No Excuses

I believe the key to any workout program-- strength training, powerlifting, or otherwise-- is consistency. It's showing up to the gym on the days you're supposed to be there, both physically and mentally. On the Stronglifts program, for example, it's hard to progress if your workout schedule goes from MWF to MW, next M. I understand that though. Life happens. You're working 12 hour days, and it's just too exhausting sometimes to drag yourself into the gym and get under the bar for heavy squats. Tomorrow will be better, for sure.

Personally, every single time I have put off a workout until "tomorrow" because I'm too sore, or too busy, or too tired, without fail, there is something even more important that comes up that next day. Then I'm faced with falling two days behind schedule. My point is, there will be days where you feel like crap, where you're sick, or you have to work 12 hours, but skipping the gym is not the answer to your problems. You will just feel guilty for not following through on a commitment you made to yourself.

Whenever the last thing I want to do is go to the gym, I think of two friends I have who I have never heard make a single excuse. Chris worked his way from squatting the bar to squatting 477.5 pounds in about 6 months. You better believe there were days he didn't want to go. The thought of squatting the following day often kept him up at night. But he never missed a workout. And that showed in his blazing ascension to a squat almost 2.5x his bodyweight.

My friend Levent did not run the Stronglifts program, but he has run various Olympic squat routines such as Smolov. A few years ago, after becoming overweight, he made the commitment to himself to get back in shape. He worked a full-time job, then his part time job with me, and then around midnight he would get around to working out. He worked out basically every night. He then became a CrossFit personal trainer (and a damn good one) and opened a gym in Columbus. He juggled all three commitments for a while, but I never once heard him complain or make an excuse.

Ben Rice, a powerlifter I do not personally know, but whose YouTube channel has over 21,000 subscribers, frequently mentions his other commitments in addition to powerlifting. What I am aware of includes college, videotaping/editing his videos, choir, personal training, and I'm sure a social life. He recently deadlifted 700 pounds twice, beltless. It doesn't sound like this guy makes a whole lot of excuses.

Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a speech to a college class a few years ago. After the speech, a student raised his hand and complained, "Governor, my tuition has been going up, and I can't afford it anymore. I need more assistance. Now I have to work a part-time job and I also need to study."

Arnold replied, "Well how many hours do you go to class?"

"I've got 2 hours one day, and 3 hours another day. And I have to study 3 hours minimum each day."

"OK, so that's.. 6 hours one day and 7 hours the other day, counting your commute and all that. What do you do with the rest of your day?" Arnold inquired.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the day is 24 hours. Have you ever thought about working more? Or maybe since you have so many more hours available, maybe taking more classes, rather than wasting your life away and complaining?"

"I'm not wasting my life away!"

"Yes you are. The day is 24 hours long. Maybe you need 6 hours for sleeping. That's 12 hours left. You still have time for dating, dancing, drinking, and all kinds of things! Why are you complaining?!"

Arnold then explained that during his quest to win Mr. Olympia, he trained five hours a day. He took acting classes in the evening for almost four hours a day. He worked in construction several hours a day. He took college classes at Santa Monica Community College, too.

If something is important to you, you'll find a way to make it work. Nothing great is accomplished without first overcoming great obstacles. Stay positive and work off your frustration in the gym.