The Iron Never Lies—But You Might Be Training Like a Fool

May 15, 2025

This might ruffle feathers, but it needs to be said… most trainers and lifters don’t really train. They pose. They perform. They scroll between sets.

But real training? That’s missing. No system. No progression. Just show up, sweat a bit, and wonder why they’re not stronger, leaner, or bigger.

I’ve seen it for years... clients spinning their wheels, trainers pretending they’re artists instead of architects. So let’s talk about something ancient, brutal, and absolutely essential.

This Ain’t New

Back in 1911, a man named Alan Calvert—a guy who wore wool and lifted iron before your grandpa was born—wrote the world’s first true course on building muscle.

Calvert ran the Milo Barbell Company. He didn’t mess around. His workouts were raw, full-body, and ran on a clock… 45 minutes of focused hell. And the system?

Brilliant in its simplicity:

Start at 5 reps
Every 3rd workout, add a rep
When you hit 10? Add 10 pounds
Start over at 5

It was called the Double Progression Method, and you can still use it today to build muscle that doesn’t flinch when life gets loud.

Here’s what Calvert actually wrote.

Here’s Where You’re Screwing It Up

You change your client’s program every week. You toss in battle ropes because they “feel” hard. You avoid heavy sets because they’re not “fun.”

Newsflash... results don’t come from novelty. They come from brutal, boring, consistent effort.

Want a method that works? Use rep ranges.

Example:
3 sets of hip thrusts... 10–12 reps.

Hit 12? Add 5 pounds
Hit 10 or 11? Stay there
Next week? Start with the new weight... don’t go backward

Most trainers don’t teach this. Most clients don’t even know it exists. That’s why no one’s getting stronger.

Train Like It Means Something

If you knew you had to beat last week’s numbers, how would you show up?

You’d sleep better
You’d eat like an athlete
You’d warm up with intention
You wouldn’t train on an empty stomach at midnight after scrolling TikTok for two hours

Why? Because you’d have something worth chasing.

That’s what progression does. It gives you purpose. It turns a mindless workout into a mission. And it’s your job as a trainer to show your clients the map.