Trusting Your Coach

[Gladiola]

Had a beer with my Olympic lifting coach last night. It was actually a business meeting, but that’s not the point.

I mentioned that I miss the previous intensity of my workouts. He’s been kinda teasing me when I talk of the volume & intensity of my past training. Keeps saying, “You sure you don’t want to be a bodybuilder?” He then states that the intensity of my training has declined while I learn technique, but when the time is right, he’ll bring the intensity back up.

“How will you know when the time is right?” I ask.

<Grinning> “I’ll just know. Sometimes I’m more intuitive than detail oriented.”

<laughing> “It’s just so strange to me to think of someone else knowing my body & ability better than myself.”

<Grins again> “You’ve never had a coach before.”

<smiles> “True!! I’ve always been used to running the show. With my own workouts, working with my training partner, & teaching aerobics classes. I’ve always directed everything.”

It’s still taking some getting used to. Strange, but fun & cool experience. I don’t have much of a point here, just sharing. Anyone else have to get used to having a coach?

 

[Sassy69]

A good coach will answer the questions you ask when you want to know "why ... this or that". If they dont' answer, it seems they are trying to lock u (make you dependent on them) in so you don't have the knowledge for yourself, or they just don't know.

You should get constructive criticism from your coach - not someone who blows happy smoke up your ass.

If you feel that your coach is "slacking" somewhere -- maybe not giving you the full attention you need -- then you should be comfortable saying something. If something doesnt' feel "right" to you, you should watch for that as well. You are obviously serious about what you are doing , so you aren't hiring the guy to be an expensive babysitter.

 

[The Shadow]

Either ou trust or you don't - go with your gut....I'm a little like him in his approcah.....so..

 

[Gladiola]

I definitely trust him, he is phenomenal! There is no question that I trust & respect him - I was just commenting on how it was a strange feeling for me.

I suppose my snippet of a story really didn't show the whole picture. Since I am learning the Olympic Lifts, there is so much technique to learn & a LOT of it requires UN-LEARNING what I have done for years & years. So focusing on intricate techniques requires going lighter. I miss my intensity, but I got a little more intensity tonight mixed with the technique work.

Someone on the PL board stated that no one knows your body like you do. I think my Coach was saying that when my technique is at a certain level is when he will begin really challenging my strength - & that's when "the time is right". I already went heavier on the squats tonight! 45KG!

 

[The Shadow]

he is revving you up till the day.......

 

[Sassy69]

He's definitely right in that you are learning a new discipline - PL vs just lifting. You can go heavy when he feels you have mastered the technique that will allow you to now focus on heavier weights without hurting yourself.

My experience with turning over all my trust and everything to a trainer is being open to the fact that he might know something that I don't -- sort of like being able to take constructive criticism on your lifts and then adapting them into your lifting schedule -- its either your approach or his -- you can't keep changing what you are doing -- this is the problem you run into when you listen to too many different people. HOWEVER, if your trainer starts telling you things that just seem counter to what you feel or understand, then you need to say something & not back down until you get a satisfactory answer. I did end up getting trained the wrong way and ending up w/ a few more persistent aches & pains and a few more extra pounds that shouldn't have been there because I listened to and trusted my trainer. And then I let my common sense be over ridden by my "trust" for his methods.

I'm saying what Corni is saying -- you are old enough to know when something "ain't right" and just go with that. However it sounds like you are being let into the "inner secrets" of a new discipline .... listen well and learn, grasshopper.