MetaPhysique Weekly #021: How to Train for It All

Men like us refuse to be one-dimensional.

We want the whole damn package:

• Strong as an Ox

• Built like an action hero

• A Gas Tank that never quits

But somewhere along the way, fitness culture convinced us that we have to choose:

So we try to solve the problem by doing more…

…and end up stuck doing everything at once and progressing in nothing.

Because when you chase progress in every direction at once?

You water down every effort.

That’s the real problem.

How Men Stay Stuck

When a man finally decides to take his training seriously, he usually falls into one of two traps:

Trap #1 — The Everything At Once Approach

3 Days of Heavy Lifts for strength.
2 Days dedicated to building muscle.
Running twice a week.
Mobility. Conditioning. Stretching. Skill work.

The Result:
Lots of effort…and no results to show for it.

Trap #2 — The Specialist Trap

You double down where you’re already comfortable:

Only lifting.
Only running.
Only what’s familiar.

The Result:
You become solid in one dimension… while everything else quietly erodes.

Both paths are hard work.

Neither path gets you the capable body you actually want.

The Principle That Changes Everything

This is the cheat code no one talks about.

Let’s make it concrete:

When you spread your time and energy across everything equally…

You’re never giving enough to significantly improve anything.

But if you give one quality the attention it requires to grow…

…and simply maintain the others…

You unlock continuous, compounding progress.

The Strategy

You rotate through seasons of focus — typically 8 to 16 weeks:

• One main focus

• Two maintenance qualities

• Repeat

Suddenly:

• You build muscle without losing endurance

• You grow your engine without shrinking

• You get stronger without losing your physique

Your body becomes capable in every direction — just not all in the same month.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

Season 1 — Aesthetics / Muscle

• High-volume hypertrophy work (moderate weights, higher reps, LOTS of sets)

• Strength is Maintained through the lifting you’re doing for muscle building

• Maintain endurance with 1–2 easy aerobic zone runs

→ More visible muscle, same conditioning

Season 2 — Strength & Athleticism

• Heavier lifts, power work, jumps

• Muscle Mass is maintained through the Heavier Lifts that you’re doing for strength

• One Zone 2 session

→ Stronger, more explosive — while still filling out your t-shirts

Season 3 — Endurance / Engine

• Zone 2 + light speed work 3-4 Times/Week

• Lifting 2x/week will maintain both strength and size

→ Bigger engine — without losing size or strength

The Big Idea

You can’t drive several traits forward at the same exact time.

But you can drive one…
while keeping the others exactly where you want them.

A few focused seasons a year and you’ve:

1. Gained muscle

2. Improved strength & power

3. Built an bigger gas tank
   
   Zoom out and look at the year?

You’re progressing in every direction.

To the outside world, it looks like you’re “doing it all.”

The truth is far simpler:

That’s how real, lasting progress happens.

What this unlocks

Progress becomes predictable.
Results compound.
Your training supports your life — instead of consuming it.

You become physically capable of anything you want to say yes to.

And that’s the point.

Much love,