Kettlebell Training

Have you ever felt bored with your workouts? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, I’ve recently collected a bunch of emails from folks saying one of their biggest stumbling blocks with getting results is that their workouts are unengaging. Let’s explore 3 Strategies You Can Use to AVOID This Trap. [1] The Reframe: When I do a workout (or a “training session” as I typically call them), I’m never focused on being entertained. I’m ALWAYS zeroed in on my goal. That is - What is the goal of my training? What result do I want to achieve ? I’m not looking to be entertained. “Entertainment” is a completely separate category - a whole ‘nother box that gets checked. So, when I’m hoisting bells overhead, or squatting, or whatever… I’m ALWAYS thinking about the OUTCOME . Then, I’m focused on that process - Feel of each rep… Managing fatigue… Body position… And adjusting accordingly when necessary. Then I log my work in my training journal so I can see what I’ve completed and look back on my work so I can measure progress and setbacks - to see what was effective or not. So that makes the process simple . It’s kinda like following a recipe. No one ever becomes bored of following the recipe to bake chocolate chip cookies. They’re focused on the mouth-watering chocolatey gooey goodness they're about to enjoy. So, reframe - look at the reason you train - from another perspective. Think “OUTCOME” NOT Entertainment. From my coaching experience, this is THE MOST ESSENTIAL way to view your training and to avoid “being bored.” [2] Variation vs. Variety: Most people jump from workout to workout to “ keep things interesting” or “keep their bodies guessing ”... You know, “ mix it up.” Part of this is because of #1 - boredom. But the other part is a common myth - the mistaken belief that variety is necessary to create an adaptation. (Many times we can trace it back to P90X and “muscle confusion.”) That's actually far from reality . For example, legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen, started playing the piano at age 6. He then moved to the drums. Played a short stint on the bass. Then he finally moved on check here to the guitar. The result? Voted #1 in a Guitar World Magazine poll for "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" poll. Ranked #4 in Rolling Stone’s 2023 list of the "250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." And “Eruption,” my favorite guitar solo of all time and voted number 2 in Guitar World's readers poll of the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos". Eddie didn’t play the same song all the time. He played different chords and notes - mixed and matched - and made them his own. Likewise, you can still use the same 2, 3, or even 5 exercises, but change your: Load - heavier Sets - more or less Reps - fewer or more Rest periods - short, medium, long Training frequency - 2,3,4,5 even 6x a week This is called “variation”. [3] Specialized Variety: This is arguably one of my preferred approaches . Simply put, it’s using different versions of the same exercise. In his book, A System of Multi-Year Training In Weightlifting, World Champion Coach and lifter A.S. Medvedyev provides over 100 different exercise options for the Snatch, the Clean, and the Jerk. Examples: Power Snatch Power Snatch from above knee Power Snatch from below knee Power Snatch from hip Power Snatch from platforms Power Snatch without the hook grip Power Snatch on a box You get the idea . For your KB work, you can do the below : Clean Clean from a dead stop Clean from dead stop under the body Bottoms Up Clean Clean outside the legs Press Press with a pause at the sticking point Press with two pauses – sticking point and lockout Bottoms Up Press Push Press with drop to rack Push Press with slow negative Push Press with an active negative Again, you understand. Apply these three strategies to your KB workouts – ahem – sessions – and you’ll never have to worry about being uninterested again. Stay Strong, Geoff Neupert.