by Chris Longley
Trust me, I get it. You want to be bigger, faster, stronger, BETTER than you were yesterday.
Whatever your opinion of CrossFit (and if you haven’t actually tried it, your opinion is invalid), you’re going to be looking for an edge in training. All the points below are equally relevant whether you’re into powerlifting, bodybuilding or Olympic Weightlifting. In fact, if you go to a gym or play a sport, these tips will help.
I’ve worked out with weights since I was 12 years old in the mid-90s, but I first found proper strength and conditioning training and CrossFit in 2003, so I’ve had plenty of time to try out most of the things out there that promise improvement. The problem is….
Most of them DO NOT WORK!
I know, I’m as shocked and disappointed as you are, but over the years I’ve learned that the basics are what matter and until you’ve got those covered you don’t need anything else. That’s because the basics simply have the biggest impact. Sorting basics like your nutrition and mobility will yield a massive improvement, whereas adding something like buying the latest training shoe technology may only yield a 1-2% improvement over a long time period if you’re lucky. That small improvement may be important if you’re at the top of your game, but if the basics aren’t there first you won’t even notice the difference from wearing the “magic” shoes. Get the idea?
So without further ado, here’s 7 things (in no particular order) that have improved my performance, recovery, health and life in fitness over the last 10 years.
