Super human strength is something that has always fascinated me. Heroic stories of fathers lifting cars off of their children after an accident. A man hiking is attacked by a mountain lion and kills it with his bare hands. The worlds strongest man competitions, tossing boulders and carrying yokes. Resisting lasagna or your favorite cheat meals. Just kidding. Incredible feats of strength that only a super human could produce.
Then there is the mental aspect that comes along with the physical challenge. People that survive out in the ocean for a hundred days, or run hundreds of miles like ultramarathoners. Those that survive deadly accidents, or experiences that should have killed them. The will of the human is a fascinating thing. So mighty and powerful, yet so weak at the same time.
This past week, I got to be a part of something really cool and monumental in two of my friends (clients) lives. They attempted to become a part of the 1,000 pound club. This is a coveted feat for fitness enthusiasts, and something most, including myself, will never achieve. This is the sum of your deadlift, squat, and bench press maxes. Man Vs 1,000 pounds of dead weight. Dangerous if done with poor technique. These are lifts that people spend years perfecting the form on.
The preparation for this consisted of training consistently over the last year, learning fundamentals, dialing in the nutrition to align with our goals, and day after day repetition of the same ole shit. But we got better, a little stronger, a little leaner, and a little meaner. In simpler words, sticking to a plan that I custom built for them.
When the time was right, when the skills were learned, and when I the coach felt it was safe, we attempted this challenge. Two different men, two different times, facing a physical feat in which they have never even came close to accomplishing. Whats even more bad ass, is these dudes aint young bucks. Mid to late 30's aged, and have certainly never been this level of strong or fit.
And they succeeded. Just like that, within a 30 minute window, a man defeated 1,000 pounds worth of barbell and plate weight. More importantly than the weight they lifted, is the fact that they are physically better than they have ever been before.
When most men are starting to have man boobs and protruding bellies, these men are reaching goals they never have accomplished before, reaching new pinnacles of strength and physicality. This really blows the lid off the ceiling as to what a human can accomplish. Imagine, rather than a linear decay of strength and fitness as we progress in age, the opposite happened. We got stronger and healthier than we've been in years past. And before long, you cant even recognize the savage staring back at you in the mirror.
You built this person, brick by brick, earned not given, off the muscle. Now thats something to be proud of. The best part of my work is watching people evolve. Your goal probably isn't to be able to lift 1,000 pounds of weight, and thats ok too. Positive growth happens on all sorts of playing fields. Celebrate your wins, and use them as fuel for your fire.
Remember, where motivation lacks, discipline will carry you through. Set some goals for yourself, be ok with being uncomfortable, and never settle for nothing less than the best version of you. Your personal excellence depends on it. You are the baddest mother trucker in the world.
Your forever workout partner,
Coach TJ
