January 25, 2020
What We Learn each “Challenge”
We recently completed our “November-December to Remember” (NDR) here at the Institute of Performance and Fitness.
As this is our Challenge strategically positioned between (and during) the Holidays, there was certainly an emphasis on Fitness and overall Health…
As with all of our “Events” at IPF, we Tracked everything, in terms of Measurables in the Gym: Percent Bodyfat, Waist Circumference, Attendance, Fitness + Strength Data were all collected at established points, and then analyzed based on Personal Habits, Behaviors, Conversations, and, most of all, Personal History…
The short Revelation is that Pounds and Inches were lost by the Dozens, Strength Increased in Everyone and Fitness was Improved by a Huge Margin…
But that doesn’t tell the entire Story…
Ask our Clients what they could do Better (after NDR 2019) and they all say “I could have/should have worked harder”…
Ask the Staff, and we say they Need to Work “Different”…
Everyone wants a “Different/New” Result, but it is difficult to achieve unless you Do “Different or New” Things, Methods, Behaviors…
Instead, we try “Harder”…and Harder doesn’t Work if you are already Trying Hard…
Most just want to keep doing What they Like instead of Embracing “New”.
This is Human Behavior 101, as We Like what We Know, and the Fear of the Unknown keeps us from Moving Forward…
The Thought Process, “Well, I know this works to some Degree, and I don’t know if that Works, so I will keep doing this” is incredibly limiting in both the short and long-term…
Let’s Give You the Current Example:
Most of our Clients want to “Get Lean” …
They Think About It, Create an Image of what it Look Like, and Form a Plan that almost always Involves Eating Better (and Less) and Working Out More….
Every “Goal” is Personal, and Getting Leaner is a Valid, Healthy Goal for 90% of us every year…
It just isn’t the Right Goal “All Year” …
In fact, it probably inhibits your Success, especially in the Long Run…
When we Reviewed our Results for NDR 2019, we found that much of our Clients Success was from Increased Focus, Better Attendance, and Training with a Specific, Numeric, goal in mind (from a previously established Personal Record <PR>) …
Essentially, they “Tried Harder” at the same things and got a Good Result…
Its Positive, it Works, but it’s also limiting because Nothing is Different, and we all want a Different=Better Result…
We have to Spend More Time on What We Need to get What We Want…
Moving Forward, we are meeting with our Clients, as we have previously, to discuss a Shift in Thought, Focus and even Mind-Set.
We will be asking them to Embrace a New Goal or Goals, that take them “Away” from Trying to Get Lean, and Move Towards an Obvious Area of Need…
Strength Acquisition: Overall, Push-Pull Ratio, Leg Strength, etc.…
Muscle Acquisition: Overall, more Lean Mass, Reduction of Injury, etc.…
Mobility: Squat Mechanics, Soft-Tissue Work, How I Run, etc.…
Fitness: Improved Fitness Markers, General Health, Family History, etc.…
There are Dozens of Opportunities, and many of them are Strong “Needs” for our Clients, as their Desire to be Lean takes them further away from Functional, Strong, Fit, etc.…
There is a Big “Catch” however. One that we Believe may be the Key to their Success.
Working on Your “Needs” often Improves Your “Wants”.
More Strength or Muscle almost certainly will Improve your Bodyfat.
More Mobility makes it Easier (and more Fun) to Train and Improve.
Better Fitness enables your Workouts (and Life) to be more Beneficial.
The Catch is that You may be Working on Getting Lean without Trying to get Lean…
Its time to take a Different Path, Create a New Mind-Set, and Build a New Goal…
Our Recommendation to our Clients is to Vary the Goal 3-4x a year (about ~48wks of Training) and consider their Lifestyle as the Main Factor.
Work: Projects, Travel, Seasonal Demand, Promotions, etc.
Family: Involvement, Vacations, Sports Schedules, School Commitments, etc.
Relationships: Quality Time, Family Visits*, Pursuit of Happiness, etc.
Life: Success, Sickness, Drama, Opportunity, Knowing Yourself, etc.
Training is Part of Life for Everyone at our Gym (and many around the World), but it isn’t the only part, and it shouldn’t be…
Like Life, it shouldn’t be the same year-round. It should Vary with Emphasis, Opportunity, Success, Setback, Love and Whatever We make of It…
Having a New, Different, Goal for 3-4 Months, that “Balances” your Training, Addresses your Needs, and Pushes you Forward, is the Recipe we all need…
Your Next Step, even in a Different Direction, often takes your Further than the same Steps again and again…
We Plan on Taking those Today…
