Nitty Gritty Strength

I started running last Sunday and I think I'm gonna make it a habit. This is my 4th run since starting and I'm already seeing significant improvements.

I think my first goal will be to run 5km in under 30 minutes.

My current training is lifting Monday, Wednesday, Friday, all full body sessions, and running Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, with Saturday being a longer run.

Looking forward to getting a little healthier and a little leaner as well.

Running with and the dogs will also keep it fun!

This is an axe that my brother and I recently restored for one of customers. Her axe handle broke so we added a new one as well as a new sheath and guard for overstrike. I experimented with staining the handle with coffee grinds and I like how it turned out.

Full body workout from today:
Deadlift
Chest press
Single leg calves
Lat pulldown
Hamstring curls
Forearm curls
Single leg extension
Single arm lateral raise

Did 2 sets of each movement. I recently switched to training full body 3x per week instead of training 4x per week and alternating between upper body and lower body. Mostly switched to save time but also to change things up a bit.

I completed this workout in about an hour and 15 minutes including warming up and loading and unloading all of the plates (basically all of my equipment is plate loaded)

There is no reason you need to be in the gym longer than an hour if you don't want to be. Especially if you're a beginner, you can easily make great results in the gym training a few times a week for 45 minutes to an hour.

Back when I was powerlifting I'd regularly be in the gym for 2-3+ hours for a single training session but I don't have time for that anymore. I want to get in and out of the gym as fast as possible. It's funny how goals and priorities change over time.

1 1/4lb made in Sweden hatchet that I made a new handle for the other day.

The entire project took me about 3 hours. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Hickory handle with white oak wedge.

🦀 🐌 🦅 🐻🐐 🦆🦉 🐄
Looking forward to many more animal adventures with you

Something that is very important to my coaching philosophy, and that I make sure to tell all of my new clients, is that there are no bad movements or bad techniques.

There may be movements that are currently painful, have hurt you in the past, or are too advanced for your current fitness level, but this does not mean that any of them are inherently injurious.

Contrary to popular belief, strength training is very low risk, but the majority of people that I start working with are fearful of getting hurt in the gym due to having bad technique or doing a dangerous movement.

There are countless people preaching that certain movements are dangerous or bad for you. I’m sure everyone has heard things like:
“Deadlifts are bad for your back”
“Squats are bad for your knees”
“Don’t round your spine”
“Don’t lockout your knees”
“Running is bad for your joints”
“Situps aren't good for you spine”
“You shouldn’t lift so heavy"
“Bench press will hurt your shoulders”
“Don’t do preacher curls or you’ll tear a bicep”
And on and on and on.

For someone trying to start strength training, hearing things like this all of the time makes it very hard to find a place to start, and makes people fearful or lifting weights in general.

There is nothing wrong with any of these movements, and what people should actually be worried about is the risk of not being active and not resistance training. A well structured resistance training plan will gradually expose you to a wide range of movements so that your tissues become more robust and resistant to injury.

Technique does matter, especially when we are talking about individual goals and how to reach them most efficiently. When it comes to avoiding injury or pain, how heavy you are lifting, your sets and reps, how often you are training, and your individual training and injury history are far more important.

Something that might cause one person pain might be the cure to someone else's. Just because a movement might not be right for you now, doesn’t mean that it is bad and can’t be part of your training plan in the future.

Send me a message if you want to start strength training!

Get stronger, healthier, and more confident with Nitty Gritty Strength.

Whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or you’ve been at it for years, my coaching is designed for people who want real results. I focus on building strength, mobility, and confidence through personalized training that’s tailored to your goals - no generic workouts, no bu****it. Just effective training.

I am now accepting new clients!
- Personal Training at my Private Gym in Shawnessy, Calgary, AB.
- Mobile Personal Training in Calgary and Surrounding Areas.
- Online Coaching and Programming

Visit my website to book your free consult: https://nittygrittystrength.com/contact