The Reasons You’re Not Getting Stronger

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Today I’d like to share a guest post I wrote for a really cool website….Greatist.com. As the name suggests, it’s a site dedicated to helping people become “great” by providing some of the best health and fitness information on the internet.  I was contacted by one of their higher ups a few weeks ago asking if I’d be interested in writing a little sumthin sumthin, and this is what I came up with. 

It was an absolute honor and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

NOTE:  I’d love to show the peeps at Greatist.com that my army of Gentilcorians is a loyal bunch.  Once you visit the site and read the actual article, please, please, please share it with your friends by clicking the “Share” button or re-Tweeting it.  I’ll love you, like forever if you do.

If I had to make a list of things that really annoy me, it would be as follows:

1. “Twilight.”
2. People who don’t turn right on red.
3. People who don’t prioritize getting stronger.

As a strength coach this last one is what really gets me irritated, and for good reason. To be blunt: Strength is kind of a big deal. It’s what allows us to pick up that bag of groceries off the floor without blowing our back out; it’s what keeps us from getting injured on the playing field (whether a professional athlete or weekend warrior); and it’s undoubtedly the foundation behind many of the “qualities” we’re chasing in the weight room (be it speed, agility, power, or just looking good with our clothes off).

Unfortunately for some, despite knowing better, and despite their best efforts, they’re just not getting stronger. No matter what routine they follow or how many days per week they hit the iron, they’re just not getting any results — frustrated they’re still using the same weight now as they were weeks (if not months) prior.

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Comments for This Entry

  • Lewis_toh

    Great article Tony! Reminded me of something Pavel wrote call the "3 to 5 Method". Pick 3-5 exercises, do 3-5 sets of 3-5reps, rest 3-5mins every 3-5 days. :)

    April 24, 2012 at 9:52 am | Reply to this comment

    • TonyGentilcore

      Love it. Keep it simple. It's mind-numbing to me how most trainees make things more complicated than they have to be.

      April 24, 2012 at 1:15 pm | Reply to this comment

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  • Barath

    Nice article Tony! Oh, I hope you'd write about the military press some time. I am not a fan of benching, and that seems to get all the press (forgive the pun!). I've recently gotten hooked to standing military presses and they're all kinds of awesome (even with the sissy weights I manage!).

    April 24, 2012 at 10:32 am | Reply to this comment

    • TonyGentilcore

      Maybe sometime. For me, people have to earn the right to overhead press. It's not that I have anything against it........it's just that most people - due to our current lifestyle sitting in front of a computer all day - have horrible posture, and it "could" make overhead pressing problematic.

      April 24, 2012 at 1:17 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Mike A.

    what a glorious day, tony! TG articles as far as the eye can see!

    April 24, 2012 at 11:06 am | Reply to this comment

  • Anthony J. Yeung

    Tony, you had me at, "Twilight." I recently chatted with a friend frustrated at his progress. "Well, what exercises are you doing at the gym?" I asked. He listed 22 different exercises for the upper-body alone; I didn't bother asking about the lower body. "Wow," I said, "you only need like six. One knee-dominant, one hip dominant, one unilateral, one pull, one push, and one pulldown pattern." I didn't bother sending him a bill, haha.

    April 24, 2012 at 8:23 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Stone

    Great article tony, people and fellow trainers and strength coaches forget to stick to the basics. Its really that simple. 2012 is your year man keep up the great work, hope to see you in edmonton and Toronto.

    April 24, 2012 at 8:28 pm | Reply to this comment

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