Slow Down

I can’t tell you how many times I hear this during the week.

A client finishes a hard set, they’re breathing heavy, and before I can even say anything…

“What’s next?”

I usually laugh.

“Nothing.”

They look at me like I’m crazy.

“No, seriously,” I tell them. “Let’s let your breathing calm down for a second.”

Then we talk.

How’d that feel?

Did you feel it where we wanted?

Did that weight feel right?

Should we go heavier?

Should we back it off?

Should we change the exercise completely?

See, here’s what I’ve noticed over the years.

A lot of people think because they’re paying for an hour, they have to be working for the entire hour.

I don’t see it that way.

In fact, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say,

“Pat, I kept putting off calling you because I thought you were going to kick my ass.”

Or…

“I wanted to get in shape before I hired a trainer.”

I always laugh a little because that’s never really been my approach.

Now, if that’s what you want, we can absolutely do that. I’ve had a handful of clients over the years who wanted me to play drill sergeant for an hour, and I was happy to.

But for most people, that’s not the job.

You’re not paying me to kick your ass.

You’re paying me to help you get better.

Sometimes that means pushing harder.

Sometimes it means slowing down.

Sometimes it means changing the exercise.

Sometimes it means sitting on a bench for a minute while we talk through what just happened.

That’s coaching.

Anybody can make someone tired for an hour.

Not everybody can make someone better.

The clients who make the best progress usually aren’t the ones trying to race through every workout.

They’re the ones who pay attention.

They ask questions.

They think about what they just felt.

They give themselves a chance to learn.

Some of the best conversations I have with clients happen while we’re resting between sets. That’s where we figure out why something doesn’t feel right. That’s where technique improves. That’s where we decide to change the plan because your body is telling us something different that day.

The workout doesn’t stop just because the weights aren’t moving.

Sometimes that’s where the coaching actually begins.

This Month’s Takeaway

The next time you finish a hard set, don’t immediately ask,

“What’s next?”

Take one breath.

Think about the set you just finished.

What felt good?

What didn’t?

What would you change?

Sometimes the fastest way to make progress…

…is to slow down.

---

Thanks for taking a few minutes out of your day to read.

We’ll see you in the next one.

Pat “Coach Loz” Lozzi

Coach Loz Fitness

P.S. If there’s a topic you’d like me to cover in a future issue, just hit reply. I read every email.