The Strength Training Strategy No One Taught Us

Everyone talks about sets and reps, but almost no one knows this. There’s a missing strategy behind real strength training — and it changes everything. Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers covers the overlooked approach that separates the strong from the stuck.

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.

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

When Your Training Motivation is Low...

We’ve all been there.

It’s been a long day, and you have to train. Or, perhaps it’s been a short night, and you’re supposed to get up early and train.

You know the barbell is going to be heavy, and you just Don’t. Want. To. Train.

You train anyway, of course, but let’s quickly cover three tips that just might help make sure that you stay consistent and get your training done in situations like this. These are useful strategies for me, and I hope they prove useful for you as well.

Tip #1: Champagne Problems vs Real Problems
Remind yourself that this is a champagne problem.

When you don’t want to train, when you don’t feel like putting in the work, remind yourself that it is a privilege to train.

If your struggle today is whether or not to train - and not starvation, disease, or death - then that’s a good situation to be in. It’s a privilege to have that type of struggle.

Tip #2: Insult Yourself
Be a little self-derogatory in moments like this. The self-talk goes something like . . .

“Don’t be a baby.”

“Don’t be a pansy.”

“Don’t be a [choose your own insult].”

You get the idea. A little self-insult goes a long way.

Tip #3: How Will You Feel When You Walk Out the Door?
Remind yourself that no matter how you feel when you walk in the gym door, you’ll survive the training just like you’ve survived every other training session, and you’re going to like the way you feel - that sense of accomplishment - when you walk out the door at the end of the workout.

You will appreciate the fact that you weren’t a wimp - you went in and got the job done.

As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.

-Phil

PS: 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.

(Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Testify earns from qualifying purchases.)

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

99% of Lifters Don't Know These Training Tricks

Most lifters are leaving progress on the table without realizing it. Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers covers 12 overlooked training tactics, techniques, and tricks that can change the way you approach the bar. Watch this before your next session — your future PRs will thank you.

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.

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

The BEST Warm-up for Barbell Training (Plus an EASY Math Trick to Help!)

Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers covers how to efficiently and simply structure your warm-ups for barbell training AND gives you an easy math trick to help.

(A Blast from the Past video originally published on 01/23/23)

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.

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

One Cue to Rule Them All: Fix Every Single One of Your Lifts

(A Blast from the Past article originally posted on 06/23/23)

Let’s quickly cover a cue - specifically a type of cue - that helps every single one of your lifts.

What Could Possibly Help All of My Lifts?
When giving yourself a cue, use a positive cue - not a negative cue. I don’t mean a positive cue in the sense that it makes you feel good - you’re not doing this to feel better about yourself or your lifting. A positive cue simply means that you give yourself a task to accomplish. More specifically, give yourself something to do - not something to avoid doing.

Example: The Squat
If your knees slide forward on the squat, don’t tell yourself, “Stop letting my knees slide forward.” Instead, use the cue, “Set my knees” or “Block my knees.” Again, you’re giving yourself something to do rather than something not to do.

If you ride a motorcycle, you’re already familiar with this concept. When instructors teach you how to ride, they teach you to look where you intend to go - do NOT look where you don’t want to go because whatever you look at is invariably what you ride toward. Same idea here.

Example: The Clean (or Snatch)
If you’ve got an early arm pull on your clean or snatch, don’t cue “Don’t bend my arms.” It might work, but most of the time, you’re better off using a positive cue such as “Long arms,” “Straight arms,” or even “Tight triceps.”

Example: The Deadlift
If you’re letting the barbell drift away from you on the deadlift, don’t cue “Don’t let it get away from me.” Instead, try “Pin it to the shins” or simply “Keep it close.” If the bar is looping because you’re pulling around your knees, try cueing “Push the floor” or “Stay over the bar.”

Again, give yourself a job to do, not something to avoid doing.

As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.

-Phil

PS: 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.

(Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Testify earns from qualifying purchases.)

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?

6 Weight Lifting Secrets That Feel Like CHEATING (plus a bonus)

These aren’t gimmicks—they’re overlooked techniques and tactics that can help you train more efficiently and get stronger right now. Starting Strength Coach Phil Meggers covers 6 lifting tips (and a bonus) to level up your training.

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.

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At Testify, we offer small group training, private coaching (in-person or remotely via Zoom), online coaching, and form checks. Interested in getting stronger, looking better, and having more energy?