I have been lifting weights for over 14 years now, and it has been hands down one of the best decisions I have ever made.

If you are thinking of beginning your self-improvement journey, start with lifting weights.

If you are not thinking of beginning your self-improvement journey, why not?

What else is there to do other than becoming the best version of yourself? But that is a topic for another article.

Why should you start with lifting weights rather than coding, for example? Coding can make you lots of money, while fitness does not…

Certainly! Here’s a revised version of the text with improved grammar and clarity:

Why Weight Lifting?

Weight lifting shares the same principles used to master any other skill, whether it’s coding, business, dating, or social skills. I will go over these principles in the next section.

This is true for almost every skill.

But!

Weight lifting is far easier to master than many other skills. It’s quite straightforward.

Well, not super easy.

But the core of weight lifting is relatively simple to understand:
you pick up a heavy object,
then you put the heavy object down.

It’s more nuanced than that, but you can’t deny that weight lifting is simpler compared to other skills, like coding.

Not only is weight lifting easier to grasp, but it’s also easier to be consistent with.

Consistency is mainly driven by positive feedback. You see results, you repeat the task, and you see even more results.

For most skills, it’s hard to see tangible results quickly, but with fitness, the results are immediately noticeable. During a workout session, you can feel and see the pump in your muscles.

Additionally, with fitness, you experience what’s known as “newbie gains.” Beginners often make the most progress in the first few months of their journey.

Since most progress occurs early on and it takes a few months to form a habit, weight lifting is the easiest area of self-improvement to get into.

The most powerful aspect of fitness is that you carry the results with you everywhere you go. I’ll revisit this point at the end of this article.

Principles

As I mentioned, fitness shares the same principles required to master any other skill. I have unconsciously applied these principles to master a skill that is the total opposite of fitness: coding.

The key principles are:

• Consistency
• Breaking through limiting beliefs
• Vision
• Game Plan

There may be other principles, but these are the most important ones I’ve identified.

Consistency

I know, I know.

You’re probably tired of hearing this, but consistency is, of course, the most important part of mastering any skill. To master a skill, you must practice it consistently.

Everybody knows this, and it really is that simple. Yet, not many people have mastered a skill they chose for themselves.

Yes, most people are good at their jobs, but that’s because they are consistent with their work (or at least, I hope so). Often, they need to be consistent to put food on the table.

I used the word “chosen” intentionally.

You need to be consistent with your job because others rely on you. If you’re not consistent, others—such as your partner, children, manager, or boss—will ensure you stay on track.

But when it comes to your fitness and health, nobody gives a damn.

So, it’s much harder to stay consistent with your fitness.

The number of people who stay consistent compared to those who start and quit is incredibly small.

Maybe only 0.1%, and I’m not exaggerating. Out of the thousands of people who join the gym and quit, perhaps only 3-4 are consistent—and they look fit.

Coincidence? No.

To build a physique you can be proud of, you need to be consistent. There’s no way around it.

Similarly, to be an excellent coder, you have to code consistently. There’s no way around that either.

Breaking Limiting Beliefs

Consistency is a vital component of fitness, but it’s not enough on its own. You also need to improve every time you go to the gym.

This concept is known as Progressive Overload.

You can’t expect to grow muscle if you’re using 2-pound dumbbells year after year.

You need to gradually increase the weights you lift each week.

Each week, you have to challenge and overcome your limiting beliefs about whether you can handle the heavier weight.

This principle applies to every skill. With any skill, you’ll encounter limiting beliefs that hold you back, such as:

• Am I smart enough to code?
• Can I create a fully functional website?

It might sound a bit trivial, but by constantly breaking through these limiting beliefs with weights in the gym, you build a stronger inner belief.

This newfound confidence will extend into other areas of your life. This inner belief helped me to excel in coding and improve my social life.

Vision

To stay consistent and push through tough times and limiting beliefs, you need a vision.

Why do you want to get fit? What is your desired outcome? What is your vision?

It doesn’t matter if your motivation is vanity.

I had a similar reason. I wanted to look like Goku from Dragon Ball Z. Yes, it was superficial.

What matters is that your vision is compelling enough to drive you through the tough times and keep you consistent.

Your reasons and vision may evolve over time, but you need a strong vision—one that is powerful enough to help you overcome negative emotions and stay on track.

Maybe your vision is to have a longer life. Maybe it’s to have the energy to play with your kids.

Have a vision. In every skill or hobby you pursue, have a vision.

A boxer wouldn’t train hard without a specific fight to prepare for.

Similarly, a boxer needs a clear plan; otherwise, he’s just engaging in random activities.

That’s where a game plan comes in.

Game Plan

The last, but certainly not least, principle is: Game Plan.

So, what do I mean by Game Plan?

I’m referring to your workout plan or any structured approach to reaching your goal.

In every endeavor, you need a roadmap to achieve your vision. Both the vision and game plan must be in place to ensure consistency.

If your vision is to build a body like Goku’s but you don’t know what exercises to do, you’ll feel lost and confused, leading to a lack of motivation and ultimately, inconsistency.

In today’s world, finding a game plan for achieving your vision is more accessible than ever, thanks to the internet.

However, the internet is both a blessing and a curse.

It’s a blessing because you can access the game plans of those who have already achieved what you want to achieve.

It’s a curse because there is so much information, and it can be overwhelming to determine who to trust.

In fitness, it’s somewhat easier to identify questionable game plans. If someone doesn’t look like they lift weights, they probably don’t. So, avoid following their game plan.

But even if someone appears fit, their game plan could still be unreliable.

So, how do you know if a game plan is genuinely effective?

Does it focus on the fundamentals?

If not, skip it.

To determine if a game plan focuses on the fundamentals, cross-reference it. Search online for the fundamentals of the skill you want to master. The fundamentals are usually well-known, so you won’t have to search too long.

If the game plan doesn’t focus on the fundamentals but emphasizes niche or unique methods, don’t follow it.

I’ve written a whole article about the fundamentals:

Conclusion

The principles discussed are universally applicable to mastering any skill, as they were for me with coding.

I remember how frustrating it was to encounter one error after another, with people doubting my ability to learn coding. This frustration triggered memories from my fitness journey. The same individuals who told me I wasn’t smart enough to code had once said I was too skinny to build muscle.

This reassured me that I was on the right track and reminded me of the principles that had previously guided me through challenges in fitness.

Vision: I wanted to build my own fitness app.
Game Plan: I identified the fundamentals of coding and sought out courses or tutorials to provide a structured approach.

Applying the principles of breaking through limiting beliefs and consistency from fitness taught me that success requires time and perseverance.

In essence, these principles help you stay consistent and manage the negative emotions and apathy that arise during your journey. Success in any endeavor is attainable, but it requires pushing through those negative feelings.

Fitness, in particular, is a powerful skill to master because it embeds these principles deeply into your life.

Your body becomes a testament to your resilience. It serves as a tangible reminder of the principles you’ve applied and the challenges you’ve overcome.

The best part? Whenever you look in the mirror, you see proof of your ability to achieve your next goal. Your body stands as evidence that you can succeed.