How I Overcame My Struggles With Exercise

[@elliotgregory3356]

Man you are without a doubt the best fitness advisor on here. I have got into micro work outs and I combine these with yoga and lots of walking. I have a physical job, I climb trees, and I love the idea of longevity in exercise not ruining my body. I'm 48 now and I feel good, I'm healthy and I live a clean life and your channel is the bomb.

[@RedDeltaProject]

So happy I cn help you continue to kick tail as you progress in life and fitness Eliot!

[@basrutten1541]

I ran into the 'Go hard or go home' trap my whole life. Perfectionism hindered me to become really good at anything I tried in sports, just like the circle you described. I found your videos recently and since then I simplified everything and just stick to the basics. The difference to before is tremendous. Thanks for inspiring me!

[@RedDeltaProject]

So glad I can help Bas, more good stuff is coming soon!

[@Twomps]

Stimulate dont annihilate. Recovery is key to progressing strength and hypertrophy. Train what is recovered

[@sergiopacheco2939]

Back in 2011 or so I hired a trainer for like 24 sessions at a Golds gym. The workouts were extremely painful. I wanted to get big, and I had years of lifting experience, The first session I had with him, I still remember, involved mainly the leg extension. First I warmed up with slow reps. These involved exercising each individual leg for high reps / low reps. Then he increased the weight, and (using both legs) I did like 2 sets with moderate weight, high rep at slow cadence. Here the lactic acid was high. Took a short break. Then a pyramid- like session following by drop sets. And on each set, after reaching failure, I had to control the top portion during the extension for several seconds. I'll be literally making noises like if I were being tortured. Then barbell squats, then walking lunges. I could barely walk for a week. Or high set, high rep, leg press sessions, after getting pre-exhausted with the leg extension. After I was done with him, I was still benching the same weight and had about the same strength as when I first started. Not until I read Stuart Mcrobert did I get a subtle grasp that what matters is progression in poundages and technique. I was finally enjoying working out. Now that I do calisthenics, I see that what matters is proficiency, and being also able to involve as much muscle as possible during an exercise, and training when one feels like it. Bodybuilding unfortunately has done a lot of damage in the fitness world. I also tried high intensity training by Mike Mentzer ( also brutal). It can work, but once again, why suffer ? You're also dependent on certain equipment and gym memberships.

[@araboooeee]

There are very little people in the World 🌎 who admit thier flaws and there is even lesser people in the fitness world who do the same. Matt proudly and freely shares his flaws to teach us and save us 20 years.. Matt , you are , without a doubt, the Yoda of fitness. God bless you brother

[@RedDeltaProject]

Thanks Naeem, Although I like the idea that "It's not a bug, that's a feature" attitude toward such things. lol

[@alex434343]

It really got to me when you said that it was important to keep stress to a minimum while doing the thing (workout, etc) that you need to do. Something clicked and suddenly working out and other stress inducing activities look so much different. A real "Wow!" moment. Thanks for that Matt!

[@rodrigomachado5291]

I overcame it with isometrics training. It's so much quicker and simpler to do in a few moments than regular weight lifing.

[@AndyL940]

You give wonderful no BS information. Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself too . It took me 20 years to sort out my diet. It’s all about consistency 👍

[@raymondjurado9203]

Leaving a little in the tank was a long-term strategy that’s prevented illness, injury, and burning out.

[@RedDeltaProject]

I hear ya Raymond! I should do a video on that strategy, as many people misapply it or don't really understand how it works. Thanks for the idea!

[@raymondjurado9203]

@@RedDeltaProject You got it. Like you I also learned to back off from Convict Conditioning after 15 years of going hard during all sessions and periodically getting hurt or sick as a result of the cumulative stress.

[@begula3013]

This is wisdom.

[@paulwojciechowski3162]

Thank you for your videos and sharing your knowledge. I fell into the "paralysis by analysis " trap by trying to filter through all the exercise and diet info available looking for that perfect workout, frequency, sets, reps, etc... Your approach is straightforward and genius. Love the idea of just doing something, and listening to your body. I completed a push chain micro workout and felt energized after instead of depleted. Calisthenics are definitely the way to go for me. Thanks again

[@RedDeltaProject]

Very happy to help Paul. One of the best ways I've been Able to escape the paralysis by lysis trap was realizing that so many of the details may not be all that important. If they are, the best way to know if through simple experience.

[@phoenixcoachingandperforma4775]

Well stated here, Matt. As someone who has kept off over 150 lbs over the past 15 years with still a little bit to go, I have been to all extremes within the spectrum. Much like your video on nutrition, this one hit home for me. It does not need to be all about "go big or go home" or some perceived sense of "perfection". Progress over perfection.

[@Hugrolio]

What can I say? I'm so grateful for you. Thank you cor everything, Matt. You have a big big fan here!

[@JensMHA]

Paralysis by analysis, is for me, probably the biggest obstacle. Those times I have been in my best forms, mostly have had to do with being active in life, not so much by training per se, with one exception. Then again, I have been training, I just dont normally rate it as such as I have fun doing it. I tend to see it as "activities" if that makes any sense, bettering physical form and getting in shape is mostly side-effects. Now I train, but that is to offset older damages and loose fat, which I gained a lot of over the last decade. Currently holding weight, but shifting it from fat to muscles, sort of. Could probably do with dropping 30-40 pounds more, but I dont stress it, it will happen. Am getting into bruiser territory again instead of being a FF, and that is rather nice.

