A guy told me this to my face…

A guy I’d just met told me to my face that I was weak, and that if I didn’t get stronger, Blakley was going to leave me.

His name, Mark Rippetoe of “Starting Strength” fame.

The year was 2013. I’d been doing CrossFit consistently for 4 years, but apparently I was still weak.

It turns out, he was right.

When Blakley and I got home from the seminar where Rip (that’s what the indoctrinated call him) set me straight, we got busy.

We bought a squat rack, a bench, a barbell, weights, and got to work.

Over the next 3 months, I added over 400 pounds combined to my 1 rep max squat, deadlift, bench press, and overhead press.

Knowing what I know now about how to build strength, it’s easy to understand why CrossFit never made me strong.

And now as a coach, it’s my job to help you avoid the same mistakes I made.

Even if you have no desire to set a heavy barbell on your back, building strength is imperative to your ability, longevity, and metabolic health, and is the key to ever looking like you work out.

In yesterday’s podcast I explained the 4 Strength Mistakes that you’re making if you’re working out, but not getting stronger.

They are:

Strength Mistake #1 - You’re exercising, not training.

Training follows a structured plan, where every workout builds on the last one. If you’re picking exercises at random, going to group classes that have you doing something different every day, or still lifting the same weights you were six months ago, you’re not training—you’re just exercising.

If you want to get stronger, you need a plan that prioritizes progressive overload (more on that next) and focuses on key compound lifts like squats, deadlifts, presses, and rows.

Strength Mistake #2 - You’re not tracking your progress to ensure Progressive Overload

Your body adapts to what you do. If you’re lifting the same weight for the same reps every week, your body has no reason to get stronger. That’s where progressive overload comes in—gradually increasing the weight or reps over time to force new adaptations.

If you’re not tracking your workouts, how do you know what to improve? You don’t. This is the reason our coaching app tracks your progress for you.

Strength Mistake #3 - You have too much variety in your program

I get it—trying new stuff is fun. But if you’re constantly swapping movements, you never get good at them. And if you don’t get good at them, you can’t add weight. And if you can’t add weight, you don’t build strength.

If you’re thinking you need to “confuse your muscles”, that’s a myth.

Strength Mistake #4 - You’re not training enough

Training once or twice a week isn’t going to cut it for building strength. You won’t get enough practice with the movements, and you won’t be giving your body enough of the signal it needs to get stronger.

3 to 4 times per week is the sweet spot for rapid strength improvement, especially if you’re new to structured strength training.

It doesn’t matter if you’re starting with 8 or 80 pounds, strength is for everyone, and we can help you build it safely.

Our program meets you where you are, and we’ll guide you to strength without wondering what to do, or telling you that your wife is gonna leave you. 😜

Smack the Banana yellow button below today, and I’ll reply back with our program pricing and options.

 Digital Barbell Program Options .

Jonathan