Don't Fear Strength!

I've recently noticed that many of my training clients have underestimated themselves when selecting weight for strength exercises in our sessions. I'll demonstrate which exercises we are going to perform, how long they will be expected to perform the exercise, and that the purpose of the series is "strength development", and yet still they choose weight that falls outside of the 8-12 rep range for the time given.

When I suspect this happening, I always ask the person how many reps they performed in that period of time. Sometimes I get answers like 16 or even 20 and I tell the person that they are selling themselves short. Clearly they are capable of pushing more weight as the focus of the movement is strength development, not endurance training.

What people sometimes forget is that strength is the base for all movement, whether routine or athletic in nature. If I don't have lower body strength, then how can I bend down and pick up my dog or hurdle past a defender trying to tackle the soccer ball from me? Strength (and flexibility!) allows me to move my muscles and bones through required ranges of motion for any activity you can think of.

In an athletic situation, if I don't have strength, then I don't have power, speed, or agility. I can't throw the football or kick the soccer ball if I don't have the strength to move the implement (arm or leg) trying to act on the ball. Once I am strong enough, then I can produce force and develop power. The more powerful I move my body, the faster I can become. So, in the end, strength is the foundation of the house of YOUR BODY and it is essential to your well-being, whether it is as a regular joe, or a stand out athlete.