Will I make it to the top of the Allalinhorn in Zermatt next year? Will I be strong enough to summit?
As you know, this is why I started weight training several months ago. The Allalinhorn is a challenging peak. But I believe I have one more Alp in me before I put my mountaineering boots and crampons into storage. Upper body strength will be the key.
Here's my philosophy of weight training in a nutshell:
1. You have to train hard enough to make significant gains but not so hard that in your next workout you're not able to make any gains.
2. Building muscle requires lifting heavy weights and doing short, intense sets of relatively low reps.
3. Eating enough protein every day is foundational to building muscle and increasing strength.
4. For optimal muscle growth, you must lift in such a way that causes optimal micro-tearing and then you must feed your body what it needs to grow and then get the proper amount of rest.
People don't usually train hard enough. Make sure your intensity is actually challenging. Lift hard. Lift heavy ("heavy" for you, not by the standards of someone else). Then rest when you're supposed to rest.
You don't need to live at the gym to get results. But you need to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
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| Today's workout. Challenging but thoroughly enjoyable. |
As in life, so in lifting: The hard is what makes it great.