Do what you have to do before you do what you want to do

Do what you have to do before you do what you want to do

“Do what you have to do before you do what you want to do”

The above quote is attributed to Bob Hoffman.  Hoffman was the founder of the York Barbell company, and during his tenure built the company through the depression era, through the second world war into the company it is today.  He was a fascinating character who pretty much funded the US Weightlifting team single handed during the 30’s through to 60s when they enjoyed a great deal of success. 

The phrase itself was directed at training the legs. Specifically, the squat.  Training the legs is hard, not in terms of how to train them (squats of various kind is always the answer here), but because they represent a considerable amount of musculature. Squatting with weights is systemically taxing, you have the legs working and the upper body supporting the weight, the cardiovascular system is working hard to get oxygen in, you’ll be breathing so hard you’ll sound like a steam engine.  It can be incredibly taxing; I even hear that some people don’t really enjoy squats! 😂

Its good rule not just for strength training but for life. Look at what you need to need to do in a day and take on the thing you are least wanting to do first.  That way it is done, it is dusted, and you can get on with the stuff you enjoy.  I bet you never thought that lifting weights was so philosophical 😉.