On July 5th, the gym was unusually quiet. Most people were either recovering or taking advantage of sleeping in after the holiday weekend. My clients weren't.
One by one, they walked through the doors. They didn't have to be there. Nobody forced them to schedule a session, and nobody dragged them out of bed. They had already made the most important decision before they ever saw me.
They showed up.
The older I've gotten, the more I've realized that's actually the important part. Early in my career, I thought my job was to motivate people. These days, I don't really see it that way anymore.
When someone walks through those doors, they've already shown me discipline. They've already shown me commitment. They've trusted me with an hour of their day, and I don't take that lightly.
So here's the deal.
You bring the discipline to walk through the door. I'll bring the discipline to make that hour worth it.
I think that's the way it should be.
A few months ago, one of my clients, John, couldn't stand Turkish get-ups. If you've ever done one, you know they're a little awkward at first. They don't feel like a traditional strength exercise, and they definitely aren't glamorous.
But we stuck with them.
A few weeks ago, after finishing a set, John stood up, grabbed his water bottle, looked over at me and said,
"Man... I just love the way I feel after doing those."
I had to smile—not because he got really good at Turkish get-ups, but because he finally understood why we were doing them.
More recently, another member who plays hockey was picking my brain about Nordic curls after seeing them online.
"They look brutal," he said.
"They are," I told him. "They're also a great exercise."
But after learning more about how he moved, what bothered him, and what he was actually trying to accomplish, I told him I didn't think they were the right choice for him.
Not because Nordic curls are bad—they're not.
They just weren't the right tool for the job.
Here's where I'm going with this.
People ask me all the time,
"What's the best exercise?"
Truth is, I don't think there is one. I think there's a best exercise for you, and that's a completely different question.
What are you trying to do?
What bothers you?
What do you want to keep doing ten or twenty years from now?
That's where I start.
Sometimes the answer is a Turkish get-up.
Sometimes it's a carry.
Sometimes it's getting stronger.
Sometimes it's slowing things down and moving better before we ever think about adding more weight.
Everybody's answer is different, and honestly, that's one of the things I enjoy most about coaching. No two people who walk through my doors are the same, so why would I coach them the same?
We're not training for Turkish get-ups.
We're not training for Nordic curls.
We're training for life.
Train so you can keep playing hockey in your fifties.
Train so getting up off the floor feels natural instead of difficult.
Train so you can keep hiking, carrying groceries, traveling, and saying "yes" to the things that matter most.
The gym isn't life.
It's what helps us enjoy life a whole lot more.
This Month's Takeaway
The next time you're tempted to ask,
"What's the best exercise?"
Try asking a different question instead.
"What am I training for?"
Maybe it's hiking on vacation.
Maybe it's getting up off the floor without thinking about it.
Maybe it's playing hockey for another twenty years.
Maybe it's simply feeling better than you did yesterday.
Once you know what you're training for, choosing the right exercises becomes a whole lot easier.
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.
