Training for Fat Loss v Health v StrengthLEVI MARKWARDT RKC·22. LISTOPAD 2015

The following was received in an email from Geoff Neupert. A really

smart and experienced guy in the world of strength. I read his stuff

frequently and its always worth a ponder. This piece is no different.

Hey - grab a piece of paper - a scrap will do - and a pen. I want you to

write down the answer to the following question:

What’s your #1 KB workout goal?

Are you training for fat loss? Health? Strength?

Now write that down on that scrap of paper. Got it? Good.

Now, here’s another question for you -

What if your training goal is actually limiting you? You know - holding

you back - and actually keeping you from the results you deserve?

I know, I know - sounds kinda weird - maybe even far-fetched. Bare

with me - I’ll explain…

Here’s the deal - When you’re training to lose fat or regain your

health, you’re actually training from a subconscious and emotional

deficit.

A what?? Here’s what I mean:

If you lost $100, what happens in your mind? Think about it for a

moment.

That’s right, if you’re like most normal people, your mind starts racing

to locate the last place you put or saw that $100, right? And when you

can’t find it, there’s a part of your subconscious that can literally

perseverate on it until you either find it or let it go.

Same thing with fat loss. Take a look at those words: FAT - LOSS. Or -

LOSE FAT.

“Losing” something has a negative connotation in your subconscious,

as we’ve already demonstrated with the $100 bill example. That’s why

upwards of 80% of people who try to lose weight fail. Your brain is not

wired to lose anything. You’re created for growth.

Same thing with health. If you’re training to regain something you

once had, you’re again starting from a position of loss. It’s like

fighting an opponent with one hand tied behind your back. You’re

already at a disadvantage.

Well then, what about training for strength? Isn’t that the same thing?

Nope. Here’s why:

We are designed to be strong and to get stronger. That’s what

happens the first 3 or so years of our lives - We go from absolute

helplessness - a newborn - to a state of quasi independence - being

able to walk, run, jump, etc.

And that process continues for the first 18-25 years of our lives as we

grow into fully functioning adults. In fact, babies even start out with

high percentages of body fat and shed it as they become toddlers and

pre-schoolers.

We’re not meant to be fat. Or sick. It’s the natural order of things.

And when you’re fat or sick or both (I’d argue that being fat IS being

sick, but we’ll save that for another time…), then you have lost your

strength.

And that’s why I always recommend training for strength your

priority.

1. It sets your mind up for success. It’s not at odds with your

subconscious.

2. It automatically invokes fat-burning by using your muscles to

their [hopefully] fullest extent.

3. It restores your health and your body and your mind to the

natural order of things - expansion. You’re designed to grow

stronger, NOT weaker.

So yes, you can train for fat loss. And you can train to regain your

health. However, the best way to do so is by training for strength.

What’s a realistic way of doing that?

1. Find your weaknesses. Eliminate them.

A bum shoulder is a weakness. It keeps you from being as strong in

your upper body as you could and should be. Fix it. Not doing so

keeps you from burning calories. And moving into pain creates

unnecessary inflammation, which, if left unchecked, will make you fat

and sick.

2. Cycle your workouts so you get stronger.

You can’t do the same program forever - your body adapts. So

intelligently change it up.

3. Make course corrections in your short-term goals.

One of the things we know for sure is that a bigger muscle has the

potential to be a stronger muscle. So training for muscular size can

work to your advantage. Another thing we know is that a leaner body

gets stronger faster due to the proper functioning of the body’s

hormones, like cortisol, insulin, and GH. So periodically training to

burn extra calories has the potential to make you stronger. Of course,

contrary to what the popular media and late night TV want you to

think, this is a process. It doesn’t happen overnight. You didn’t gain

30 pounds overnight. And you didn’t lose your health overnight. That

too was a process.

With some guidance, a kettlebell or two, and patience, you can

reverse your symptoms of weakness and regain the strength you were

meant to have.

Geoff

PS - Almost forgot - that piece of paper… If you wrote anything other

than “strength” or “get strong” on there - I want you to cross it out.

Then write above it - “STRONG.” Now look at that word. That’s what

you’re meant to be. STRONG. And how do you become strong? By

acknowledging and eliminating your weaknesses.