Varied Not Random

Pursue understanding and virtuosity in movement fundamentals. Aim to leave the gym a little better each day. Technique matters, but safety and progress are key.

The technique and the technical complexity of it is the reason to pursue it. The pursuit of these things that is the important part not necessarily the flawless execution end state.

Are Olympic Lifts Worth It? Adopting the attitude of developing a well-rounded physical education can expose one to movements they enjoy and help them expand their physical vocabulary, even if some movements are challenging. - Varied Not Random 236: Are Olympics lifts worth it?

Training Past 50: Mindset Shift for Gains Pushing too hard, especially as you age, can lead to regression and burnout. Sometimes, taking a break and listening to your body is the key to rekindling your motivation and avoiding plateaus.

How to Avoid Fitness Disappointment Progress isn't always linear. As they grow, people may find they need to redefine what progress means to them, and embrace flexibility in their fitness journey.

CrossFit injuries Many people share negative experiences with CrossFit, often citing injuries as the reason for stopping. This raises the question: Why is this experience so common?

VNR #233: Aging, Fitness & Burnout A gentleman has been doing CrossFit 5 days a week for 15 years straight. Now, at 47 years old, he has lingering injuries, has lost interest in many movements & his motivation is low.

One CrossFit article you MUST READ An article about fitness offered a unifying idea that tied many things together, making a point for the breadth of general physical preparation. The idea was powerful and resonates today.

Mastering the Hopper Model The hopper model is a unique method for assessing true fitness by ranking yourself against others in diverse activities.

Prioritize Task Accomplishment for Peak Performance! In sports, certain body types often excel. Powerlifting shows how physical traits can give an edge, but the ultimate measure is always the weight lifted. The absolute result matters most.

VNR #232: Should Fitness be measured differently? A VNR listener wants to know if fitness would be better measured & tested by using metrics such as watts or joules. Pat & Adrian discuss this topic.

Coaching Athletes: Adapting to Every Skill Level Coaches must adjust programming to suit athletes' needs, from beginners to experienced individuals.

Programming Patterns & Biases: Avoiding Fitness Pitfalls It turns out everyone has patterns and biases, especially when programming for themself. Seeing different approaches can be refreshing and revealing ways of thinking.

Each gym owner has to weigh the pros and cons of different programs to ensure their community moves in the right direction. There's no single 'right' way—it's about making informed decisions that align with their gym's needs and values.

VNR #231: Pros & Cons of Outsourcing Programming. Some Gym Owners program their own workouts, others choose to use someone else’s programming. What are the Pros & Cons of these two different approaches? Pat & Adrian discuss this topic.

Fast Workouts: No Warmup, Cooldown, or Stretching Pat shares how he managed fast workouts without warmups, cooldowns, or stretching while on vacation.

When travel disrupts the workout, sometimes you just have to feel it out. No warm-up, no problem. Modulate, adjust, and make it count, even if it's not the original plan.

Vacation doesn't mean a fitness fail. Modify workouts to fit your gear and time, preserving the intended stimulus. Swapped push presses and kipping pull-ups for dumbbell bench and strict pull-ups. Fitness achieved!

VNR #230: 3 Days of Hotel Workouts. Pat & his family recently took a 3-day vacation. During that time he did not miss any training & worked out in the hotel gym. He discusses what the original workouts were & how he modified them in the hotel gym.

CrossFit's Evolution: Social Media, Affiliate Culture & More Is CrossFit's core message getting lost in translation? The internet gives us more access, but is it the *right* access?