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At Axis Strength Training, integrity means following through. If we say we’re going to do something, we do it. Period. This isn’t just a gym philosophy—it’s how you build real confidence in yourself. Confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you earn by keeping your word, especially to yourself. Every time you commit to something and follow through—whether it’s a tough workout, a daily walk, or showing up when it’s inconvenient—you stack proof that you are who you say you are. You build trust in yourself. On the flip side, every time you break a promise to yourself, confidence erodes. You feel frustrated, your self-esteem drops, and you become less likely to take on challenges. Over time, this makes it harder to grow, harder to believe in yourself, and harder to change. But here’s the good news: you can change that today. Start small. Pick one thing you can realistically commit to—a daily walk, 10 push-ups, 10,000 steps a day. Choose a challenge that stretches you, but one you know you can accomplish with consistency. Then commit. No excuses. No exceptions. When you stick with it—day after day—you’ll start to feel the difference. You’ll begin to trust yourself again. And that’s when real confidence starts to build. From there, you can take on bigger goals: getting in shape, improving your relationships, building discipline, and reaching your potential. This is how growth happens—through consistent action, not motivation. Confidence comes from the reps, just like strength. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure of yourself, start with one small, powerful promise—and keep it. You’ve got this. We’re rooting for you. —Team Axis

Let’s get one thing straight: you're not going to be perfect. Not now, not ever. And that’s okay, because perfection is a myth, and chasing it is a waste of time. What is real? Progress. And progress only comes when you stop waiting for the stars to align and start showing up. There will be mistakes. Setbacks. Days where you feel like a total mess. Good. That means you’re doing it right. This isn’t about flawless execution, it’s about relentless consistency. You don’t need the perfect plan, the ideal conditions, or some magical burst of motivation. You just need to get your ass in the room and do the work. At Axis Strength Training, we’re not here to sugarcoat things. We’re here to help you cut through your own bullshit and get results. That means facing the voice in your head, the one that says, “You’re not good enough,” or “You’ll never get there,” or “Why bother?” That voice is a liar. It’s fear talking. And you don’t owe it a damn thing. You will not always feel like training. Show up anyway. You will feel like you're spinning your wheels at times. That’s normal. Stick with it. Your mind will tell you stories to keep you safe and comfortable. But comfort is the enemy of growth. That comfort zone? That’s where dreams go to die. Listen, I’ve been doing this for years, and I still have to battle that voice. “You’re too old.” “You’re not improving.” “This is pointless.” It never fully goes away. But you get stronger at tuning it out. You build new stories. Better stories. Stories rooted in action, effort, and truth: I’m making progress. I’m showing up for myself. I’m stronger than my excuses. So when your brain starts throwing excuses at you, when it says you’re tired, busy, or just not feeling it, recognize it for what it is: resistance. And then crush it. One rep at a time. One decision at a time. One day at a time. The truth is, this is going to take longer and be harder than you think. But you will get there. How? By showing up. Over and over and over again. So get your mind right. Know that it’s supposed to be hard. Embrace the suck. Do it anyway. Because you deserve more than mediocrity. You deserve strength, clarity, confidence. You deserve to look in the mirror and be proud of the person staring back. Set yourself up for success, starting now. Not next Monday. Not when life gets easier. Not when you “feel ready.” Now. Get in the room. Put in the work. Ignore the excuses. And keep showing the hell up.

Let’s get one thing straight, taking care of you is not selfish, it’s essential. If you're not pouring into yourself, you won't have the capacity to pour into others. You can't give from an empty cup. If you're not sharpening your mind, strengthening your body, building your energy, or living at the standard you know deep down you're capable of, then you're not in a position to fully serve anyone else. Your influence, your impact, your ability to uplift others, all of it is limited by how well you're taking care of you. You want to give more to the people you love? Then level up. Do you want to inspire others? Then become someone worth looking up to. Your health, your discipline, your mindset, your energy, these aren't luxuries. They're your foundation. When you rise, you lift others with you. When you lead by example, you give others permission to do the same. But if you’re constantly running on fumes, giving half-effort, living below your potential, then no matter how good your intentions are, you’re short-changing both yourself and the people you care about. The moral of the story? Become the strongest, sharpest, highest version of yourself, so that you can give, serve and lead at your fullest potential. Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s the most selfless thing you can do.

