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I sometimes get asked what strength “program” I follow and my response often disappoints.
There are three ways to get stronger: (1) more weight, (2) more reps, and (3) better form. So, my strength program is simple. Workout out everyday and focus on making progress along one of these verticals.
If you apply this basic approach, you will get stronger.
But people don’t like this response. Because most of the time, when people ask about my strength “program” they’re looking for hacks - a “Get strong quick” playbook that will short-cut the process. But there is no magic bullet.
That's why I love exercise so much. It reminds you that - like most things in life - making progress is simple, but not easy. Getting stronger. Acquiring wealth. Gaining knowledge. The path to progress is often slow and boring.
I enjoyed hearing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s life reflections on this (link):
“Most of my lessons are learned in the gym because there’s no better place to learn… this is where the rubber hits the road… this is where if you don’t do the forced reps and if you don’t work until it burns and until it hurts and then you go beyond that and do the forced reps, you’re not going to grow.”
Lifting forces you to face reality. And this is important because dealing with reality is THE essential skill to achieving your goals.
Engaging with reality also helps you learn that many of the things you thought were important, don’t actually matter. For example, people are surprised to learn that I do little outside of intense exercise to stay in shape.
I don’t take pre-workout. I don’t take protein powder. I don’t track my macros. I don’t diet. I don’t have a personal trainer. I say this not because I think these things don't have value, but because a lot of people have their priorities backwards.
So many people obsess over the type of protein they take, or the lifting gear they use, or the technical terminology of their lifts - and they think focusing on these things will make them stronger. But most of the time, what they need is the basics.
Getting strong is simple but not easy: (1) more weight, (2) more reps, (3) better form.
Repeat.
