Shortcuts don't cut it...

There's a trend I've noticed that is fairly predominant among human beings: We want to make things easier. It makes sense, right? Biologically speaking, easier is smarter. Why expend extra time or energy that you don't need to? If we are speaking in a strictly survival sense this is totally logical. In business, time is money and effort is resources used that cut into your profit margin. Simple.

What about fitness? To a point, efficiency is good. Interval cardio takes less time and works better for fat loss. Using multi-joint exercises trains numerous muscle groups at once and makes the body stronger and improves workout benefits. 

But there's a hitch. 

These things aren't EASIER. They're more efficient, they're more beneficial, but they require EFFORT. There's no workaround to a heavy squat to full depth. There's no shortcut to lifting a loaded barbell off the floor. Plain and simple, these things require one to put in hard work. That's why they're useful. In order to force the human body into adaptation, we need to put it under physical strain. It just will not respond to wishful thinking and doing easy things just to say you worked out. You can tell your friends and neighbors you workout even if you just piddle around with tiny dumbbells and refuse to break a sweat. Really, I don't care if you want to fool them. But you can't just throw on a cute Nike outfit and tell your body that it should respond because you entered the gym. To get results, you have to push yourself outside your comfort zone. You have to sweat. You will be uncomfortable, sore, and probably smell worse than you look at the end of a brutal workout, but you'll get something out of it. That's why ChrisFit trainers push you - we know the human body, we know what makes results, and we know you're stronger than you'll ever believe. We also know you can be even stronger. 

This brings me to my real point. Why the heck do I get so many questions and see so many discussions of how to make things EASIER?! Why would you want to? Arnold Schwarzennegger used to spend hours each day in the gym, then more time at home trying to figure out how to make things more difficult so he could get better results. 

Take out monthly challenges, for instance. Questions upon questions, and countless discussions about how to make complete the challenge with as minimal an exertion as possible. For what? A tee shirt? We make these challenges to be just that CHALLENGING. To push you mentally and physically. To further your RESULTS. If I want a tee shirt, ill go to the mall. If I want physical adaptation, a mental focal point, and a badge of honor for completing a hard challenge, ill put in the work and do the challenge the right way. The hard way. There is no shortcut to success in fitness. No magic pill, no wonder drug, so super Dr. Oz magic supplement and no mystery diet and workout regimen that's only available after unlocking the 135th level of Candy Crush. It takes consistent hard work and dedication. Not legal loopholes to beat the system and cheat biology because Steve didn't hire Johnny Cochoran to write the fine print when he told you to flip a tire 600 times. You simply have to suck it up and do the work and eat clean. The sooner we realize this and stop spending triple the time questioning than it would take to actually do the challenge, we will be happier, more fit people.

Now go GET SHIT DONE.

Steve Decker