I’ve had enough conversations on jumping the last few weeks that it seems worth mentioning. No, not the very cool (that I’ll never do) cliff jumping into beautiful, welcoming waters. But program jumping in strength training.

Look people, you need to find a program and stay the course. The Iron can be boring. Day in, day out, a few pounds more here, a few pounds less there. Some days you feel strong, some days you don’t. Smelly knee sleeves; favorite training shirt almost torn to shreds; shorts that have yet to burst from your ever swelling squat ass; squat shoes that have been resoled at least three times…glamorous we ain’t.

But we are consistent. We all share the goal, get stronger. Be Strongest. But that takes years, not months. It takes a dedication to a program; it takes a dedication to being a beginner…for a while. A long while. Someone placed the redunkulous notion out there that gains come quickly. You flip a tire in boot camp? Whell clearly you’re ready for a strongman contest. You’ve done one powerlifting meet? Whell clearly you’re ready for a new program for the next one.

Ever wonder why people listen to folks like Rip, Wendler, Dan John, or Tommy Suggs? Because the knowledge they’ve accrued has taken them YEARS. Get it? Not a couple, but decades. Agree or disagree with their programming, I don’t care. That’s not the point. The point is that they’ve tweaked their program with years and years of experience watching others succeed (or not) using them over (say it with me ) YEARS, not weeks or months. I’ve just read on someone’s training log how their squats have not progressed in over a year. Looking back at the log, you can see how they’ve switched lifting styles; programming; diet; lack of diet; and anything else vital to an effective strength program. Well DUH! OH! They’ve also jumped coaches, at least four in a year. Huh. Guess what moron, your results reflect exactly what you’ve put into your training.

Find a program, eek out every ounce of strength you can from it. When it’s time to switch things up, pay a few bucks to someone with enough knowledge to recognize that you MUST STAY THE COURSE. As antsy as you are to try the next fad, stay the course. You’ll save years of wasted training.

Or not. At least you’ll have something to bitch about on your training log.