Ryan J. Mathias's Blog, page 20
August 30, 2018
Why You Should Limit Dairy After You Turn 20, or Sooner!
August 24, 2018
How To Manage Cravings!
Though cravings can sometimes be intense, they are controllable.
Learn why you have cravings, and what you can do to fight back!
August 21, 2017
The Mathias Method Story
This is
Our Story
The Mathias Method Story
“I was less than a year away from graduating college with a Degree in Exercise Science…but I was unsure of what I wanted to do.”
The idea and goal of creating the Mathias Method began on December 25th, 2015 (Christmas Day). I was sitting at home thinking of what I wanted to do with my life. I had my Personal Training Certification, but after doing some training I found it did not fulfill me. I was less than a year away from graduating college with a Degree in Exercise Science, and a Minor in Business, but I was unsure of what I wanted to do. My Financial Aid that paid for College was racked up to nearly $30,000 at this point. I wanted to find a way to invest $2,000 I had saved up, and turn it into a way to pay my loan.
“I had been searching for answers as to what I wanted to do in life for a while…”
I had just finished reading the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki, a few months before (which taught me me to save the $2,000 while still going to college) in an effort to learn more about how to be smart with my money. I looked at a few things to invest in, but none felt right. I had been searching for answers as to what I wanted to do in life for a while, and all I could think of was “Change the World”.
“…if I’m going to invest in something it should be an investment in myself.”
That’s when I decided that if I’m going to invest in something it should be an investment in myself. I believe in myself more than anything else, so if it went anywhere, it should go towards helping me follow my dreams. At least then I knew I truly was in control of my future and what I could accomplish. I wanted, and still want to, change the world, but at the time I did not have a “how”.
“It was like an idea just dropped right in my lap and told me what I needed to do.”
How was I going to change the world that is changing on its own so rapidly? I had already accomplished a lot at this stage of my life, as I was soon to earn my 3rd Degree Black Belt in Martial Arts, after over 13 years of consecutive training. Still I had no plan of how I was going to utilize my knowledge and experience. I began doubting myself, and was not sure that I had the strength to change the world. I wanted to help others by sharing with them my knowledge of how to grow STRONGER, and make a difference in their lives! Then it hit me! It was like an idea just dropped right in my lap and told me what I needed to do. Suddenly, I knew what I wanted to do! What I was meant to do. I wanted to help others change their world in order to change the world. With that in mind the plans for the Mathias Method were born! I quickly grabbed a note pad and started writing…
“I dove in head first as soon as the ideas popped into my head and have never turned back.”
[image error]Performing the Daily 30 on top of the Haleakala Volcanoe in Maui Hawaii
I began by writing down all the different programs, that you see as Levels 1-8 on MathiasMethod.com which teach people how to grow STRONGER from a beginner level, all the way through competitive strength sports. That same day I also put together the Daily 30, which teaches people to commit to themselves everyday, and always be moving forward towards their goals. I have now done the Daily 30 everyday since! I even did the first drawings of our Mathias Method Logo with all of its colors that same day, alongside the help of my family. I dove in head first as soon as the ideas popped into my head and have never turned back…
Continue Reading…
If you want to support us please check out
STRENGTH WORLD – Online Store
[image error]
August 9, 2017
My Strength Journey
This is
My STRENGTH Journey
The Ryan J. Mathias Way
How It All Began
My Strength Journey started as a child, when my dad started to have my two older brothers and I do, what he called, PT’s (Physical Training). My dad is a firefighter and he wanted to make sure his sons grew up healthy and strong, so he told us to do 50 Push-Ups, 50 Sit-Ups, and 100 Jumping Jacks everyday. Looking back, this was not very much to do and would only take maybe 20 minutes if we were slow (which we were). However, my dad was almost always at work to support our large family of 4 boys (the older 3 and my little brother) and my mom. We hated doing this easy task of PT’s, so we would really only do them whenever my dad came home for a day or two from work. This made for a very infrequent training regiment, but it planted the seed of the importance of strength and fitness.
“…it planted the seed of the importance of strength and fitness.”
The Next Step
The next step in my strength journey actually came on my own. I had been doing martial arts for a few years and in it we would do different variations of Push-Ups. I was quite good at doing push-ups at this time (likely from my dad’s initial push) and actually started to enjoy them. We would do 8 variations of push-ups in training that included standard, close, on knuckles, on fingertips, and on our wrists facing 4 different directions (this was to build wrist strength for martial arts). These were a fun challenge to me and I had the goal then of becoming STRONGER, so I started to do 70 push-ups (I skipped 1 wrist push-up variation that I didn’t like) everyday when I was about 11. I did this for about 6 months around the same time my dad got a bench press and weight set put in our garage. Again, whenever he was home he would have my older two brothers and I go do some bench press and dumbbell work. Generally it was 4×10 on everything done in a circuit fashion. I had the wrong mindset and thought that weights were too hard and would make me too stiff like bodybuilders. After a while my brothers began weight training at school with their football program, and we stopped training at home.
