Shut Up and Get Strong

December 15, 2015

About the Author: Eric Bach

High-Rep drop sets, density circuits, and complexes are all sexy training methods that help you crush training plateaus.

But there’s a problem: Most lifters aren’t strong enough to actually reach a plateau. Instead, they’re program hopping, weak, and minoring in the minutia.

I see it with clients all the time:

One week it’s density training circuits to get shredded. Two weeks later, they’re bulking with German Volume Training. These are all great programs when properly planned, but too much exercise and programming variety is hurting everyone’s gains, yours included.

The bottom line is just get strong, that’s nearly always my first focus with new online and in-person clients. Hit a double bodyweight deadlift. Bench press 1.5 times your weight for reps. Clean your bodyweight.

All of these physiological goals will go a lot further for building a lean, muscular, and strong body than every sexy training methods on the interwebz.

The basics are this:

Without a solid strength base, drop sets and crazy finishers are pointless. Stop majoring in the minor and get strong first to build muscle.

Building strength makes you more explosive. Strength builds a base for speed and power so you can develop athleticism.

Building strength allows you to build more muscle. Focusing on strength means you’ll be able to achieve greater metabolic stress and force muscles to grow.

Strength is important to losing fat. Working on strength preserves muscle and increases metabolic rate while in a caloric deficit.

I love variety. Some days I want pizza, and the other days I want ribs. All days I want steak and maybe some bourbon.
In training, I like to change it up, but I make sure the most important task is covered: improve strength. Sure, ~~bourbon and steak~~ drop sets, complexes, and sexy methods make an appearance, but they’re secondary to strength.

Improve performance and place a premium on strength development and you’ll reach any goal faster.

This article received a lot of positive feedback, with a big shout out from my good friend Dr. John Rusin, as he covered it on the Strength Doc Podcast for his article of the week while adding tons of incredible coaching insgiht.

Listen Here: