Here’s something about gaining momentum that I want to pass on to you.
Start with the small, and you can have it all.
Too many people want to start with the big stuff. The big workouts. The big goal. The big, big, big.
And then they wonder why they stumble on every little twig.
Starting small ain’t sexy, I get that. But it’s the fastest way to get the mojo.
Many people fight with themselves about getting their workout started, much less in. They set goals such as, “Tomorrow I’m going to run five miles,” when they haven’t proven they can get off their duffs and run a 1/4 mile. And when tomorrow comes, do these people run five miles? Hell no. It’s too big of a goal for them at this time.
Same goes for Hindu squats and pushups.
In my book, Combat Conditioning, you read that you want to eventually be able to crank out 500-straight squats, on a daily basis. Some people take this as a challenge that must be accomplished… TODAY. They think, erroneously, that it can’t be THAT hard because, after all, you’re not using any weights.
One guy told me that he did 500 squats the first day he read my book – not in a row – but 500. And he could barely walk for several days.
That’s what I call DAF. In case, you’re not sure what this three-letter acronym means, I’ll give you the first two words. They are: “Dumb as…”
A fit person can do 25-40 repetitions when they first begin doing Hindu squats. Personally, I could do 40, then my legs blew up with lactic acid. They were so pumped I couldn’t continue.
What did I do after that first set of 40 reps? I moved on to another exercise. I did not do any more squats that day. ’twas enough.
I kept doing 40 reps a day for about a week or so, then I was able to do 50 in a row. Eventually 50 turned into 60, then 80, then 100.
Once I got to 100 reps in a row, I began doing sets of 100.
I would do my first set of 100, then rest a couple minutes, and do another. Once I was able to do three sets of 100 repetitions, five sets of 100 wasn’t far behind.
I kept at it… and eventually I was able to do 150-straight squats. Then 150 turned into 250. And once I got to 250, the rest happened so fast I was stunned. I was able to do 500 reps in a row in 13 minutes.
Now, there are many people who cannot do 25-40 repetitions when they begin. They’ve been living la vida coucha for far too long, and they lack strength and endurance in a big way. What do I advise?
Start with one to five repetitions. Start super small. Don’t fry your nervous system. Don’t scare yourself.
If you can do one repetition, that’s a good beginning. Remember, it’s not where you start – it’s where you end up, that matters.
I have advised many people to do five repetitions, then take a break. Sounds ridiculous, I know. But I’m telling you, if someone will do five reps and rest, he or she will, for some odd reason, want to do another set of five, and another, and possibly another.
And with this method of doing a little, then resting, I have watched some couch potatoes make some incredible progress. This is why I tell them to build momentum FASTLY, which I’m well aware, is not a word. But if it gets your attention, I’ve done part of my job, haven’t I?
Anyhoo, that’s the way to get momentum, and keep it growing.
Start small and you can have it all. Start too big and you stumble on every twig.
Kick ass – take names!
Matt Furey
MattFurey.com
By the way, if you have my Power Postures course, the same methodology applies. Do not attempt to hold any posture for an hour. Build up to it gradually.
Also, if you’re interested in taking your PP training to the next level, I have a 7-Day Journey course with much more details, and I am also having a Power Postures Seminar in Montana, this coming October. If you’re interested in getting the information on one or both of these opportunities, you can email me by clicking here.
