Imagine setting a goal to lose weight or build strength, then walking into the gym for the first time and having to complete a physical fitness test in order to join.
As crazy as that sounds, many people have a misconception that you have to be at a certain fitness level in order to start taking classes at 10.40.10 Fitness. It’s almost as if they believe they have to work out somewhere else first in order to get in good enough shape to work out here.
But in fact, the opposite is true. No matter where you are on your fitness journey, our coaches can help you modify the movements in order to complete the workouts at a level that’s challenging for you specifically. We call it scaling.
Scaling simply means changing part - or parts - of the workout to match your fitness level. Examples include adjusting the weight, decreasing the number of repetitions or modifying the distance.
And one of the coolest things about scaling properly for each person is that it allows a brand-new member to work out alongside someone who’s been at the gym for years, and both are being challenged appropriately.
How Scaling Can Fast-Track Your Fitness Results.
While it may seem counterintuitive to decrease weights or repetitions as a way to boost results, the principal at work is actually just meeting you where you’re at to get you the best workout possible.
Your 10.40.10 coaches have years of experience in helping people just like you to reach their goals. And not only will scaling help you to lose weight or gain strength faster, but there are other benefits as well.
1. Build Confidence.
Imagine that you show up to class one day and your coach explains that the workout will include a plank. If it’s ten seconds at a time, your excitement toward the workout might change significantly than if you were asked to try to hold a plank for two minutes at a time. Ten seconds? Confidence building. Two minutes? Not so much.
And that’s why scaling is so important. We want you to feel confident that you can accomplish each of the movements, repetitions and weights prescribed to you each day.
2. Develop Better Technique.
Some gyms are more concerned with the weight you lift than the fact that you’re lifting it correctly. At 10.40.10 Fitness, that’s not the case. Because if you don’t focus on the proper form and technique right from the start, you can struggle to improve over time.
The best part is, the whole process is cyclical. Dial in your form and achieve better fitness results. Then, your good form will allow you to lift more or perform faster reps, which will keep bettering your results. On the other hand, if you started with sub-par form and never corrected it, you’re likely to reach a limit eventually with your lifts or movements.
3. Have More Fun.
No matter where you’re at on your fitness journey, being frustrated after a workout is no bueno. On the flip side, experiencing the ‘I just did that’ feeling when the clock hits 0:00 can’t be beat. And that feeling comes from feeling successful because you’ve found the appropriate stimulus, and you’re making progress. It’s what makes your experience at the gym fun and motivating for the long run.
Why Scaling is Applicable for Everyone (Yes, You).
The fact is, every member in the gym has different strengths and weaknesses. A certain movement might be one person’s jam and another person’s struggle bus. And while it’s important to work on your weaknesses without compromising your strengths, scaling a workout as needed is truly the fast track to better fitness results.
This applies to everyone, whether you’ve been at the gym for five days or five years. And when it comes to the latter, sometimes refusing to scale appropriately is simply an ego thing. And this can be detrimental to your progress, in addition to creating the potential for injury.
Ultimately, the goal is for you to reach the end of your workout and feel… well, like you got a great workout. But bench pressing until you can’t lift your arms or lunging until you can’t get up out of your chair the next day is actually damaging to your fitness plan.
On the other hand, you don’t want to finish your workout and feel like you could easily do it all over again. Scaled doesn’t mean easy and every workout should be challenging. You reap the benefits when each movement requires the right amount of effort, and the intended intensity is preserved.
The key is finding that perfect balance between “too hard” and “too easy.” If Goldilocks scaling isn’t a thing, it should be, because “just right” is what we’re going for here.
The Best Fitness Results Happen When You Do You.
So, the next time you’re in the gym, give it a try. Look at the workout and figure out how to make it just the right level of intensity for you.
Need help? That’s what your coaches are here for!
Then over time, you’ll get to enjoy all the benefits of a fitness program that’s tailored to your specific goals and fitness level. You’ll stay motivated, get better results because of correct technique and have a ton of fun along the way.
