Intensity Versus Insanity

Now, Some of you whom I've talked to know I wanted to make this post.
Its going to be as "off the cuff" as possible so the integrity of the "meaning" and trying to have to words come out of my mouth is saved.
Intensity, which is what should be called intensiveness, is something that I have found VERY hard to teach. Not only do people just flat out not get it, its not really desired by most people. to reach maximum results, I believe the person needs to develop intensity when lifting. What do I mean and where am I going with this? let me try to tell you.
starting out, with not only myself by with numerous/all clients, we need to learn proper technique. some of you will have heard me talk about how when you first start movements that are challanging, you'll squirm around. shoulders will buckle, legs will fly around etc. your body doesn't know that its not being crushed by a car, or that if you don't pullup (or lat pulldown) that you will far off a ledge and die.
we are inside a gym. this isn't going to happen. but none the less, our bodies BELIEVE this is going to happen. through proper instruction, this will and should diminish QUICKLY. once this is gone, proper technique is there, THEN we can start adding some weight to the bar/machine/exercise you're preforming. so now, once the weight becomes challanging, people will want to give up. of course, why not? i got my reps, put it down I'm done. WRONG. when you think you're done, get 2 more. get 3 more. get 12 more. how? this is that intensity/intensiveness I'm talking about. as dumb as it sounds, you have to want it. if you want to achieve your goals as badly as i do, you will go beyond failure yourself, not with spotted/forced reps, but by yourself. If the machine/bar is moving (provided proper technique is there) then DO NOT stop shoving/pulling until the bar/machine goes in the opposite direction you're tugging. I refer to there as the "magic reps". Unless otherwise instructed, take a couple nice big deep breaths at the top/lockout position, and guess what? do it again. make that same magic rep happen all over again. UNTIL YOU GET TO COMPLETE POSITIVE FAILURE, KEEP SHOVING/PULLING !!! whether your goal is to lose weight or build muscle or ANYTHING in between, this is your answer. does it hurt? or course. its it hard? harder than hard. will you want to give up? of course. BUT. to get better, to get closer to your goal, you MUST push yourself way passed your limits. This is why i use log books with everyone including myself. if you got 100 pounds for 7 reps last time, and it was hard, you had best get 8 this time. this is it. what that extra answer you've been looking for is. something i personally thing about, is that when im about to give up, i know someone else took a big, deep breath and did at LEAST one more rep than me. I am NOT going to shortchange my results. I'm going to walk away with everything on the table.
So, what's Insanity. well... If you have seen me in the gym, you'll notice I have "Freak" written on my weight belt, and on some of my water bottles. The reason why this is, is due to some of my clients observing my own training. They noticed i was shaking and struggling from rep 3 or 4. then I got to 20. These are something others have coined as "widowmakers". A gigantic, ridiculous, insane set of 20 with a weight that you should be able to get 10 reps with. so whats insanity? taking the technique, and intensity/intensiveness to an absolute maximum. In my weight career, which is currently over 8 years and running, this is something i have developed. I cannot teach it, I can only tell you that this single handedly has produced the best results. I have never injured myself in any way because of this. I did not pass out of bleed because of it. But i did leave the gym/rack/machine/bar COMPLETELY out of gas. nothing let in the tank. zero. knowing that i could not have made a better effort. know what the worst and best thing is at the exact same time? That I'll have to do it again. with either more weight or more reps, the next time i see this workout day. because this, ladies and gentlemen, is what produces the best possible results. developing intensity/intensiveness, then, attempting to generate insanity...