The secret to happiness is picking heavy things off the ground.  

Then putting them overhead.

And yes, I'm only half joking.

I've written about 30 blog posts on the former, but I haven't completely covered the latter. Here's my attempt to change that.

It's hard to write about pressing weight overhead because ~50% of people struggle with owning that position.  Sometimes it's a stability problem or a mobility issue - both of which are secretly stability issues. For others, they may be "cleared" to press overhead, but they suffer from back or shoulder pain.

I remember it vividly.  I hit a brick wall.  

Only it wasn't an actual wall.  It was my two failed attempts at pressing the Beast - a 48 kilogram (106 lbs) kettlebell.  Yes, it's pretty much a person.

It occurred two weeks ago when I attended a StrongFirst Kettlebell certification. During the certification, StrongFirst offers "The Beast Tamer Challenge," which is exactly what it sounds like.  The challenge is made up of the following:

-A strict, one arm military press with a 48k kettlebell. 

-A dead hang, tactical-style (thumbless grip) pull-up with a 48k kettlebell.

-A single leg, pistol squat with a 48k kettlebell.

You don't receive anything for completing it.  A handshake, respect, and the right to call yourself a Beast Tamer. That's it. Less than 50 men around the world have ever completed it.  On the women's side, the challenge is all three movements but with a 24 kilo (53 lbs) bell.  Less than 25 women have ever completed it.  

I guess you could say I was shooting for the stars. Weighing in at 188 lbs, the 48k bell was 56% of my bodyweight. I would've been one of the lighter Beast Tamers to complete it.  Would've.

This title isn't a joke.  A form of click bait, yes.  But a joke?  No.

You're skeptical.  I get that.  How could a meathead like myself throw in the towel on benching?  

But this isn't an overreaction to headlines that NFL teams are adopting Turkish Get-Ups instead of bench presses. And if someone's stated goal is to bench more weight, well guess what?  We're going to bench.  

But if someone's goal is to move better and feel better?  Forgive me, Lord Schwarzenneger, but we probably won't bench. Ever.

Is perfect the enemy of good?  I don't think it is.  I've seen too many people believe they need to be "perfect" with their nutrition in order to lose weight.

But willpower only lasts so long.

I always believe that we don't need to be perfect to see the success we want.  If we move the big rocks - sleep more, drink more water, find solutions to navigate the toughest part of our day or week - we're going to get 80% of the way there.

But the bigger problem?  The need to have a perfect diet stems from this fundamental belief: that weight loss is the only marker of a successful nutrition plan.  Or worse, that someone should only eat better if they want to lose weight.

Whatever happened to following a good nutrition plan just because it's good for us?

I can't remember when I did my first pull-up.  But I can tell you it wasn't until I was in my 20's.

Growing up I was the kid in gym class who would attempt a pull-up, not get anywhere close, then fall to my feet in shame.  I also remember being a lanky freshman in college, and how sore my biceps would be after carrying a case of bottled water up four flights of stairs.

But I think I've made up for lost time.

During a two and a half month stretch earlier this year, I increased my bodyweight pull-up total from 13 to 20.  My results may not be typical - after all, it's 0.5 more pullups/week - but I think my plan and program were a big reason for my success.  

(As well as some loud, obnoxious, early 2000's heavy metal to help along the way.)