On a daily basis I have the privilege of working in fitness. Either through coaching or making and selling supplements, my life's work is helping people reach their goals. I started with a broomstick in my hands learning the five main lifts at two years old (no bullshit, there are pictures). Though my parents didn't let me use weights until the age of 13, I have spent a lifetime learning fitness. Through this series of blog posts (I'm not sure how many I will do), I want to share some of those lessons I have learned along the way. Lessons that only come from decades of trying and failing.
Some of you reading this blog may not agree with everything I am going to write. Some of you may think you know more than I do or have a more modern education of fitness than I do. Perhaps you do, and if that's the case, I applaud you but I also implore you to remember one thing, you can learn something from everyone. Luckily for you and me, the human body hasn't changed much in the past 35 years. That means from a body function standpoint, it still works the same. People, and many "new age" trainers spend hours upon hours attempting to reinvent the wheel when it comes to fitness, building muscle and burning fat. Here's a great way to look at this very confusing world, the body still works the same way as it did 35 years ago when I started.
Let me simplify it for you: to build muscle you must mimic the function of the muscle while adding resistance. For example, the human body has a bicep to bring your fingers to your shoulder, that is its main purpose. (holy shit its a bicep curl!) Want to build your biceps? Bring your fingers to your shoulder while holding a weight. MAGIC.
Now I'm not trying to take away any of the science of fitness because I am a huge proponent of research and learning, but, Lesson 1, don't overthink it. You will read trainer after trainer, website after website and moron after moron attempt to convince you that they know the most by using big words and touting "science" as their proof. Don't get lost in the bullshit by making it more complicated than it has to be.
If you're a beginner or a veteran of fitness you MUST keep in mind Lesson 1 - Don't overthink it.