This is going to be Part 1 of an ongoing, and very spaced out series, that will finally get you out of the beginner zone. A place you have probably been for 10+ years because you are scared to take it to the next level. Why are you scared? Hell, I don’t know…You are afraid to be too focused on fitness, you don’t want to hurt yourself, or you just haven’t been pushed to workout harder than you have day in and day out for the last decade. No wonder people think working out is boring…
This guide is just a push. A push that will get you to start doing things for yourself and doing it correctly. You will find once you are not a ‘beginner’ anymore, there are very few legitimate guides for you to reference.
Time to Take off the Training Wheels
“Any idiot can get on a treadmill and watch TV and then take great pride in the fact they’ve ‘exercised.”
-Mark Rippetoe
If you are perfectly happy with watching TV while you run on the treadmill or talking on the phone while you do curls, that’s fine. However, you can probably stop here because the info below is of no use to you.
Stop Getting Information from Beginner Places
Some examples…keep in mind the 90/10 rule here. Applies 90% of the time.
TheirName.com
- You know what I mean, the guys whose website is their name. This means that they probably started working out solely for vanity. Furthermore, this probably means their site is mainly about them. They don’t care much to teach. Be wary.
Desk Jockey Trainers
- Those who claim to train desk jockeys, or provide information for the desk jockey. There is nothing wrong with desk jockeys, AT ALL, it’s just that…Generally I have found the sites that claim this have a mediocre knowledge of fitness and want the least intimidating audience, or people who will not challenge their mediocre knowledge. You will never get more than surface level information on anything. What’s worse is when these sites do well, since there is a lot of appeal for surface level information only, the creator feels like they are now an “expert”. But the creator is still most likely someone who after 3 months of training you will be able to run faster than, lift more than, and jump higher than.
Muscle Mags
- It is time to get away from “30 Days to Hot Summer Abs” and “Lose 30lbs. by Drinking Water”. Beginners try out a these quick fitness fixes. Athletes train with an ultimate purpose. They know what they are working towards and all of this stuff just gets in the way.
A personal note for who I listen to in fitness. You can agree or disagree. I don’t listen to anyone who either a.) Can only tell me theoretically how to do something, or b.) They cannot do a majority of what I can do (if they did it at one point in their life, that’s fine).
One of my favorite quotes of all times comes from Jim Wendler,
“Don’t fall for that crap that people are peddling on the message boards, in magazines or on TV. Get your s*** in order, and get your training in order. Start kicking ass, and take out the crap that doesn’t matter. Start doing and believing in the stuff that works, and do it today and forever. You want science and studies? F*** you, I’ve got scars and blood and vomit.”
That last sentence in particular is my favorite. I would rather listen to someone who is squatting 5x my bodyweight or who can embarrass me in any type of workout, as opposed to the one who studied exercise sport science in college, yet he/she is fat and out of shape. Give me the person who studied basket weaving but will own me in the gym.
Start to Take Control of Your Fitness
Realize You Are Smart!
Chances are you are pretty smart. Quit selling yourself short. Quit thinking this fitness thing is too complicated for you to figure out. You are very capable of creating your own programming. One that, 100%, suits you.
Pick 3
Pick three very reputable websites or sources of information that you feel will help you in your quest. Remember who not to listen to from the information above. I recommend one of your three picks be a book. I don’t know your goals so I can’t tell you where to go. If you have similar goals to me…Strength/CrossFit…See Jerred’s KongQuest, then I would recommend the following to get started.
CrossFit…?
Plan 30 Days and Write Crap Down
Go to your calendar and plan out your fitness schedule for the next 30 days. You don’t have to plan out all your workouts, that is part 2. Just plan out a good rest/work schedule for the next 30 days. Once you write it down consider it law. Do everything in your power to keep to this schedule for the next 30 days. That’s it…
Next, while following this schedule, write down all of your workouts. If you are serious about working out you will write things down.
It’s That Simple…
Here is your push! There is a lot of great info coming to take you to the next leve in this series, but for now work on the small stuff. Get all of the useless info out of your life, find what you want, and make it for you. A simple plan with the right information is enough to make you incredibly dangerous in the fitness world. Finding the sources that work for you will be the hardest part, but sift through the crap and find something you love.
Are you starting to see you don’t need a 36 part plan with 57 guides to get yourself in shape?? All you really need is your brain, a good book, and a solid barbell. Using those three things correctly will get you in the best shape of your life and I guarantee it.