Mental Toughness

Mental toughness is as important as physical toughness. I was inspired by the story of Shun Fujimoto. He is what mental toughness is all about.

The Beast from the East

Pictured below is a guy I sometimes train with.



I am highly selective in who I train with as your training partner will have a major effect on your workouts. He hails from PA. He is a beast. The man pushes himself like no other.

As you can see in the pictures, we love not only to lift iron, but we incorporate blast straps (Elite FTS) and calisthenics.





The picture of him doing push ups was shot after he did reps with an 80 lb, 40 lb, and 25 lb sandbag on his back. It was a great finisher to a great workout.

If you have a training partner and he/she isn't pushing you, or if you aren't inspired by your partner to push youself to levels, get rid of your partner and find a new one. Maybe you'll get lucky and find another "beast" to work out with.

To Get Strong

I used to lift at a local gym. I became friends with a few members. After lifting at the gym for a couple of years, I realized the typical gym wasn't for me. While there were a few hardcore lifters (aka, my friends), most were your typical hop on a treadmill for thirty minutes while watching some lame talk show or reading the latest People magazine. I think most people at the gym were there to socialize, and not to become stronger and healthier.

I heard from others that there are gyms that don't allow members to deadlift out of few of injury. I didn't believe them until I saw pictures. CRAZY!!



Many gyms now have more machines than free weights, and plenty of mirrors for one to admire their accomplishments. Gyms are filled with tanning beds, juice bars, and sappy music. Juice anyone? This isn't for me.

I left the gym. I turned half of my garage into a gym. Now, I have a place where I can drop the weights, listen to load music, yell after I hit a new max, and get serious about becoming stronger.

If you want to become stronger, you need to lift in an environment that promotes strength. You need to lift in a gym where you can yell, throw weights around and even deadlift.

If you cannot find a place like this, create one. I've only spent around $1,000.00 on my gym and I have everything I need. If you want to be strong, think strong, act strong, and don't be afraid to test your limits.

Still Sick

I'm still sick. My workouts have continued to suffer. When I miss a workout, or I have a bad workout, it puts me in a bad mood. I like iron. I like to lift weights. I enjoy pushing myself. Hopefully, my health will be restored soon.

I worked out my lower body last night.

1A) Zercher Squats -- 4 x 8
1B) Heavy Lunges -- 4 x 10

2A) Crunches -- 2 x failure
2B) Leg Raises

It felt good to hit it hard. I am going to max out as soon as I fell better.

Tonight, upper body.