When I was a but a youth, I tried out every weightlifting program imaginable. I was so passionate about training that, every time I read something new, I had to partake immediately; I was jack of all trades, master of none. It was a catch-22: I was garnering a large toolbox of training techniques, but it was dependent on not seeing the maximum results of my efforts because my endeavors were spread so thin.
Eventually, I wised up, learned to create and follow an optimal training program, and flourished. My clientele went through the same process. When I first started training, I would give clients brand new workouts every training session! I thought this was required of me to keep their interest. This led, and will forever lead, to subpar results. How are you supposed to get better at something if you don’t practice? Eventually, either I became more confident in providing an optimal service, my clientele started shaping up into more serious, results-demanding individuals, or maybe a mix of both, but it began the process by which we currently train at Fit House. We follow a program, we master the program, and we progress to the next level; kaizen—continuously improving.
This thought was sparked by this week’s question from a reader in Des Moines, Iowa. Little Timmy Peters asks, “Why do you have all of your clients participate in the chin-up progression?”
Well, little Timmy, let me share some chin-up observations I made this week on a blustery Thursday night, in my little corner of Buffalo, chilled to the point that the tips of my nipples protruded through my fleece like the extraterrestrial being clawing his way out of the astronauts stomach in the iconic scene from Alien:
1. Christina, who is not even halfway through her chin-up progression, just randomly blurted, “I think I can do a chin-up.” She proceeded to do an official, clavicle to the bar, chin-up.
2. Tammy, who is currently working on eccentrics with a 25# plate chained around her waist, followed that up by doing a chin-up on her own, with the weight in tow, instead of waiting for assistance to begin her descent from the top.
3. Heather, who could scantly manage two to three chin-ups at this time last year, just completed her 25# progression and is on deck to be pushing some serious numbers this summer.
4. Colleen, who last year looked like the idea of graduating from chin-up phase one was an impossibility, not only finished the entire first progression but is halfway through the new progression and will be doing multiple chin-ups, with weight attached, by this summer.
5. Lois, who dropped like a sack of potatoes on her first effort, just graduated phase one and will no doubt be doing a chin-up by the end of the year.
6. Pam is moving up in weight every time I blink!
7. I don’t want to leave anyone out but it is sincerely an effort in futility to try to keep listing every achievement: Andrew completed the entire progression and makes it look easy; Diane and Denise have been running down the assisted machine like a non-stop locomotive and don’t look to be stopping anytime soon; Stacy is trading out her weight belt to move to the next level, and not to ever let anything go to waste, Patty is grabbing that weight belt and adding weight to hers; Callie is almost finished with the entire progression; Navette will have advanced to weighted chin-ups before the weather turns, and not to be outdone, Sue is on the cusp of an official chin-up—I really can’t continue, I think of ten more people every time I try to stop.
When I watched Christina and Tammy rock out their chin-ups on Thursday, they looked strong and accomplished. That’s when it hit me, I have the greatest clientele in the world. The people I train seek mastery. They need to see the tangible results of their efforts. Sticking with the chin-up example, I don’t have anyone who signed up for training because his or her goal was to do a chin-up. I do have a lot of people whose goals are to be leaner, healthier, stronger, toned, and more functional.
Take you as of today and compare it to the you who can do a chin-up. What is the you who can do a chin-up going to look like? What’s your back going to look like? Your arms? Your abdominals? Your fitness level? Your bodyfat percentage? Your overall health? Duh! You’re going to be a Rockstar!
This doesn’t apply to just a chin-up; it applies to everything we do at Fit House. We don’t just say we want results; we do what it takes to get results. We’re always progressing, always moving forward, and always seeking mastery.
Little Timmy, from Des Moines, as evidenced by Fit House clients progress, if you want to Cedar Rapid results, I suggest you apply yourself to an optimal program, and with consistency and hard work, you’ll reap the benefits of your purSiouxt.
Ask your fitness related questions by either commenting or messaging on Facebook, emailing chris@myfithouse.com, or by pony express, like little Timmy Peters. Get your questions in soon; since opening this column, we’ve been flooded with inquiries from around the globe.
About the author
Chris Rombola
Chris is the owner of Fit House. He's run the training departments at several commercial gyms, and after years of seeing how awful those environments were for his clients, he opened his own studio. He is devoted to getting people strong, lean, and healthy.
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