There is strong enough.
A lot of unnecessary mental anguish is spent by those who compare their gym numbers to others, be it the freaks they see online, or in comparison to world class competition.
I’ve worked off and on as a mover.
If the labor world has taught me anything it’s that gym numbers don’t mean shit.
I’ve seen a scrawny alcoholic support his half of a dresser overhead. Me, with my ~225lb military press, dumbfounded that his end didn’t drop as my end was rough to support.
I have countless examples of junkies who are strong as fuck.
It’s amazing what no mental blocks can allow for.
There isn’t enough visible muscle on a lot of them to pull some of the shit off according to gym development standards, and yet the work gets done.
(Hips. The answer is hips. No gym goer uses them to high animalistic efficiency. Bone alignment too.)
I’ve come to not care an iota over my barbell numbers.
For everyday life, even my supposedly hard labor job…I’m strong enough.
A sizeable percentage of civilians view my strength as superhuman. Naturally hard on myself, I’ve come to realize…rationally that this view is more the truth than viewing myself as average, normal.
“Dude, you’re strong! You’re not normal!” – A coworker to me when I said I view myself as average/normal physically.
In the grocery store little kids gauk endlessly, and it’s become comical how routinely petite college girls, white and hispanic, throw themselves at me.
You don’t need to care what you can squat, bench, deadlift, clean, or whatever.
Health is first and foremost.
Muscular development is second.
The two combined allow for as high levels of strength as you could ever need, while allowing you to go even higher than necessary.
Be healthy, and get muscular.
Don’t bother chasing numbers.
Trust your gut, your instinct.
How. You. Feel.
When you feel strong and athletic…
You are!
How you feel? The correct answer, by living right…is well, feeling well, which is sustainable.
A dehabilitating level of soreness is a sign of something not being healthy.
Numbers don’t truly reflect your true strength. A lot of ability is mental.
I often joked how I sucked at gym back work, but put me in a wrestler’s stance and at that angle my back is freakishly strong.
I’m fine at work carrying everything.
I’ve found that I’m strong when and where it matters.
You’re strong when and where it matters.
I’ve had deadlifts slip out of my fingers, yet I’m the “piano guy” at work. Layoffs have ended for me personally due to my being handy on piano jobs.
“Ring Ring, Piano.”
You don’t need a gym. Honestly “man strength” is best developed working with your hands.
Being healthy is tied to living healthy.
A labor job combined with sensible muscular gym work is not often discussed, but is a great combo for physical development.
Calisthenics, labor, and “fru fru” machine work.
“Bum” shoulders, knees, and backs mean you’re not working/working out/training in a healthy manner.
Certain things beat you down too much.
Find the sustainable exercises.
Milk them for all they’re worth.
If it hurts, creates dehabilitating soreness, etc – why are you doing it?
(ego)
You don’t need to be the strongest.
Your numbers don’t matter.
Is it stagnation, or is it continued practice?
In the gym “spinning your wheels” is still making you stronger.
You only need to be strong enough.
And when you are, oh boy.
Sky’s the limit.
I’m strong enough.
Persistence & Tenacity