“I had the goal then of becoming STRONGER, so I started to do 70 push-ups everyday when I was about 11.”
Pushing For More
Even through the little weight training we did I made sure to do my 70 Push-Ups, because I wanted to get STRONGER. I didn’t want to be big, I just wanted more and more strength. So after 70 Push-Ups became too easy for me, I began implementing more push-up techniques until I had a very long and grueling push-up regiment that I would then do only twice a week. I would start with doing 1-15-1 Push-Ups in which I would do 1 Push-Up, rest for maybe 10-20 seconds, then do 2, 3, 4…up to 15 and back down again. That equated to 225 total push-ups in under about 15 minutes. Afterwards I would do my, no longer 7 but, 10 varied sets of push-ups which, over time, went from 10 to 20 to 30 push-ups each round. I would even do 5 standard push-ups as fast as I could immediately after each round of the different variations. THAT WAS 575 PUSH-UPS twice a week (Monday and Saturday)!!! Now, with that amount of volume I would not do complete push-ups for most of them. Too many were only half reps that I would not lockout, but more so try to pump out at the bottom. This was not to focus on the chest, but more just done because I had weak triceps that could not keep up with the volume.
“I didn’t want to be big, I just wanted more and more strength.”
I also added in some leg and ab work which I did even CRAZIER amounts of volume every Wednesday and Friday. For legs I would do some old school martial arts bodyweight techniques in which started with 500-750 knee bends. Knee bends are where you grab your ankles, then bend your knees until your bottom bounces off your ankles and then extend your legs again. It was a simple, but painful exercise that I did to absolute failure of 500-750 reps first thing. Looking back I see how bad that was for me, because my back was completely rounded throughout and my ankles became tight due to the constant bouncing. Next I would crouch down and do little hops in a crouched position for 100-200 reps doing 2 rounds. That would really burn my quads, cause damage to my knees and also make for even tighter ankles. I would finish with some bodyweight squats until I felt like puking. From there I would do different ab exercises for about 20 minutes. I did those 4 workouts per week, not including my 5 mile run every Sunday. Now it is great that I was training hard, but these workouts really just tore my body apart. Oh, did I mention that I would only workout with a full body plastic sweatsuit on that was under my sweatshirt and sweatpants? I also didn’t drink much water and almost never ate any fat! My idea was that if I ate fat, I would get fat. I even cut out the fat I saw on lunch meat!
“I would only workout with a full body plastic sweatsuit on that was under my sweatshirt and sweatpants.”
I Was Doing It All Wrong
Again, my goal was strength yet I had no idea of how to get there. I would do all this training volume, yet I was still not getting stronger or making any gains. In fact I was losing weight though I wanted to gain it! This training lasted from when I was 12 until I was about 16 and a half. I was really great at doing bodyweight exercise, however I was not getting any STRONGER, or bigger. My goal was to weight 202 pounds just like Rocky Balboa (I loved the Rocky movies), though I was stuck at 180-190. I only started doing what I really needed when I was 16…
Read My Full Strength Journey HERE!
[image error]Mathias Method Army supporting their General at the a USPA Meet
June 4, 2017
Do You Even Daily 30?
Do You Daily 30?
[image error]
The Daily 30
Consistency is key to reaching your Goals
Without consistency our goals can soon be replaced by other desires and easily slip away from us. Too often do we neglect our own health and fitness goals by putting others ahead of ourselves, or just by getting caught up in our busy lives. We forget that we are the most important part in helping others, because without your own health you cannot help anyone.
That is why I created the Daily 30! It teaches you to be consistent by keeping your goals and health in mind everyday. No matter how busy we get, we all have 2 minutes, and that’s all it takes to do this simple bodyweight exercise routine. It will teach you the Basis of Human Movement Patterns while giving you tremendous benefits if done consistently. Consistency is key, and it will lead you to achieving your goals!
Go Lead by Example! (Read More Below)
[image error]Performing the Daily 30 on top of the Haleakala Volcanoe in Maui Hawaii
What is the Daily 30?
The Daily 30 is a short and simple bodyweight exercise routine consisting of 3 exercises done for 10 repetitions each. These exercises are to be done at least once each and every day to teach your body to move safely using proper movement patterns. It takes less than 2 minutes to complete when done properly and will have an invaluable amount of benefits when done consistently over time.
Realize that the Daily 30 is NOT a Weight Loss or Strength Training Program when performed only once daily. It is meant to teach consistency and proper movements patterns. Check out our Programs Page for more!
__________________________________________________________________
What are the Benefits of the Daily 30?