I’ve seen it time and time again: the greatest obstacle people face in getting fit and healthy isn’t their schedule, genetics, or even their metabolism — it’s themselves. Let’s be honest. It’s not your job, your kids, your busy calendar, or your age. It’s not menopause, a slow metabolism, or some unlucky hand you’ve been dealt. Those things are real — but they’re not the reason. The truth is, most people use those realities as excuses to stop pursuing their goals. Yes, life is busy. Most people have responsibilities, stress, and challenges. Almost no one was born with superhuman discipline or elite genetics. The difference between those who achieve lasting health and those who don’t isn’t luck — it’s consistency. It’s choosing to make healthy decisions over and over again. And when they fall off track (because everyone does), successful people get right back on. That’s it. That’s the secret. It’s simple, but not easy. We all know what to do: eat mostly real, nutritious foods. Move your body regularly. Do that consistently over time. That’s the formula. There are no magic pills or secret diets. No special workouts that only "fit" people know about. And you don’t have to be perfect. You can enjoy a drink or a treat now and then. You don’t need to train seven days a week — three or four solid sessions is enough. What matters is sticking with it long-term. What trips most people up are the small daily choices. Saying no to the couch and yes to a workout. Choosing to cook a simple meal instead of swinging through the drive-thru. It’s not the big, dramatic decisions. It’s the little habits that add up over weeks, months, and years. Most people simply choose the easier path more often than the harder one. And that leads to poor health, low energy, and regret down the road. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to be a machine. You just have to choose the harder, better path slightly more often than you choose the easy one. Hard now = easy later.  Easy now = hard later.   Choose your hard. At Axis, we’re not about perfection — we’re about progress. We help people learn to trade short-term comfort for long-term freedom. The freedom of strength, confidence, and health. So here’s the question:  What will you choose moving forward? To book a free “No Sweat” Intro, simply click this link 👉 Contact | Axis Strength

A lot of people believe they can simply will  themselves to victory. Some can—and do. But many don’t. Over the years, I’ve seen that relying on willpower alone often leads to frustration and, ultimately, failure. Instead, I like to focus on building systems. Systems that work within your daily routines. When you combine a good system with willpower, you dramatically improve your chances for success. Take this example: you’ve decided you want to lose weight and build muscle. So you declare you’re going to start working out every day at 4 a.m., even though you’ve never been a morning person. If that plan sticks for you, fantastic—run with it! But more often, this approach is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. People who’ve never consistently woken up early end up exhausted, discouraged, and eventually give up altogether. Instead, look for ways to weave fitness into the schedule you already have. For example, maybe you pick up your kids from school at 3 p.m. and spend an hour sitting in the car while they’re at practice. That’s a perfect opportunity to create a system. Instead of scrolling your phone, use that built-in downtime to get to the gym, go for a run, or take a walk. Because it’s already part of your day, it takes much less willpower than forcing yourself out of bed at 4 a.m. Now, I’m all for early morning workouts if that genuinely works for you. But if it isn’t sticking, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it just means you haven’t found the right system yet. Especially when you’re first starting out, don’t make it harder than it has to be. Look for the time slot that fits easiest into your current routine and commit to that. Keep showing up consistently. If your schedule changes, adjust. Over time, you’ll discover what works best for you, and you’ll always have the freedom to tweak your routine along the way. You don’t have to disrupt your whole life to get your workouts in. Start by finding the spaces where fitness fits naturally—and build from there. Ready to create a system that actually works for you ? Visit axisstrengthtraining.com  and schedule your free “No Sweat Intro”  to sit down with us and talk about your goals. Let’s build your plan together!

