Technique ➡ Consistency ➡ Intensity Explained
The above path is the recipe for sustainable fitness success.
First we must improve and work towards excellence in our movement technique. This is one of many reasons why we start all new members at Fit2Live with our foundations program.
Once we have a baseline level of safe technique then we need to become consistent through practice with said technique.
Consistency is what Fit2Live is all about. Consistently safe movement AND consistency with showing up each day, week and month. We take this to heart so much that we reward our members for consistency with our committed club and milestone program!
The last component of fitness, and we do mean last (not first) is reaching relative high intensity. Intensity is the secret sauce in forcing our body to change, adapt and grow stronger. It’s the megic in getting 1% better from yesterday.
Relative intensity DOES NOT mean crushing yourself in a workout to the point of injury or not being able to show up again tomorrow. It certainly doesn’t mean trying to keep up with another member in class who is half your age or who has been working on their fitness for a decade.
Leave your ego at the door, listen to your body, scale appropriately and follow the charter of:
Technique –> Consistency –> THEN RELATIVE INTENSITY.
Let’s take an even deeper dive into the nuances of technique, consistency and intensity.
Technique
Your first goal is to learn and improve on the technique of each movement before increasing in weight or doing more complex movements. Our coaches will let you know when it is time to increase your weights.
Start out slow, check your ego at the door, and be accountable for your body and your health.
Listen to your Coaches! Your safety is our primary concern so if we feel that you are not doing something correctly or safely, we will scale it down for you. Again, please keep your ego out of the room and listen to your coach, we are here to make you better each and every day!
If you are having trouble with a certain movement our coaches are always available to help. This would be a good opportunity to complete 1-on-1 personal training to help you achieve specific goals or to help you improve with certain movements that need more dedication.
Consistency
Your goal in the first month and beyond is to keep coming back and staying consistent with your attendance and your movement. Don’t kill yourself in one workout only to be too sore to come back for a month. Go easy in the beginning. Build a consistent schedule for yourself to come to the gym. Come to class at least 3 times a week, make that a priority above all else. Also be consistent with your technique and movement within the gym, don’t be afraid to scale to preserve quality movement, scaling is a necessity in most situations/workouts.
Don’t worry about your time/score. Your goal when doing the workouts in the beginning is to first perform all the movements correctly and safely. Take the time to learn all the movements correctly before attempting to use heavier weights in the workout. Once you have mastered all the movements, your next goal is to RX each workout. RX means doing the WOD as prescribed without modifying/scaling it. Once again, scaling is a good thing, you don’t always have to RX the workout.
Intensity
A key component of achieving high levels of health and fitness is reaching a relative intensity each day. This does not mean maximal intensity nor sacrificing technique and quality movement. Instead, it means you push yourself as hard as you can for that day, getting a little outside of your comfort zone. Do this consistently and you will achieve high levels of health and fitness safely.
Don’t sacrifice range of motion! Always use full range of motion and strive to do the correct form for every movement, you’ll be better and more safe because of it.
Work hard consistently and remember that you are here for your fitness and no one else’s. Do the things that you need to get better each and every day.
NEXT UP: THE SCALING MINDSET
