Testify Star-Advertiser - May 19, 2025
/THIS WEEK'S SUBMISSION
From our video Stronger After 50: The Secret is Simpler Than You Think (click the title to watch):
fastbusiness
Consistency has always been the most difficult challenge for me, in strength training. There have been countless times when I've asked myself one deceptively simple question: "Exactly WHY am I doing this weight lifting stuff?" When you can answer that you will have a reason or goal and you will have your motivation. For me, building and maintaining strength allows me to perform most of the physical activities that I want to do. A secondary reason is that I believe that being strong and "in shape" is one of the best ways to avoid chronic illnesses that require expensive medical care. I can't prove scientifically that these are true, but that's not the point. To be motivated and consistent in training you only need to believe in a reason that's strong enough to cause you to get your lazy ass off the couch and into the gym and put in the effort. Then, every time you think "I don't want to do this today" you can think of your "why" and it will get you through it. Anyway, that's just the way that works for me. 🙂
Phil
"Exactly WHY am I doing this weight lifting stuff?" That's a great way to start the conversation in one's head to get things moving.
Joe
Showing up is the hardest part!
All I have to do is go in the basement.
The first set is the most difficult.
Phil
We talk about this at Testify on a regular basis - if you walk through the door (or roughly equivalent - get in your car to head to the gym), you've done the most important part.
fastbusiness
@TestifySC That's why I usually do better by being a member at a regular gym. I've tried more than twice to have a small home gym and it never seems to work very well. Too many distractions. Other people seem to have success doing it that way, but I'm not one of them.
Phil
Those phenomena are both very common. For some people, having a home gym is fantastic, but for others, the very convenience of it is the problem. If you can work out whenever, sometimes you will work out never. It becomes very easy to push the training back five minutes, 10 minutes, three hours, three weeks… And we have had a number of members start up their training again with us for that exact reason.
TESTIFY ONLINE COACHING
Interested in getting stronger working one-on-one remotely with us? Click here to book your free strategy session.
Get Stronger. Live Better. Start Today.
ARTICLES & VIDEOS
Stronger After 50: The Secret is Simpler Than You Think
Getting strong and staying strong becomes more important the older we get, and the secret is not complicated. Click here to watch.
People Believed this Lie about Squatting for YEARS
Want the history of the worst squat technique ever to be suggested by a coach? Phil explains. Click here to read.
Blast from the Past: How to Squat Heavy ALONE! | How to Fail a Squat Safely
Everybody needs to squat, but if you train alone, you need to be able to fail a squat safely. What to do? It's simple, and Phil explains and demonstrates. Click here to watch.
Blast from the Past: Your Hideous Deadlift: Do It WRONG . . . to Get It Right?
We cover a useful deadlift drill and show how setting your back incorrectly can actually help you set it correctly. Click here to read.
SLEEVES ARE OVERRATED - GRAB A TESTIFY TANK!
Sun's out, guns out, and we've got men's and women’s tank tops in multiple colors.
Get yours today and represent your favorite gym!
Click here to head to the Testify Store.
WHAT'S COMING UP
Reminder: In observance of Memorial Day (Monday, 05/26/25), we will be open for training from 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. that day, but we will be closed that afternoon and evening.
Below are a few of our upcoming events, and you can find out what else is on the calendar by heading to our events page at www.testifysc.com/events.
Testify Barbell MAYhem - Teams Edition!
May 23, 2025
Grab a partner and take on the barbell at Testify Barbell MAYhem – Teams Edition! One lifter snatches. The other cleans & jerks. One epic night of strength, teamwork, and mayhem.
Click here to register or for more information.
Testify Game Night
Join us for the first-ever Testify Game Night at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 6th!
Bring on the cards, the board games, the bags (AKA cornhole), and whatever else you’ve got!
Bring a game, a snack/drink, and get ready for a fun, relaxed evening with the Testify crew!
Click here to RSVP.
Testify IronFest VII
June 20, 2025
IronFest is a team-based strength meet wherein the contested lifts will be the squat, press, bench press, and deadlift. Competitors will form teams of 2 lifters/team and perform all 4 lifts; each lifter will perform one upper body lift and one lower body lift, and each lifter will receive 3 attempts for each lift.
Click here to register or for more information.
THIS WEEK’S CONDITIONING
Option 1
Sled Pyramid – 4, 5, or 6 tiers
Go up and down a 4, 5, or 6 tier “sled pyramid” – rest as needed. The distance for each round is 80 m indoors (a down-back on the 40m course) or 200 ft outdoors (2 down-backs on the 50 ft course). Rest as needed.
For example, Bob does the following (4 tiers):
Round 1: Empty sled
Round 2: 25#
Round 3: 50#
Round 4: 75#
Round 5: 50#
Round 6: 25#
Round 7: Empty sled
Compare to 2025.04.07.
Option 2
Bike/row:
8 x 30 sec on/2:00 off
Score = least distance covered in any 30 second interval
Compare to 2025.02.24.
Option 3
5-10 rounds:
50 ft yoke carry
50 ft yoke push
100 ft sandbag carry and S.O.B. (sandbag-over-bar)
Perform 1 round every 2-3 minutes.
Compare to 2025.01.27.
Option 4
Row/Tire 10 min ladder:
2 cal row
2 tire flips
4 cal row
4 tire flips
6 cal row
6 tire flips
…
Climb the ladder as high as possible in 10 minutes.
Compare to 2024.01.27.
As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better!
Whenever you want even more Testify in your life, here are some free resources:
Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.
Pick up a free copy of Testify’s Squat Guide: 12 Tips to Improve Your Squat Now HERE.
Get our free weekly email - containing useful videos, articles, and training tips - HERE.
Follow Testify on Instagram HERE.
Subscribe to Testify’s YouTube channel HERE.