The main benefit of doing the Daily 30 properly on a regular basis is increased neuromuscular proprioception, also known as the “mind-muscle” connection. This teaches your body to move properly by stimulating the correct muscles while going through normal and compromised ranges of motion. By gaining this increased muscle activation your body will better be able to protect itself from injury caused by both improper repetitive motion and quick reflexive action.
Other valuable benefits of the Daily 30 are:
Increased Mobility
Spinal Decompression
Joint Stabilization
Increased Body Control
Improved Gastro-intestinal Health
Improved Blood Flow Circulation
Base Level Muscular Strength
Joint Health
Improved Posture and
Builds Core Stabilization.
We Challenge you to put these claims to the test with the Daily 30 Challenge!
To learn more and how to perform the Daily 30 click below.
The Daily 30
Strength to You,
The STRONGer Coach
Ryan J. Mathias, CPT
Check out our eBook:
[image error]
The Daily 30:
Basis Of Human Movement Patterns and Improving Body Function
Learn how to move properly!
Increase your body function!
Gain benefits in under 2 minutes a day!
Become dedicated to your Health and Fitness!
Learn everything you need to know about basic human movement!
12+ Pages of detailed content!
Learn More!
Your STRENGTH Journey starts here!
Plus a 30% OFF discount code to StrengthWorld.store inside!
May 3, 2017
Focus: Accomplishing Goals
“Focus is where your attention is placed.”
Are you focused on the past? Are you focused on the future? Or are you focused on making today, this moment, the best moment it can be?
A very wise man, and a good friend of mine, Ray Razzanno has always taught me to be in the NOW. To be in the moment. To see what is going on NOW and not worry about anything else. You cannot change yesterday. You cannot solidify tomorrow. You can only change what you are doing NOW. To be focused you must be able to let everything else go, in that moment. It does not matter who you were, or what you did yesterday, or what you will be or will do tomorrow. The only thing that matters is what you do NOW to create your legacy.
Where you focus is where you will grow. By focusing on too many things at once you will see little to no change in any one area. Often times, a broad focus is more detrimental than good. The same goes for strength training, or building your body. There are three common goals that people pursue in training; building strength, increasing muscle tone or increasing endurance. Though these goals can all build upon and with each other, by focusing on all 3 you cannot have the greatest effect in any one area. To increase your strength to its highest level, you must let your endurance and muscle tone fade. Increasing muscle tone is harmful to your strength and building muscle is detrimental to your endurance. By building a great amount of endurance, you will lose maximal strength and decrease muscle size. However, focusing your efforts on one specific area, or goal you can see continued progress and reach your goal faster. Set your sights on one goal and stick with it until it is accomplished.
It is important to have a plan to reach any goal. Louie Simmons, a world renowned powerlifter, coach and owner of Westside Barbell, once quoted a powerful saying, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” To make a plan for any goal you need to answer three questions; why, how and what.
Why? – Why do you want to reach this goal? Why do you want change? Why are you pursuing this? Why do you need this? If you do not know why you are setting a goal then you will not stick with it. You must have a purpose for a goal to be meaningful. This question can only be answered by you. No one can tell you “why” except you.
How? – How are you going to accomplish your goal? How is this possible? How can you make it work? You must know how to accomplish a goal before starting your pursuit. This may require further education, guidance or advice from others that know more about it than you. Take a personal training client for example. If the client knew how to make their goals happen then they would do it themselves. Most personal training clients do not know how to reach their goals, which is why they seek the guidance of those with greater knowledge than themselves. To learn “how” to accomplish your goal, find guidance from those with experience in accomplishing the same, or a similar, goal.
What? – What do you need to do to accomplish this goal? What does it take to reach and surpass your own expectations? What do you need to do this year, month, week, and day to stay on track? What do you need to do NOW to accomplish your goal? When you know what you have to do, then all that is left is, to do it. You cannot just sit around and expect life to come to you. If you want something then go get it. The time is NOW!
After you have a plan of why you are pursuing your goal, how to reach it and what you have to do; what is left is using your focus to achieve it. Focus on doing whatever it takes to reach your goal. Use your focus daily and be committed to your goal. No excuses, just hard work. By doing little things every day, they will add up to great progress. Your goals may take days, months, or even years but if you stay focused you can accomplish them. The greater the goal, the more focus that is required. While you are acting on what you have to do to accomplish your goal don’t let yourself get distracted. Distractions stall progress. You must learn to maintain your focus and let it grow into a powerful strength.
There are many ways to grow your focus, including strength training. You cannot build enough strength to lift 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 or more pounds without increasing focus. It takes hard work to gain strength and a lot of patience. Not everything will come easy. You will be tested many times, but those that prevail will do so with greater focus. Just look around. How many people do you know that are strong enough to lift 500 or more pounds and are not focused? They may not have focus in the same areas as others but they have the ability to focus on any task they are given. Those with increasing strength know dedication, hard work and focus, as that is the “how” in accomplishing their strength goals.
