KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)
There is plenty of fitness modalities and training methodologies running around on the internet. The truth is most of them work, to an extent. Depending on your goals and or your current fitness levels, just moving will be beneficial for most of the population. However, there is also plenty of garbage out there as well. If you are staring in amazement at a video of someone spinning a kettlebell through the air or becoming a contortionist, then you are watching someone that has trained for that specific movement for well over 10,000 repetitions. Ask yourself this question, “Do I really need that?”. Most likely the answer is no!
People want what is flashy or trendy, but step into any serious training facility and you find athletes doing the same movements (just different variations of these movements). Squat, Hinge, Press, Pull, Carry and some form of running. Dr. John Rusin uses this as his logo and I am by no means attempting to steal it. It just makes sense. There are plenty of different types of squats that one can do that work around injury or prevent them. Hinge movements are abounding as well as there being tons of variations of Press and Pull variations. Having said all of that, one doesn’t have to or need to do back squats each and every week. As matter of fact, one shouldn’t do the same variation every week unless training for a specific event.
That is the key, training goals. The goal I hear the most is a client wanting to get stronger. Six weeks in, they’re asking to switch things up. I have to convince them that the social media video they just watched is neither necessary nor realistic. If you hire a coach, whether it be me or another coach, you should expect simplicity and consistency. I read a blog by Mike Chadwick one day where he talks about wanting to fire his own coach because he’d been doing the same thing for an extended period of time. During the check in call, his coach pointed out the improvements that he was making and Chadwick’s mind changed. He pointed out the age adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
Don’t hire a coach because they do some crazy looking gymnastics or have millions of social media followers. Hire the coach that is honest with you. Six pack abs are great, but do you have the time to meal prep? Are you able to maintain the same eating and sleeping schedule for eight or more weeks? My guess is that you’re like me, three kids, a job that demands a ton of travel and robs your sleep (I’m still active duty Army for another year). Look for a coach that is going to plan around your schedule, previous injuries, and imbalances. A coach that will plan with simplicity, those are the most successful plans.
