The truth! Nothin' but the truth!

Carrying on from yesterday's 'what they don't tell you about fitness' post....

here's a few more things:

1) you will NOT gain muscle from lifting weights

at least, not at the speeds you think

It takes 2-3 months of consistent weight lifting for a beginner to start gaining noticeable muscle.

Because the muscles prefer to improve neuromuscular aspects (co-ordination, muscle memory, technique etc.) first because they are less energy demanding.

Building muscle takes a lot of energy, so the body puts it as a last resort.

Even once you do start building muscle, 1-2 pounds per month is an amazing rate of progress.

2) You have ZERO chance of looking like a bodybuilder

When women (and men to be fair) tell me they don't want to look like a bodybuilder I sigh a long, bitter sigh. Because you won't.

Not only is it likely chemically/hormonally impossible for your body to look like someone elses.

But bodybuilders are some of the most disciplined athletes on the planet!

I doubt you are the top 1% of people in the world who can just pick up some weights and suddenly become the hulk.

That shit requires some serious work, sacrifice and persistence, not being mean but 100% of the problems you have right now with your physique are due to you not doing the work, making sacrifices and being persistence.

It's actually disrespectful to bodybuilders to say that you don't want to look like them, because you couldn't if you tried.

That said, there are of course a million great points us slightly lazier, weaker and less disciplined mortals can take from bodybuilders. Such as meal prep, supplements, recovery routines and the mindset.

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Right now you may wonder, why the hell should I lift weights then?

Or, why Ant, do you get all your clients to lift weights and get them stronger?

Well, here's some more rapid-fire 'what they don't tell you' stuff:

> you can set black and white goals when lifting weights, e.g. have you lifted 100kg or not? Some people love that method of goal setting, me included.

> you can see a huge improvement in posture, decreased joint pain and a noticeably flatter stomach after 2-3 weeks of lifting weights, even with no muscle gain.

> the word 'tone' comes from the latin 'tonus' which is still used in physiology (I did a lot of that in my degree...yawn) to describe the partial/resting contractoin level of the muscle.

.....In short, want to be more toned? Lifting weights teaches your muscles to hold a higher involuntary level of contraction....kind of like when you pose in the bathroom mirror each night....you look a little better than normal, right?!

> You can lift with other people, compare what you can lift with what they can lift, share technique pointers, set some challenges, dream about how strong you are going to be in a few years, the social side of lifting is huge!

> Bone density increases with lifting, the stress to your skeleton triggers thicker bones. Would you agree this would be great for us all as we age?!

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Anyway, if you want to learn how to lift weights from scratch inside our awesome gym, Raw Strength Gym....and with a coach and a friendly bunch of training partners behind you every step of the way

Then you may be interested in our next 60 day shred...

Program starts 24th April and we are RAPIDLY filling it up, 15 places left, I recommend you apply now if you're an action taker

If you're too slow, think you'll do it tomorrow or for whatever reason keep lying to yourself that you're an action taker.

That's fine, just know we can't help you if you don't apply.

So stop putting it off!

It will be JULY and the height of summer when this 60 day program ends, that time is going to pass whether you like it or not...

....so better to be your most super lean, strong and sexy self, right?!

Links are here:

women: http://www.rawstrength.uk/60-day-shred-challenge

men: http://www.rawstrength.uk/mens-60-day-challenge

Laters

Ant

PS - the number of people who jump on the phone with us after applying and say they've watched us for months online is INSANE.

Are you a shadow-watcher? Watching us for ages but not taking the plunge?

Be brave, step out of the shadows and apply, I guarantee this will be the best thing you ever do for yourself.

Forget the socials, the fun, the teamwork, the constant support in our private Facebook group......you'll get all that for sure...but do this for yourself. Apply below:

women: http://www.rawstrength.uk/60-day-shred-challenge

men: http://www.rawstrength.uk/mens-60-day-challenge