Fitness Tips

Erik's Weekly Fitness Tip | Get In The Zone

 

Prepare

Overthinking can be detrimental to your success as an athlete or actually in any endeavor you partake in. Instead, you need to learn how to "get in the zone."

How do you do that?

Preparation, of course!

Quiet The Devil On Your Shoulder

As a young athlete I used to be a nervous wreck on race days. I was so focused on the other racers that I was not even close to being in the present moment. My mind was cluttered with self-deprecating thoughts.

"I do not feel ready for this race." 

"That athlete is fitter/stronger/more prepared than me."

"I should have trained harder."

Be In The Moment

With the help of my coach, however, I learned how to think less and flow more. My coach broke the season down into 2 parts; regular season and race season. 

The regular season was focused on one thing--preparing our bodies and minds to be at peak performance. This meant we ran twice a day and hit the weight room three to four days a week. To sum it up, regular season was all about hard work. 

When it came time for race season, my mindset was completely different. I felt relaxed knowing that I had done everything I could possibly have done to get ready for this moment. Great things happen when people are in the zone, the present moment.

If you have been following my blog/newsletter, you know how strongly I feel about "doing the work". It was only after putting in 5-6 months of hard work that I was able to reach those higher levels of performance and have a positive, relaxed mindset.

It doesn’t matter what you are trying to accomplish in life, when you do the prep work, success will surely follow. 

I can help you with the hard work 310.251.7420

Image Credit: Len dela Cruz via Unsplash

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Erik's Weekly Fitness Tip | Winter Goals

 

Now Is The Time

Wintertime is coming and now is the time to take advantage of it.  Most people hunker down and go into survival mode, the days are short on light, temperatures drop, and motivation usually falls off. Being from the midwest I totally understand.  

Set An Attainable Goal

But this is your chance, an opportunity to make some real gains with your strength and overall health.  It is time to set a goal that you can reach in the next 3 months, a goal that will not come without busting your butt to get it.  

What Sets You Apart

When most people are in their warm houses sipping coffee in the morning, you are out running your morning loop.  When most people head home after work because it is dark and they're tired, you head to the gym to get your squats and deadlifts in.  And finally when you are at one of your seemingly endless line of holiday parties, you limit your cookie and booze intake when all the other people are complaining about the extra weight they’ve put on, yet continue to eat and drink.   Get after it!

I can help you stay on track this season 310.251.7420

Image Credit: Tyson Dudley via Unsplash

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Erik's Weekly Fitness Tip | Training For Function VS Just Looking Good

 

Which Do You Prefer?

When most people start out on their fitness journey they want to lose weight, get toned, work on their arms and of course have those razor sharp abs.  They want to look good; maybe they’re after a Hollywood starlet look or an athlete.   While just the act of working out should get you a pat on the back, many of these types of goals are subjective and unobtainable.  These goals often lead many people down a very deep rabbit hole in a constant calorie deficit, always comparing themselves to others, and a tough place to be mentally day in and day out. 

Train For Function

Training for function is on the other side of the spectrum.  While I have yet to come across someone who doesn’t want to look good, training for function will put you in an entirely different mindset while still getting a killer physique.

What Is Training For Function? 

It’s your ability to do things like: 

  • push
  • pull 
  • lift 
  • carry objects 
  • play with your kids 
  • do yard work 
  • work on the house

It’s strength!  Now you never have to wonder, "Can I move that table, couch or dresser without getting hurt?"  Because you can!

How Does It Work? 

Easy!  First your workouts will consist of:

  • squats 
  • deadlifts 
  • shoulder presses 
  • bench press 
  • chin-ups 
  • sprints 
  • running hills 
  • pushing a sled 

The goal is get physically stronger, tougher, more resilient, and increase your ability to deal with being uncomfortable. 

Food, Glorious Food

Here is the other great thing about training for function, instead of limiting your calorie intake you can eat!  Food and sleep drive the entire process.  Now this isn’t a hall pass to hit the local donut shop every day, but you certainly don’t have to count every single calorie that goes into your month.  Food builds muscles. 

Measuring Progress

So instead of using the damn mirror or scale for feedback, you can watch the numbers on your lifts get heavier.  Let the barbell or dumbbell tell you that you are making progress.  It’s objective, simple, and very satisfying seeing your strength grow.   

Call today and I can help you train for function with 1-on-1 personal or online training. 310.251.7420

Image Credit: Molly Taylor

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