4 Reasons Why Your Workout Results Suck
By Sandy Sommer RKC on in Featured Articles
I want to share some thoughts with you on why you aren’t getting the results you want from your workouts.
- First of all your diet is terrible. I estimate that 80% of your body composition is based on how you fuel yourself. As Dave Whitley, Sr. RKC says, “you can’t outsnatch a donut.” I don’t care how much you workout and or how intense your sessions are, you simply won’t get results if you don’t pay attention to how you eat. Sourcing your food is vital. I eat as much local food stuff as I can. I eat grass fed meats, take raw dairy,pastured pig and fowl, belong to a CSA….Do yourself a favor and use http://www.localharvest.org and the read the Primal Blueprint. You will be shocked at what happens. Eat real food. Forget Shakeology and all of that other nonsense. The only thing that Man makes that I take is a Post Workout Smart Bomb. I use one other supplement and that is Cod Liver Oil.
- You don’t really have a workout plan in place. If you use my daily workouts as your program, then you don’t have one. Those workouts are designed as “variety” days off of your regularly scheduled workouts. They are meant to supplement and be fun. In no way are they customized to your goals. Do you know how to determine your training loads to maximize your personal results? Are you using only kettlebells? Are you using just bodyweight work? Just powerlifting? If you answer “yes” then you are doing yourself a disservice. Use all of the above and periodize your work. I spend about 20 minutes a day working out. That’s it. But it is focused, intense and planned.
- You also probably jump from program to program. Look, there is no Holy Grail. If you want to get stronger, then you have to stick with one program. Maybe it’s Enter The Kettlebell. Or Power To The People. Or a hybridization of those two. Finish what you start and move on to something else. If you can’t finish, then you can’t succeed. Stop getting seduced by the new “shiny object.”If you are seeking to be entertained by your workout then you will never get anywhere. Trainers who are always mixing it up for their clients aren’t doing their clients justice. Do few things well and it’s amazing what happens.
- You are overtraining or training without skill. Focus on quality and not quantity. What difference does it make how may sets and reps you do, if you are doing them incorrectly? I love it when I read that someone just did 300 swings in a row. C’mon. Make sure you get proper rest and recovery. As Pavel has said time and time again, any moron can design a workout to make someone tired. The question really is “How is the workout impacting your goals?” Again, a near death experience isn’t really what it’s all about. If you jump all over the place, how do you know if you are getting stronger?
If you want to feel better, look better, get stronger and be leaner than you may decide that using sense will be of benefit. Thoughts? Please leave your comments.
Train with purpose,
Sandy Sommer RKC
17 Comment(s)
By DeansDesk on Feb 10, 2010 | Reply
Outstanding post. Diet is so key and for many of us, much harder than working out. “If you are seeking to be entertained by your workout then you will never get anywhere.” – that’s a great line. I do spin, Kettle and weight training to the tune of 6-7 hours a week and have seen excellent progress but fight injuries and stagnation. Your 20 minutes hard a day sounds great!
By Sandy Sommer RKC on Feb 10, 2010 | Reply
Dear Dean,
I can’t train that much! I’m too old at 48 to recover well. But I am stronger, fitter and move better than I did when I was a 20 year old NCAA football player. OK well I’m not as fast LOL
Train with purpose,
Sandy Sommer RKC
By DeansDesk on Feb 10, 2010 | Reply
I’m 49 so I hear ya. Just put Primal Blueprint on my Kindle and bookmarked localharvest.org so I’m willing to consider a different path. Thanks.
By DeansDesk on Feb 10, 2010 | Reply
Quick question: With Kettle classes that run an hour and Spin classes that run 50 minutes how does one do the 20 minutes a day intense training you suggest? Scrap the organized class structures? (Really enjoy them) Thanks again.
http://twitter.com/DeansDesk
By Sandy Sommer RKC on Feb 10, 2010 | Reply
Dean,
Please be careful following to the “t” anything advice I give out here for free LOL. I think after you review the Primal Blueprint you may have a good feel for where I am coming from. It works for me and it may or may not for you.
Train with purpose,
Sandy Sommer RkC
By Justin Matthews on Feb 11, 2010 | Reply
I have found that I can’t do nearly as many swings now that I am doing them right. I don’t know how anyone could do 300 in a row. BTW it is your video that got me doing them right and my quads thank you. My hamstrings not so much. but I can feel the power of the hip snap. You are a great resource, I have been doing the ETK program minimum and throw in your workouts once a week or so. Thanks for all of the info!
Justin
By Sandy Sommer RKC on Feb 11, 2010 | Reply
Dear Justin,
Glad that you are getting something out of my blog:)I really do appreciate the feedback and please let me know if there is anymore I can do for you.
Train with purpose,
Sandy Sommer RKC
By Yusuf Clack on Feb 12, 2010 | Reply
Thanks for this Sandy! Just quoted you on our GutCheck Training facebook page. The point you made about entertainment really hits home. Kettlebells are entertaining at first but a certain point you need to decide what you’re after, novelty or results, and then put in the requisite pain.
By Sandy Sommer RKC on Feb 12, 2010 | Reply
You got that right Yusuf. And that is true no matter what implement(s) you use. I happen to use barbells and bodyweight as well.
Train with purpose,
Sandy Sommer RKC
By melissa on Feb 12, 2010 | Reply
I purchased the primal blueprint this morning. Can’t wait to read it and see what this is all about. I’m currently reading Enter the kettlebell. I workout with kettlebells, dumbells from time to time, take hot yoga and love to hate the concept 2 rower.
By Sandy Sommer RKC on Feb 12, 2010 | Reply
Melissa,
Sounds like you are on the right path. Good luck!
Train with purpose,
Sandy Sommer RKC
By Faizal Enu on Feb 12, 2010 | Reply
We are pretty much on the same page. My workouts are longer, but I am really looking to drive up the work capacity.
When I see people say they have done 300 swings in a a row. I say who cares. The swing is an open exercise. No set beginning or end. You can do a thigh high or a chest high swing and it is all the same. How many snatches can you do in row? You can’t cheat that. Most marathon swing sessions I see are “prison” swings with no real hip drive.
The most swings I have ever done in a row, 40. One minute. Most snatches I have done in a row without putting the bell down. 232. Ten minutes.
Also, I do a number of distance training session, the training is to achieve a goal. I put in everything you need and nothing you don’t. Most trainers don’t have the confidence or restraint to simplify their clients workout.
Sample workout. 315lb deadlifts in 30 minutes. Both clients that I gave this too told me how much they learned from it.
By Sandy Sommer RKC on Feb 12, 2010 | Reply
Dear Faizal,
Great thoughts and thanks for sharing! I love how you think. More of us need to use the principles from Occam’s Razor to assist our clients.
Train with purpose,
Sandy Sommer RKC
By Mike Eves on Feb 17, 2010 | Reply
Hi Sandy:
Great post and some good advise all told. I can never understand why many people spend over 2 hours ‘working out’ in a gym. Too much chatting and looking at video screens methinks.
Thanks again
Mike
By Sandy Sommer RKC on Feb 18, 2010 | Reply
Mike,
I think 90% of most workouts waste time and don’t help people get the results they are looking for. Just my opinion.
Train with purpose,
Sandy Sommer RKC
By Dale on Feb 18, 2010 | Reply
Sandy,
I agree that people just go through the motions with no goals or plan in place.
Dale
By Sandy Sommer RKC on Feb 18, 2010 | Reply
It sure seems so doesn’t it, Dale?