It’s Not Your Fault…ok maybe it is. The number one thing I love about the fitness lifestyle is the constant ability for progression. I’m not saying your fitness experience is going to be a long linear slope of accomplishment but if you are not making progress then what is the point?
What I am trying to say is if you are spending the time going to the gym and working out shouldn’t you be reaping the rewards? I mean isn’t the main reason we go to the gym for is to make progress?
Before you waste any more of your time or hard earned money on gym memberships, exotic supplements, exotic food items, and/or exotic women read my list of FAILures and try not to emulate any of them.
Part 1- Training Mistakes
No Game Plan
By a show of hands how many of you gym rats out there walk into the gym without knowing what it is you are about to do? (Ok I can’t see your hands but I know some are raised)
Going into the gym without a workout plan is like going to college without a major. You wander around aimlessly for a couple of years, waste a ton of money and then end up with nothing to show for it. Can you follow an “instinctive approach” and get results? Yes, of course but unless you are a very experienced lifter or extremely disciplined that method does not work out very well.
The best thing about following a workout program is the fact that you actually have a workout program to follow. One of the reasons why general cookie cutter workout templates are so popular and successful is because they give people a blueprint to follow.
Just from personal experience, people who walk into the gym with a plan also tend to be more focused and get more accomplished.
I suggest taking some time to figure out a workout program to follow for the next 4 weeks. If you need some help, check this out 4-Week Custom Workout Program.
The Paralysis by Analysis Principle – This group of people are the exact opposites of the last group. This group plans everything out in 24 week blocks using the most sophisticated undulating periodization template they can find only to quit and do something completely different 2 weeks later.
Fact- It doesn’t matter how good of program you have if you don’t follow it.
Once you make a plan follow it though to the end. To really reap the benefits of a program you need to give it a chance to succeed. However, if your program sucks that brings up another issue altogether…
Faulty Programs- And this leads me to my next point…faulty programs. There is a reason people get paid to create workout programs. It’s more than just throwing a bunch of exercises together and hoping they stick. A lot goes into creating a well rounded periodized program.
Also, don’t be fooled by “newbie program gainzz” and think because it works in the beginning it will work forever. To take words from strength coach Dan John “everything works….for only about 6 weeks”. The goal is to have a program that facilitates lasting gains!
The Skipped Beginner Phase– This one is simple. There is a reason some workout programs are designed for beginners and other programs designed for advanced athletes. Just because your mom told you were special a bunch of times as a kid doesn’t mean after two months of lifting you are ready to graduate to advanced training.
Grind out the gains with basic programs before moving on to anything more advanced. For beginners I like basic programs like Starting Strength or Strong Lifts. Of course you could also go with a Custom HF Workout Program ;)
At the end of the day this is all what you would consider common sense.
– Have a plan when you go to the gym
– Follow the plan
– Make sure its a good plan
– Make sure the plan is right for you
However, “common sense is not so common anymore” – Rob Paluch
I will leave you with a quote I saw on Twitter today…
“Everyone wants to excel. But few are willing to make the sacrifices that excellence requires”
-Joe Friel
Check back later this week for Part 2 on Nutrition Mistakes!
– Kyle Hunt