Show Me Strength is dedicated to delivering you the best of the best. Our goal through our writing, whether it concerns training, nutrition, or even anecdotal stories about life, is to hand you the tools and information to better yourself a little day by day. After all, Ray Lewis said greatness is just a lot of small things done well, stacked on top of each other.
This is our first installment of reads of the week (yes, we’re continuing our motivational reads as well). Each week we will pick three or so posts that we feel really add value to the conversation and further our journey to greatness (our “winners” more or less). These will be supplemented by three other posts that we feel our deserving of our recognition as well.
There is always value in the written word. Take something from each of these posts. It doesn’t have to be monumental or life changing but there are lessons to be learned nonetheless. Even if the context of the article doesn’t interest you, the author may be making a subtle point about the bigger picture. Without further ado, here are our inaugural Show Me Strength’s Path to Greatness Reads of the Week.
Winners of the Week
Cutting Crossfit a Break by Tony Gentilcore:
I’ve often heard it said that nothing in life is ever as good or as a bad as we think. From a baseball perspective I can relate, as you weren’t nearly as good or bad as you thought on any given night. Crossfit is no different. It’s not black and white and with the good also comes the bad. So often in the fitness industry, writers like to play the part of Internet troll and take shots at Crossfit without offering up anything constructive. It’s not to say that these criticisms don’t have merit, but if you’re not bringing value to the conversation why start it in the first place? Crossfit actually does have a lot of good things going for it and Tony does a good job exposing these positive attributes while offering up areas where Crossfit can take the next step and improve it’s model. Crossfit isn’t going anywhere so instead of trying to tear it down, let’s acknowledge the positives and offer suggestions for continual improvement as it becomes more and more Americans first gym of choice.
Is Clean Eating a Scam? Cleat Eating vs. IIFYM by JC Deen
Want to know the keys to a best selling diet book: butcher science, fudge data, and make it as extreme as possible. Sexy sells, science doesn’t. I’ve always said that a monkey could teach someone how to lose weight, eat a little less and move a little more. When you break it down, it’s really that simple. Unfortunately, money talks so born are these extreme diet methodologies and the zealots that come with them. Now, that’s not to say that there are not beneficial aspects of paleo or low carb strategies as I think it’s best to implement bits and bits to fit your needs. JC Deen does a good job exposing the ambiguity of “clean eating” while showing you the path to navigate the many dieting methodologies out there to find the right one for you.
Teaching a Kid to Lift by Chris Colucci
I wish I had someone with me to train with when I was growing up. I always joke around with my younger brother that I “built” him because he didn’t make the same training mistakes as I did, in which I made many. I’ve always been one to work hard, but I can’t say that early on I ever worked smart. I’m better for it now as I learned immensely through the trial and error that is going through the fire. Most kids in the entitlement generation are given access to the best coaches money can buy and lost in the fold is the most important part: learning to grind and work hard. They never learn how to grow up because they never were forced to go through the fire and learn. If you have the opportunity to train younger athletes, honor this opportunity. As Chris says, it’s a privilege and an opportunity to foster a relationship that your athlete may have with the iron for the next 50 years. Cherish it.
Exit Sandman: Baseball Bids Adieu to Mariano Rivera
A model of grace and consistency, Mariano is a living legend whose presence will be sorely missed. He did it the right way and is someone we all can aspire to be like, baseball players or not.
Honorable Mention:
Hacking Sleep: Engineering a High Quality, Restful Night by Brian St. Pierre:
Sleep more and thank me later. ‘Nough said.
Dear College Students by Jason Ferruggia:
Whether you’re an athlete, aspiring bodybuilder, or even a weekend warrior, learn to strike a balance in life. Work hard but make sure you leave time to have some fun. I’ve always found that I play better when I care less (or stop being so fixated on playing well). It’s an incredibly frustrating thing to experience, but if you learn to be loose and have some fun, you’ll find life to be that much more enjoyable and your training will see similar improvements.
Beast Reality: Shitty Days by Erik Eggers
Show up everyday. Show up when it’s the last thing you want to do in the world. Be accountable to yourself and everyone else who depends on you. These aren’t just power lifting lessons, they’re lessons in life.
Show Me Strength 