Another powerful tool to increase your focus is to just relax and let everything else go. It does not matter where you are or what you are doing. Just be in the moment, and let everything else around you fade away. Do not think of your success or failures. Do not think of the noise or other bothers around you. Be relaxed and do not think of anything. Be in that moment. You can do this for 10 seconds, one minute or as long as you need to be able to better focus on the moment. No matter how busy our lives get we always have a minute available to re-focus. When you come back to action, let all the noise of life stay faded away as you focus on accomplishing the task in front of you. Leave the distraction far away while you are in the moment to create change. Focus on the NOW and make this moment the greatest it can be. Have no fear. Do not let emotion take over. Let there be nothing in your mind other than focus.
Focus is the ability to stay on track. The ability to continue towards one goal at a time until you surpass it. Goals are not achieved by mistake. It takes focus to accomplish any goal that is worth writing down. As a final tip, I encourage you to write down your goals and always keep them in mind. Make a list of life goals. Then list long term, or yearly goals. Finally, a list of short term or weekly and daily goals. These can be of any subject; financial, life, educational, strength, or health and fitness. No matter you goals, do not put them off. Make a plan for each goal and start working towards them. Find “why” you want to accomplish these goals. Find “how” you will accomplish them. Find “what” you need to do today to get started and do it. Make your life what you want it to be. Take action and bring about the change you want. It does not matter where you start. What matters is finishing. Set your goals, hone your focus and go get what is yours! When problems arise, welcome them as they make you STRONGer and use your focus to leap over them! No matter what, keep moving forward. Push to the end and never give up!
Strength to You,
Your STRENGTH JOURNEY Leader,
Ryan Mathias, CPT
*Read more Articles here: Articles
April 13, 2017
How To Be Successful Every Day!
Whether they are big or small, achieving your own success is your purpose in life. You were put on this earth to be more than average and obtain success in your own way. Now you just have to work towards it.
In this post, learn how to reach your goals and become successful!
Be Successful
Creating Your Own Success
–
Do you set goals? Are you working towards your goals? Have you created your own success?
–
Do you know how to reach success?
“If you stop after reaching success, then you have failed.”
Success can be small or large, but should never be overlooked. Success is obtained after reaching a goal, or taking steps towards a larger goal. The first step in creating your own success is finding what you want to achieve in life. What are your goals? What does success look like to you? What are your dreams? Whether they are big or small, achieving your own success is your purpose in life. You were put on this earth to be more than average and obtain success in your own way. Now you just have to work towards it.
After creating your goals, the first step in creating your own success is believing you can do it. You MUST believe in yourself in order to have any chance of success. If you want to change the world, then you must believe you can change the world! You have to believe even when it is difficult. No matter how hard it may be to obtain, you have to believe it is attainable. If you do not have a belief in yourself, then you have no chance. Life is not going to just hand itself over to you and give you all you dreamed of. You have to go out and take it. Take what is yours! This is your purpose in life so no one, and nothing can take that away from you. Believe and you can achieve!
Though belief in yourself is the most important piece of success, alone it is not enough to reach your goals. You need a plan. If you do not have a plan, you plan to fail. Your plan does not have to be perfect, extremely detailed or even fully complete. Your plan may be just to reach one small goal at a time on your way to a larger goal, and then re-adjusted from there. Plans should never be set in stone, because things are always changing. Life changes, challenges come up, even goals change. We must always be able to adjust and keep moving forward. Make a plan, follow it as long as you can, and adjust as needed to keep progressing.
The final step in creating your own success is action. You must take action if you are ever going to achieve your goals. No one ever achieved anything by staying still. You may be pushed backward over and over again, but as long as you push harder forward you will reach your success. From your plan take steps towards your goal everyday. Even small steps will take you to the top of the mountain. Do at least one thing everyday towards your goals and nothing can stop you from achievement. Be determined and stand tall. Even when it gets hard, and you don’t feel like it, do something that moves you towards your goal. Take action today, tomorrow, and everyday until you surpass everything you ever dreamed of! Make progress everyday and be proud of your small accomplishments for they lead to great success.
If you are looking to create your own success in life, ask yourself these 3 questions; Why, How, and What? From your answers you will find your purpose. Belief in yourself is the Why in your goal. Your plan is the How you are going to achieve it. Taking action is your What you are going to do to get there. These are the pieces to your life puzzle. Go now and create your own success, but remember, success lasts for only a moment. After succeeding, it’s time to look for what is next so you always are pushing for more. Now I ask…Why, How, and What are you going to do next?
Keep getting stronger my friends!
Strength to you,
Ryan Mathias, CPT
Owner and Creator
MathiasMethod.com
April 7, 2017
The Mathias Method Strength System Guide
Learn how to use the Mathias Method Strength System to build unbelievable Strength and improve Performance!
