The gym is a tool, not the weapon.
I have a client who is a professional Trapeze artist. How often do you see that? Right now, he is deep into preparation for a show, which is a grueling day of swinging and catching.
This is a conversation we had after he uploaded his lifting videos to my coaching platform, CoachRX:
Him: I’m so used to squatting in lifts, I got spooked by my depth and backed the weight off a little for the next five sets. I am also definitely showing signs of show prep fatigue.
He was lifting barefoot today.
Me: The lifts do look good, so what I want you to do is not push the reps too hard for this week. If you feel a SLIGHT grind, stop. I don't care if you are short a rep or two.
Him: Ok, cool! I’m in show prep until the end of May. Lifting, though, is great during it! I just need to be realistic and save that performance energy.
Me: Yes, you do, err on the side of caution in the gym. The gym is a tool, not the weapon.
Him: That is quite a statement. I should think about that a lot more.
The gym is a tool, not the weapon.
I have said this before to clients, but what does it mean?
If you look at your time in the gym, it is a tool to help you achieve your goals. If your goal is to compete in lifting, the gym is the tool, while competition is the weapon.
In the case of this particular client, the weapon is the show he will be performing in, while the gym is the tool to help him.
Due to this, our programming is geared towards maintaining strength using a lower volume of work rather than pushing towards getting stronger. We must consider the demands of show prep in conjunction with his training outside of it.
I would be foolish to expect him to give equal energy to both while preparing for a demanding show.
The gym is a tool, not the weapon.
You are not a trapeze artist, and there is a good chance you don’t compete in lifting or bodybuilding.
What does this mean for you?
It’s as simple as this: the gym is here to enhance your life, not harm it.
Being fit and strong are noble and worthwhile goals, and I encourage every person to pursue them. However, these goals must be realistic when considering your life and expectations. Some of us can devote more time and energy to the gym and meal prep, while others have less time. Your time must be efficient, targeted, and aligned with your goals.
Perhaps for you, spending 90 minutes in the gym 4 to 5 days a week would detract from other priorities in your life; therefore, it is essential to find something you can commit to and sustain.
While some people can spend a couple of hours on a Sunday preparing their food for the week, it may be difficult for you to do so with the time you have. In that case, alternative methods must be considered to make your nutritional plan easier to prepare and follow.
The gym is a tool, not the weapon.
Now do you get it?
Using fitness to improve your life is the key.
