling to know that you are surrounded by like minded people loving every second of the gym consumed atmosphere.

Outside of the Arnold, my buddies and I made a 3 mile trek to go eat at Thurman's (home of the Thurmanator). We got there and realized there were 50 names on the list before us and after waiting about 2 hours with hardly any progress we decided that it was not worth a 4 hour wait. As much as I wanted to take a stab at the Thurmanator, I didn't want to wait 4 hours (especially being how hungry I was) and I wanted to catch some more of the Classic.

We finished up our visit to the Classic with the deadlift competition. Big weights being lifted...can't get much better than that. All I know is, I am ready for next year!

Brian Shaw...just 6'8 400lbs.

Jamie Eason...I love her

StrongMan Competition

These guys took this booth so seriously...pay to pose with these girls...they think your huge haha