What is Your Goal?

What is Your Goal?

Often times when we talk about our training we know that there is multiple ways to get to your goal.  However, we often are trying to figure out the most efficient way to produce results.  We want to figure out the least amount of time to produce the most gains without creating injuries.  With all the methods that can be trained, at times we attempt to try and get better at everything at once.  We choose multiple specific goals because we want to be “more fit” which is a noble goal.  But the hardest thing about trying to multitask is that you cannot become better at what you need to work on the most.  This is why setting a goal and gearing your training around that specific goal is so important. 

                When you set a goal for a specific result and your training revolves around these specific goals you can make much greater leaps in progress in areas of weakness.  There are a couple different schools of thought on how to train your weaknesses.  This can be done by attacking them with a great deal of volume or hypertrophy type sets to make them grow.  This can also be done with certain emphasis on eccentrics and static holds that can benefit certain weaknesses of lifts.  Another simple thing to do is to work on a skill every day in order to get better whether it is a gymnastics movement, or just simply your start on a snatch. 

                The most frustrating part about training for your goals and weaknesses is that often times these are the things that we suck at and therefore don’t want to do.  When you hit a static point in your training where the PR’s don’t come quite as often one thing I tell people is to attempt to focus on one or two skills that they can do as “Accessory Work” or homework assignments.  This does 2 things. 

1.        Gives them something to focus on as a weakness. 

2.       Teaches them to commit to virtuosity and the process as opposed to just new numbers and strength gains. 

Often times we overlook the process of training that is the daily grind, you must find those simple and consistent victories. We want things to happen so fast that when we don’t we lose all sense of purpose in our training.  With establishing goals and trying to conquer them one or two at a time we begin to commit to the process.  This doesn’t mean you should lose all focus of your strengths either.  This also means to stick to your programming, but just make minor adjustments so you can add in your skill work or adjust for a specific technique flaw in your training. Pick a weakness and add some accessory work with the help from your coach that targets that specifically.  Find a movement you are not good at and do an extra 100 repetitions per week or work on it for 30 minutes that week.  Sometimes you may be surprised as to what “weaknesses” may turn into strengths later on.   Remember, training is a journey, so enjoy the process and earn a win daily!