[@albertorozco3652]

Hey Matt, I feel most of the time you are reading my mind 😁😁. This is something I was thinking would be a great video. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and speaking about the true.

[@alphasulapas7224]

"How to do things better" - this sounds cliche but there is a truth about it that is often misunderstood. The key takeaway for me is the incorporation of proper recovery and proper technique, and not always going to failure. This is great. Thanks Sir!

[@to6955]

Great video Matt. You’re a legend! 👍🏻

[@moustachio334]

I always got the best results when I was lifting to 70-80 percent of my limit and avoiding junk food and sugar. I used to go to my limits until one day I suffered from a terrible headache and lethargy that ended up becoming my first major depressive episode. Now I lift to have fun and I try to enjoy the process while challenging myself just enough to enjoy to keep going day to day. As long as I can do x amount of pull ups and I’m not carrying excess body fat, I’m satisfied with how I look.

[@moustachio334]

During that depressive episode I went from a healthy muscular 165 pounds down to 118 pounds. I know the exact number because it was so traumatic to see what a few months of depression could do to all of my progress.

[@RedDeltaProject]

That's quite the battle to face for sure. it's a real-word example of how our emotional state is such an influence to our physical health. it's easy to think that fitness is so much about what we do or eat, but a large part is down to hw we feel

[@moustachio334]

@@RedDeltaProject Yes, it was a lesson I learned when I was 19. Mental health go hand in hand with physical health. I’m 30 years old and in a better place in life. Just a life lesson I got dealt and learned from.

[@ryanennis3735]

This hits close to home thanks for making this video.. I needed the motivation currently using convict conditioning 4 months in but seriously considering buying your books as I’ll be getting this quality content along with it ..

[@Baloshz]

It is a little bit selfish, but knowing that someone as smart and wise as you made the same mistakes we are doing all the time makes me feel way better. Because you make our fitness and diet habits much so easier, you are definitly a fkng great coach.

[@marianolarrosa79]

Thanks for this and all your videos, coach. Each and everyone passes the three Socratic filters and that is priceless.

[@abdiel6453]

Finally there is a leagend who can tech us many more about fitness ❤️

[@johnrobinson7036]

Matt, great timing. In the middle of chasing reps and I feel like it’s starting to backfire. Old enough to take a hint. Thanks.

[@RedDeltaProject]

Happy to help John. Stay tuned on my net video on the value of not pushing yourself all the way and saving a bit in the tank for later on.

[@Phyloraptor]

Thanks for sharing another amazing story!

[@RedDeltaProject]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@berserker3778]

Truly inspiring!

[@zulu8032]

true

[@truueindeedi]

So how did you convict conditioning stint help you discover that what you needed was to seek a proper stimulus. I feel you glossed over that part. Is it because your were following a program that gave you specific cues on each exercise, so you were more in tune with what Muscles you needed to work while worked out? If not, i don't understand.

[@RedDeltaProject]

That realization came many years later as I've continued my quest to figure out how this whole fitness thing works. That realization was a combination of things that came together over a 2-year period including researching my book on Micro Workouts and my experimentation with freestyle training programs.

[@viveviveka2651]

I keep wondering what exactly 'Red Delta' is or represents or symbolizes or points to. Does anyone know?

[@RedDeltaProject]

Wouldn't you and the illuminati both like to know ;) Seriously though, there is quite a story behind it, and here it is if you're intersted in checking it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKaToaylg56CqZY

[@SofienAmri]

While lockdown in Tunisia, the Gym is closed, could I protect my hypertrophy with bodyweight ? Thanks

[@MA-zo3cm]

Weighted pull-ups are a wonder

[@farhanhussain_]

Matt, I have been doing weighted chins for last two years. Now I want to learn one arm chins. My recovery capacity is not good and I am 42. Do you suggest that I give up weighted chins for some time and focus on learning one arm chins? or should I keep weighted chins while learning one arm chins? Will I lose my strength of weighted chins if I don't do them? I am also doing overhead pressing, deadlift, lunges, and one arm push-up as part of my strength training.

[@RedDeltaProject]

By all means, keep everything you like now, just swap out the weighted chins for progressive one's every other workout r so.

[@farhanhussain_]

@@RedDeltaProject ok right. Thanx for the advice.

[@jameswoods6385]

Hey Matt, When I do bodyweight rows with straight legs I feel a pinch in my lower back. What is the possible cause of this and how can I prevent it? P.s. I don't feel the pinch in my lower back when I do them with knees bent

[@RedDeltaProject]

You're creating an anterior tilt in your pelvis with the straight legs mostly because there's not enough tension in your glutes and hamstrings, and also possibly your abs. try keeping your abs tense and slightly tilt your pelvis back.

[@arcaneknight9799]

You remind me of Alan from Two and a Half Men.

[@farhanhussain_]

So you were basically doing all out max effort workouts at high frequency and you were not recovering adequately.

[@evelynw2935]

Plus the mental exhaustion from stressing yourself physically/mentally while seeing minimal to no results

[@alphanotmale1847]

Wait… late 30’s??? How old are you? I know it’s a rude question and you shouldn’t answer and simply leave it alone as a rhetorical question, but I honestly thought you were in your late 20’s!

[@Bloodstop]

He looks really young but if i remember correctly he is 40 something!

[@RedDeltaProject]

yep, 43

[@alphanotmale1847]

@@Bloodstop wow!!! That’s awesome!!!

[@alphanotmale1847]

@@RedDeltaProject si, what do you eat? Well, I guess I’ll have to watch more of your videos to get more info on your eating habits