Current Thoughts: How long does it take to look like you’ve been training for 10 years?
I have rhetorical questions that I like to ask as a bit of a joke: “How long does it take to look like you’ve been training for 10 years?”
I usually ask this in response to someone who starts thinking they need to do something “different” to get faster results. Unfortunately, there has been a false promise planted in the heads of Americans when it comes to being fit. That false promise is that you can fast track your way to amazing health and fitness without making the sacrifices necessary. That’s just not the case.
The allusion comes from the fact that when start any exercise routine, you make progress really fast. We call these beginners gains. Then, after getting in a rhythm and building confidence, most beginners increase their training, either their intensity, their frequency, or their strategy, all of which cause them to make progress faster.
Then they hit the plateau. This is the point in which beginner gains stop coming, because they are no longer beginners anymore. Unfortunately, the tools in their tool belt don’t work any more. They try to train harder or more frequently and they get hurt, or burnt out. They start switching programs every couple months and lose progress in the areas they’re no longer focusing on. They get frustrated and try to do more, get hurt or give up. They never look like they’ve been training for 10 years because they’ve never done it consistently.
After the first 2 or so years of training, progress is going to slow down. You have to start planning around consistency instead of intensity. Things like your nutrition, your sleep, your technique, all begin to player a bigger role in your progress. Here’s the thing: you’ve never been down this path before. So, you can try your best and hope it works out or you could take the advice of someone who’s been down it and helped others do so as well.
Things I Like: Heirloom Fresh True Blue Eggs
| These are the deepest orange colored yolks I have ever seen in eggs and they are DELICIOUS. Costco sales them. |
Things to Check Out: The 12 Hour Walk
| If I asked you to describe your life, and you use the word “busy”, you may want to consider breaking out of that cycle. Don’t have the time to walk for 12 hours? Exactly. This is something you need. |
Everyone has an idol. Play this game to find out what yours is
Have a great week!
David
