If you’ve ever had a personal trainer, you know that sometimes you’ll be given suggestions or handouts for things to work on at home. Maybe they were small things, like a 5-minute exercise routine, or the task to eat one extra serving of chicken at dinner. A lot of times those little tasks fall by the wayside – they’re so small, they can’t help that much can they?
But what actually happens when you do your homework consistently? You get results like our July Member of the Month, Cary.
It’s hard to think of a client more dedicated to bettering his physical abilities both in and out of the gym – and it shows. Just take a glance at the photos of the Personal Record board in our Facebook albums. Cary’s name dominates the board every month.
Below Cary talks about dedication, the difficulty of jump rope, and how awesome it is to get stronger each and every month:
Q&A with Cary
Profession:
Hazardous Waste Program Manager
When did you start working out at Capital? What kind of exercise did you do before?
Cary: I started working out at Capital in August of 2013. I was an avid cyclist for several years before deciding to make a change to focus on strength and conditioning.
How are you so consistent in your training?
Cary: Fitness has been my main “hobby” for quite a long time. You’ll always find the time to indulge in your passions. If for some reason I decide in the future to stop lifting weights (don’t read this part Matt!!) I know I will focus on some other physical endeavor.
How do you plan and remember to do the homework your coach gives you?
Cary: I loathe not being prepared for anything, much less a hard squat and deadlift day! I find that extra mobility work is one of the main reasons, if not the main reason why I was (am somewhat still am) consistently adding weight and/or reps to the bar. I CANNOT emphasis enough doing some extra mobility work on your own time if you can, it will help you tremendously.
What’s your favorite thing about working out at Capital?
Cary: All of the knowledge from the coaches. There is no guesswork in how I should workout, and anytime I have a question I can grill the other trainers as much as I want. They always have an answer that leaves me satisfied.
What is your favorite and least favorite exercise?
Cary: As for favorites, squats and deadlifts are pretty much tied for number 1. The nod will inch toward the one I did better at on a particular week! If you told me that in order to keep progressing on the squat and deadlift that I could only do bodyweight exercises for the upper body, I’d been fine with that.
As for least favorite, I actually am actually not that fond of the bench press, but I’ve been making it somewhat work. I really wanted to say the jump rope because although I can walk and chew bubblegum at the same time, I just cannot figure that thing out. Curse you all who can do it!!
What would you say to someone who wanted to get stronger, but was hesitant to take the plunge and get started?
Cary: The QUALITY instruction/structure/
Also, don’t be afraid of having a “bad day” from time to time. There are people here whom, to me, seem like they have been lifting since the invention of concrete (strength training truly is the fountain of youth) and I’ve seen them struggle every now and then. It’ll happen, it’s part of the process.
Oh, and although chalk is your friend, you don’t need as much of it as you think you do (guilty as charged Cary Stewart)!
You can read more about Cary’s journey at Capital Strength here.