Training Day 090813

To the hills!

15 Hill Sprints, various distances, varied rest intervals
Don't be a sissy, hit them hard and make them no fun.

Mandy knows Big Back= Big Bench

Here is an email I recently received. Emails like this have become relatively common, which makes me happy. As I have stated in numerous posts, I hate to see people waste their time, energy, and money listening to individuals (most of whom are CrossFit affiliates or "certified" trainers, not a slam, but a simple statement of fact based on my experiences) who have no business giving away information on strength and conditioning, nutrition, fat loss, mass gain etc., let alone charging someone for it. Whether or not I ever train these people is irrelevant. What is important however is that they are realizing that they aren't making progress, and are at least in the beginning stages of doing something about it.

Hi,
I was wondering if you have time in the next few weeks if we can meet up? I go to (facility name removed). Paraphrase: I like the people and atmosphere where I go, but I am intrigued by your program. Let me know if this is something you are ok with or if you would rather not have someone doing 2 different things.
Today I went and I was out of there in a half hour after doing (Details mindless workout). I don't think I am doing as much as I am capable of and after (period of time spent training, more than half a year) months I still can't do a full plank push up or any kind of pull up without assistance.
I am stronger and I have seen results, there is no doubt about that - but I think you know what I mean.
My goal is to get stronger. I'm (lists stats)
Hope to hear from you soon,
Name Removed

My reply:
______ I would be happy to meet with you at any point and share advice or information.
I would like to say however that I do not work with individuals who train at any other facility or under the guidance of anyone else (Competitive athletes with position or skill coaches not included). My position on this matter has nothing to do with competition with businesses or anything along those lines. Quite frankly, (Name of facility) is not a competitor of mine, we are not in the same business. People come to me to get stronger, faster, bigger, leaner, or whatever the case may be in their unique situation. If I am to work with someone it is important that all of their efforts are synergistic in nature and congruent with their goals. My job is to facilitate results and in order for me to do that, the individual needs to not be receiving "guidance" from others whose mission is to entertain or provide an environment for people to get together and enjoy each others company and encouragement under the guise of providing some sort of "fitness" service that we cannot see demonstrated but are told is there.
I think that if you are happy doing what you are doing, then keep doing it. (Number greater than 6 removed) months is a terribly long time to "train" without being able to do a pull up, let alone a single pushup. This is what troubles me. You mentioned that your goal was to get stronger, and that you have gotten stronger. My question would be how much stronger could you have gotten if you still cannot do a pushup?
I am available most weekdays to meet up, and select weekend hours. Let me know if you would like to get together, I'm sure we can make it happen.
JP

"You learn more quickly under the guidance of experienced teachers. You waste a lot of time going down blind alleys if you have no one to lead you."
-W. Somerset Maugham

Interesting Fact: There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

Word of the Day: Lamia