Every now and again I get asked if I’m going to make my kiddos train when they are older.
Answer:
No.
Firstly, because it’s not in my nature to “make” anyone do anything.
And secondly because I have found leading by example is far and away more effective for getting someone to partake of an activity I know will benefit them than trying to convince, cajole, or coerce them into action.
Insofar as training is concerned, this means:
* Demonstrating that staying fit and healthy is as is important to you as earning a living by treating it with the same level of discipline you apply to your job of work (i.e. not ditching sessions because you can’t be bothered or swapping programmes the moment you get a little bit bored),
* Maintaining your regime insofar as is possible even when you are away on holiday, unless you have planned to take a break ahead of time,
* Ensuring training always enhances your life and never, ever takes over it,
* Playing to your strengths while accepting your limitations, and,
* Constructing programmes conducive to all of the above.
If you are genuinely doing all of that, then you shouldn’t be surprised when you find people who matter to you asking for advice on training, emulating your example, and so on.
Even your kids (if you have them) will probably start to show more interest in playing outdoors and partaking in sport if they’re not yet old enough to hit the gym or simply doing as you do if they are.
On that note, rare is the day Connie does not badger me to go to the park to do her “conditioning” (which involves running up and down the slopes in the skate park). Likewise, my mum has a squat rack and some other bits of gym kit in her garage, and whenever Connie is over there while my mum is training she always joins in by lifting the little 2.5kg weight discs in various ways, doing simple bodyweight squats, having a crack at leg raises, and so on.
Will she maintain this attitude as she gets older? (Connie is four as of this writing.)
Probably.
But only if I continue showing her what it is to take a balanced, sustainable, yet serious approach to training.
Speaking of Connie, I wrote her a series of letters on matters directly and tangentially related to training in the January of 2024 (one for each day apart from the first because I forgot I was starting the project).
Filthy capitalist that I am, I have bound them together into a book to sell to anyone who would like to read them.
The book is called “The Constance Chronicles” and it is very expensive (the most expensive I sell at the moment), but to take a bit of the sting out of the price, I am offering anyone who purchases it before Friday the 16th at 23:59 a bonus private 1-1 call with me.
The call is one hour long and the time is yours to use as you see fit.
Some have used the calls to have me critique their current programme (up to and including having me create a new one from scratch). Others come prepared with a question or series of questions they want answering.
If you would like to use the hour in some other way, that’s fine. As I said, the time is yours to do with what you will.
But you must purchase the book before the deadline (Friday the 16th at 23:59) to get a call.
Here’s what’s inside the book, if I have piqued your interest:
https://philtyreman.co.uk/chronicles/
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman