How I Started Strength Training Regularly (& Now, I'm Hooked)
This year, I'm thankful for technology.
After running the London Marathon in October, I found myself ready to take on a new challenge. I’ve been navigating a slew of injuries, and I wanted to get back to basics — fixing less-than-stellar movement patterns to get to the root of imbalances and other wonkiness. And that meant strength training.
I wish I could tell you that I’m always dilligent with weights, especially in more recent years as my mileage has picked up. But unfortunately, not so much. Since my CrossFit phase back in 2014 (when I was capable of doing things like deadlift 220 pounds), I haven’t touched bells as regularly as my physical therapist would like. And like I said, I’ve paid the price for that.
And this is about where Future comes in.
Full disclosure: Future is a sponsor of the show. Heck, they’re sponsor this newsletter, too. With that said, that’s because I’m such a fan. They reached out to me after seeing me on the platform, and it couldn’t be a more symbiotic relationship. I’m doing workouts using the personal training app four days each week, and finally feeling so much stronger in my body. Pretty impressive since this marks week five on my new program, working one-on-one with my new trainer. Since I’ve been getting so many messages as of lat inquiring about how it works, I figured it would best to take a moment to explain it here. Then, I’ll be able to reference this moving forward.
So, let’s talk about the journey.
How It Works
Users start by taking a quiz that asks you about your level of experience, goals, likes, and dislikes. Based on your answers, the app will offer you a few different coaches to choose from. (If you happen to know of a coach you want to work with specifically, you can bypass the quiz and scroll down on their homepage to their coaches tab, then click “train with,” and go from there.)
Once you choose a coach, two things happen: First, the coach will reach out to you to set up a video call for a meet and greet (which happens through the app). My intro call with my coach Brandon lasted about 30 minutes. During it, we talked more about my past fitness habits and discussed all of my available equipment, including a variety of dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands. I’m extremely fortunate to have access to a gym in my apartment building. It’s hard to make excuses when all that equipment is within a minute commute. Secondly: Future mails you an onboarding kit that includes an Apple Watch (it’s a loaner for as long as you’re on the program) and water bottle.
On Sunday of each week, the coach puts the next seven days of workouts into the app (this includes rest days as marked). Then, the user has an opportunity to take a look at them and reach out, should they have any questions about what’s on deck. Each workout move listed has an accompanying demo video, and your coach can also record additional vocal cues to help you along.
Future integrates with the Apple watch to track your workout stats — including workout duration, heart rate, calories burned, etc. Once that day’s effort is done, that information is shared with your coach — no fudging allowed. Users are also prompted to leave feedback, give the workout a difficulty score, and even toss in a disheveled post-sweat selfie if they so choose.
My Feedback
I already told you I love it. I love how easy it is to use, that I can do these workouts on my own time, and the ability to communicate with my coach Brandon regularly about how I’m feeling. On the day we started working together I got in a bike accident, and he immediately shifted my programming to accomodate a shoulder injury. OR! Have travel on deck? Out of a regular routine holiday week? It’s all good, since your coach and you can chat about modifications, what *new* equipment you may have available at a hotel gym, and alter the plan from there.
Seriously, it couldn’t be easier.
It feels good to be working toward new goals in between marathon training cycles, sure, but most importantly it feels good to be a little big of a beginner again with a cheerleader in my corner checking in and holding me accountable. I love the progress I’m making already (I did sumo deadlifts with 100 pounds the other day!), and seeing those numbers increase week after week makes me giddy. I don’t know about you, but on these chilly mornings — getting out of bed is extra hard. So, knowing that he’s going to know if I skipped my workout is the carrot leading me to the gym in the morning. A carrot I’m personally pretty thankful for about now.
Have any more questions? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Keep hurdling,
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