Starting Stats: Strength

What is Strength?

In my previous post, I defined strength as the "ability to generate and exert force, either explosively or or extended "sets" of time." which is a fancy way of saying moving stuff and yourself through space. What this means for D20 Athletics is that strength is the basis how I train; Whether you want to lose weight, climb a mountain or finally beat your grandma at leg wrestling, getting stronger not only should come first, it must come first. You can get stronger no matter where you start from. Let's look at how bodies adapt for strength and a few types of "strong"​ we can try to achieve.

---

GAS line

Progressive Overload

"Grandma, what big quads you have!"

---

Okay, how do I get stronger?

In order to get strong, you first have to get GAS. General Adaptation Syndrome is a fancy name with a funny acronym for the reactions of your body to patterns of stress. When you challenge your body repeatedly, it automatically finds the most efficient way to adapt to, and overcome, that challenge. 
These adaptations represent a spectrum of strength, but to achieve it you'll generally follow simple steps:

1. Do a hard thing until you get better at it
2. Now make it harder
3. Repeat

​This process is called "progressive overload" and there's a story about a greek guy named Milo of Croton that sums it up perfectly;

Once upon a time in ancient Greece, a young man named Milo wanted to be a famous wrestler and began training with the best gym buddy a guy could ask for; a young calf from his father's flock.
Each day, Milo would hoist the juvenile steer onto his shoulders and carry it up a hill where it could graze before Milo would pick it up again and carry it home. Every day, the calf got a little bit bigger and heaver. And every day, Milo would have to get a little bit stronger to complete the climb to the hilltop. But climb they did, for years until both had grown up.
Thanks to progressive overload, adult Milo could pick up and carry a full grown bull! By training consistently and doing a little more each day, Milo enjoyed a career as an elite athlete that lasted over 20 years!

Milo and the bull

---

I don't have a bull, where can I start?

There's more than one way to train for strength, just like there's more than one type of strength. You can train with heavy weights to put on muscle or get more explosive. You can move, jump, twist and throw yourself and others to cultivate immense body control and relative strength. You can even just start by walking around the block or up the stairs one more lap than you did last week, increasing your capacity and decreasing risks for injury and illness.

What will you train for?

"Lifting you is easier than it was last time." "You must have GAS!"

No one starts here, it takes years of "carrying the bull"

My strongest recommendation to anyone is to do your homework and find a certified and reputable coach or trainer to help you meet your goals. The guidance, expertise and accountability of a fitness professional by your side will be invaluable to keeping you focused and progressing. 
But generally, you should start small. Even Milo started off with a small calf, so don't dive in to 6 ft. box jumps or 225 bench presses just because that's where you want to be. You need to nail down strong, clean technique and train for where you are rather than where you think you should be.

What kind of strength goals do you have? How are you meeting them? Let me know along with your burning questions about our other Starting Stats: Dexterity and Endurance- Coming soon!