LIFT VS TRAIN

Back in high school is when I discovered and started to seriously hit the gym. It wasn’t much of a weight room (sandwiched behind the gymnasium bleachers) but on any given day after school, it was filled with teens who were pushing and pulling to try to grow and get stronger.

As with all teens, we didn’t know much and were learning how to lift, besides the process. I use the term lift specifically as the main thing we knew was we had to lift the weight from point A to point B. We didn’t have much, if any, technique and we certainly didn’t have a great connection with our muscles while doing so.

Fast forward many years, and at some point, I transitioned from lifting to training. I would say the key impact factor in this was when I learned not just proper form, but also had the focus to connect with the muscles responsible for doing the movement.

This distinction is not only important for achieving the most progress in the gym but is also a key component of longevity and reducing the risk of injury.

I continue to have to remind myself of this and keep it in check 30+ years later. As we spend hours in the gym working to improve, let’s make sure we are training, not just lifting.