You do it every day. At this point, it is instinct. When you wake up in the morning, you look forward to it (or not!). Before work….after work, it doesn’t matter. You know what you need to do and you do it because you are committed to your goal.

But what if that is not all it takes?

What if going through the motions isn’t producing the results you’re looking for?

Have you ever finished a WOD and wished that you were better at double unders (or even have any), cleans, snatches or bar muscle ups? Or have you looked at a WOD and said that looks like fun but I can’t do ______?

What do you do then?

Many people think that getting a muscle up or an Olympic lift is all about repetition; “If I keep trying, I’ll get it because I am sooo close!”. While that is definitely a part of it, it is merely a piece in a much bigger puzzle. And what if you’re practicing it WRONG?!! Or doing the wrong thing? Then you are basically training yourself to fail.

Success with these skills is a formula. It is made up of many different parts such as progressions, practice and auxiliary work to fill in gaps.

Do you think NASA just builds rockets, gives them enough fuel to shoot them to the moon, and then it’s 3-2-1 Lift Off?

That would be silly.

They spend months, even years planning a trip to the moon! And they have a mission! A purpose.  A goal.  The same needs to apply to YOUR training. You need to have a plan and not only that but a deeper understanding of what it really takes to reach your goals.

Don’t get me wrong, you are still killing it in the gym and doing a great job of staying committed to yourself whether it’s to better your health or improve your lifts or lose that last ten pounds! Your consistent class efforts CAN get you there. But identifying a specific goal and going after it will propel you forward so much faster in your training, fitness and health! It’s the difference between exercising and training! And, you’ll get so much more out of the class WODs!

But what you need now is a plan.

If you really want to make this goal of yours happen,  you need to talk to someone who knows more than you.  Someone that has helped someone just like you achieve his or her goals….

You need a coach.

Here at CrossFit West Houston, we have dedicated coaches with deep knowledge of the skills and progressions to help you PR that snatch or get your first legit muscle up or string together 10 kipping pull ups in a row. Someone who is going to show you how to use progressions and ancillary work that is specifically tailored to YOUR needs and YOUR goals to improve the skill that is important to YOU! It takes a trained and experienced eye to recognize the small intricate details to assist your particular needs.

Recently Kyle has been doing private training once a week for the past couple of months. One of his goals was to get better at kipping pull ups. In about 8 weeks of just 15 minutes per week or progressions and focused work Kyle went from 1 kipping pull up to 12.

Check out what Kyle had to say about his kipping pull ups and OHS position to see just what we are talking about.

Here is what our coaches do that you can’t get on your own:

·         Individualized Plans

Individualized plans might not sound like much, but consider this. While we are all similar in many ways, the way we learn is not. Many of us need expert guidance to unlock the understanding of principles, whether it be a specific lift, nutrition strategies for weight loss, or a simple cue to correct a movement pattern. You may have a specific limiting factor that needs to be addressed. Or you may need to focus on your movement pattern. Perhaps your training volume, weight percentage or rep scheme needs to be adjusted. What if your nutrition isn’t supporting your goal? A coach can identify these for you and give you a plan.

·         Experience in Successful Transformations

Coaches are experts in what they do. They had to figure out how to do this stuff just like you. No one is born knowing how to master a muscle up, or improve their deadlift PR. They were taught. Our coaches have spent years of training not just themselves, but countless others on the importance of planned attacks for meeting your goals.

·         Support

While some of the world’s greatest inventions seem to be created by a single person, the truth is teams of people worked on those evolutionary inventions. Having a coach to guide you will be the most value investment you will make. You think the iPhone was a secret project Steve Jobs cooked up in his office alone?  A coach works the same way. Support from a coach means never having to worry about improper form, lost progress, or knowing what to expect. With expertise on your side, you are guaranteed to succeed!

Listen, we get it. Doing private lessons can be a real investment.

But look at it this way.

An investment in yourself is the safest one you can make. The ability to learn a skill is invaluable. The essence of life is growth, and right now you are stuck. You can see where you need to be, but you can’t get there on your own. It is time to realize you don’t have all the answers. That’s okay, that’s what we are here to help with.

You may not be aware of this, but CrossFit West Houston coaches have a combined 42 years of experience in coaching and as many certifications! You have access to all of that knowledge and expertise. Take advantage of it and let us know how we can help you! We do offer private training in full and half hour sessions. For most people, half hour sessions will provide you with great strides toward your goals!

If you’re still on the fence about this and still not sure, we’re offering your first session FREE!! Get in touch (713-467-1450 office phone or info@crossfitwesthouston.com) and get moving toward that goal. Not sure what your goal should be? We can help you with that too!!

About the Author

Rob Exline, CCFT, RKCII

Rob has over 17 years’ experience guiding clients and members to improved health and fitness. Rob began his fitness career as a personal trainer, martial arts gym manager and has been the owner, operator and head coach at CrossFit West Houston since in 2009. Rob has earned 15 fitness certifications including Certified Level 3 CrossFit Coach, Precision Nutrition Coach and RKCII.