A couple of years ago now I watched a movie called “Westside v. The World” about the world-famous Westside Powerlifting Club/Team headed by super coach Louie Simmons.
One of the things that caught my attention was the lifters’ relentless strength dedication to their lifting above all else and even to the DETRIMENT of all else.
I could totally relate because - and I’m not proud of this - for the first 10 years or so of my marriage, my lifting took priority.
To the point where my wife and I only ate dinner together on the weekends.
Weekdays I was working, then training, and I’d get home between 9 and 10pm at night after being at work since 630am or 7.
When we had our first child back in 2011, that all changed.
My training was mostly sandwiched AROUND my family life.
But every so often, and I don’t know if this has ever happened to you -
I find my mind drifting back into “obsession mode”...
Where I start dreaming about “maximal” - how things could be if only…
And if I stay there, my training sessions start taking a little longer than they should…
Finding the edges and testing my own personal boundaries.
Back to the documentary…
At one point in this movie, they’re interviewing a guy who’s long since left Westside and he’s reliving his glory days -
The lifts he made…
The camaraderie…
His competitions…
But then his mood darkens, his smile drops, and tears start to fill his eyes.
He talks about how his son was a great swimmer but…
He never made it to any of his son's meets.
Not one.
Not even his son's senior year when he competed in the State Championships.
And that’s because "Saturday was bench press day”. (I’m paraphrasing.)
And that punched me in the gut.
Because I recognized that tendency in myself.
So you know what I did?
I turned off the TV and had a “come to Jesus” moment.
I vowed - and admittedly, for an “ex-jock,” this is hard to maintain -
Only to train in such a way to add energy and value to my family, and not to detract from our relationships.
As such, I usually train when the kids are at their sports practices or playing with their friends.
And I’ve switched from “Captain Hardcore” mode to only using exercises and training programs which GIVE ME ENERGY.
Do I still train to be strong?
Absolutely.
Do I still train to remain lean?
Of course.
And do I still train hard?
For sure - when appropriate.
But most of all, I train to remain CAPABLE.
So, as a result I -
1. Train hard 3 to 5 days a week (always a minimum of 3).
(Yesterday: Double KB C+P 5x2 w/4RM followed by Chins (2,4,6)x2. Done in 25 minutes.)
2. Prioritize my weaknesses when and if necessary.
(Currently Chin Ups, so pushing these in "wave like" fashion. Average of 300 per week.)
3. Always do some sort of restoration work to make sure I keep the aches and pains away and move fluidly like I did before I accumulated all my injuries from sports (wrestling and Olympic lifting).
(10 minutes this morning before getting going.)
This mindset, this philosophy empowers me to be fully present with my kids.
For example, I’m traveling with my son this week.
And we’re building positive, fun memories together.
This afternoon, when he gets out of his lab, we’re going to the hotel gym to do Chin Ups together, then hit the pool, then grab dinner.
So look, if your workouts / training programs demand more energy than they give, and take more time than they should…
I suggest you’re serving them, instead of them serving you.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be estranged from my kids when they’re older because my dreams of glory were more important than them.
If you need to “change things up” -
To align your workouts with your priorities, here are 3 ways you can do that:
1. Train for Power and Maximum Strength intelligently and your “conditioning” will take care of itself.
2. If you’re banged up, need to fix some things, and are tired of “aching” all the time, slow it down and spend some time fixing yourself.
3. If you’re healthy, but have limited time to train but still want to “push” yourself, use challenging time-efficient workout structures like complexes and chains.
Stay Strong,
Geoff Neupert.