Getting stronger for me started in 8th Grade, with one of my most embarrassing moments —This shaped my entire approach to getting stronger, both physically and mentally.
It was spring of my 8th grade year before going to high school, right after track season ended. Many of my friends were on the football team and had been lifting while I was in track. I kept hearing them talk about how much they could lift.
Numbers as high as 195 pounds on the bench press which sounded impressive, and I felt totally out of place. I usually just stayed quiet, hanging on the edge of these conversations without really understanding them.
All this talk led up to a big summer fundraiser called “The Lift-Off.” Here’s how it worked:
- You’d attempt a max bench press.
- People would donate money based on how much weight you lifted.
- Seniors spotted you, and everyone watched.
When my turn came, I was beyond nervous. The guy before me, who looked smaller than I was, finished his attempt and left the plates on the bar.
The senior asked: “How much do you want?” Feeling clueless but trying to sound confident, I just said, “This is good.”
They helped me lift the bar off the rack.
I lowered it…and it came crashing down onto my chest.
There was a huge gasp. Everyone rushed over, pulling the bar off me.
I sat up, pretending I was fine, but inside I was humiliated.
My recorded “max” that day was 135 pounds. Surrounded by my new teammates, I had failed spectacularly. At that moment, I made a promise:
“I am never letting this happen again.”
That’s where my fitness journey began. I started asking myself:
What is the best way to get stronger?
Over the years, I’ve discovered a few key things:
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Have a clear direction. Know that your goal is to get stronger.
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Track your progress. Add one more pound, one more rep, or take shorter rest periods as you improve.
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Set a schedule and stick to it. Consistency matters.
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Focus on 1–2 big movements each week. These should target large muscle groups. Progress them once a week until you stall twice, meaning:
- If you fail to hit your planned reps/weight twice, you reset by 15–30% and build back up.
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Take a recovery phase. After resetting, give yourself a few easy weeks to let your body recover and prepare for the next push.
This has been my method for two decades. In high school, I saw people talk more than they worked, bragging and joking around, barely moving weights while claiming they “spent hours in the gym.” I realized:
You are a byproduct of your actions. Results come from what you do, not what you say you’ll do.
If you want guidance, consider
joining the Zeus Method App, and I’ll help you progress step-by-step, just as I did for myself so many years ago.
Let’s get stronger together,