Recently, I asked our Axis Strength Training community for topics you’d like me to cover here or on the podcast. The first suggestion I received was a big one: the importance of recovery, hydration, sleep, and nutrition. So here we go. Let’s start with the basics: Recovery matters.  In strength training, recovery is everything that happens between your training sessions. When we lift weights—resistance training, strength training, whatever you prefer to call it—we are literally breaking our muscles down. The act of training creates micro-tears in muscle fibers. That’s the stimulus for growth. But it’s not the training itself that makes you stronger—it’s what happens after . Once you finish your workout, your body gets to work repairing those micro-tears. That repair process is what rebuilds your muscles bigger and stronger. Without enough protein, carbs, fats, water, and sleep, your body can’t repair effectively. We all generally understand this, at least at a surface level. This is where I might rub some people the wrong way: Recovery is important, but too many people use “recovery” as an excuse to do less. Your body is an incredible machine. It will adapt to the demands you place on it. But let’s be honest, going to the gym for an hour a day doesn’t mean you need to “rest” the entire rest of the day, eat thousands of extra calories, and treat yourself to constant massages. That’s where many people get it wrong. The reality? Very few people are truly overtrained or under-recovered.  Most people are simply under-trained. They’re not doing enough work to reach their goals. They think an hour in the gym entitles them to sit the rest of the day. It doesn’t. Our bodies were designed for hard, consistent effort. If you don’t challenge yourself enough, you won’t get leaner or stronger—just softer and less resilient. Of course, nutrition matters. But to be blunt, most people are overfed and underworked . If you want to know which side you fall on, take a good look in the mirror. These are the brutal facts. Humans can do far more work in a day than most of us want to believe. There are people out there running hundreds of miles, setting pull-up and push-up world records, and performing tens of thousands of reps in a 24-hour span. Those athletes need their recovery dialed in with surgical precision. For the rest of us? We probably just need to do more work and be mindful of what we eat. If you’re trying to lose body fat, get stronger, and feel better, the first step is simple: move your body more.  Weight train. Go for runs. Do physical labor around your house. Burn more calories. That’s when you’ll start seeing pounds come off and muscle definition start to show up. Once you’ve built a solid foundation of consistent effort and you’re genuinely pushing your body, then  recovery becomes a bigger factor. That’s when you need to fine-tune your sleep, nutrition, and hydration. And of course, if you want to feel good and perform your best, what you eat, how you hydrate, and how you rest all matter. But before you obsess over every detail of recovery, ask yourself honestly: Am I doing enough work to reach my goals?  Am I moving my body enough each day to create change? If you can truly answer “yes,” then it’s time to do a deep dive into optimizing your recovery. Until then… Get to work.

It’s not your genetics, your age, your job, your family, or your schedule holding you back. It’s your mindset. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. What separates those who reach their health and fitness goals from those who don’t is how they choose to use that time. Yes, we all have work, family, and countless obligations, I get that. But if you look closely, you’ll find you have far more time than you tell yourself to go after what matters. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the highest performers during my time in the military, at the firehouse, and here at Axis Strength Training. What I noticed wasn’t that they had fewer demands on their time. Often, they were busier than everyone else. The difference was simple: they made the decision to make it happen. They didn’t wait for the perfect conditions. They didn’t hope someone would do it for them. They didn’t blame their families, their bosses, or life’s circumstances. They showed up—especially when it was hard. When life got stressful, they still went to the gym. When it was cold and raining, they still went for that run. When they had to shuttle kids to practice, they still found time to train. Whatever it is you keep putting off, do it. Find a way. If one person can overcome obstacles, so can you. You are not a special snowflake with uniquely insurmountable challenges. We all face adversity. Those who rise above are the ones who consistently choose action over excuses. It all comes down to mindset. Are you going to let your thoughts tell you, “I had a rough day; I should take it easy,” or will you acknowledge the struggle, pull yourself together, and do what needs to be done anyway? That moment is a choice. High performers choose to show up tired. Others choose to believe the story in their heads that they need to wait until it feels easier. That’s the real difference. Those small decisions, made day after day, compound over time into either more wins or more losses. The choice is always yours. Every time you cave in to excuses, you move backward. Every time you take action despite discomfort, you move forward. Those small daily decisions will define your outcome. Which will you choose?

Man, it’s everything. Mindset can literally determine the path of your life. If you refuse to take action because you’re scared, you stay stuck exactly where you are. On the other hand, when you take action—even when you’re scared—you learn, you grow, and you build a more fulfilling life. It all comes down to acting. It’s not that the person who stepped forward wasn’t afraid. They were probably just as scared as the one who didn’t move at all. The difference? They did it anyway. They did it scared. There is so much power in doing it scared. It builds you. It builds your confidence and creates momentum. Each time you act in spite of fear, you gain a little more belief in yourself. That makes it easier to do the next thing scared, and the next after that. Before you know it, you’re stacking win after win and creating a life you’re proud of. But if you let fear run the show, you stay stuck. You never improve or move closer to your goals. It’s easy to point fingers and blame your circumstances or other people, but the truth is, it’s on you. No one else. You are responsible for your actions. You are responsible for your failures. You are responsible for your wins. You must take ownership. Until you take ownership over every aspect of your life, you will remain stuck. The victim mentality keeps you exactly where you are. It hands you the perfect excuse to avoid change. If you’re happy with where you are, fine. Stay there. But if you want to grow—if you want to improve in any area of your life—take ownership of where you are today. Take action to change, even if it scares you. You can do it. But you have to act. Act in spite of fear.

Is the workout too difficult—or is it just in your head? Are you really too tired—or is it just in your head? Are you not feeling well—or is it just in your head? These are important questions to ask yourself—and to answer honestly. I had to ask myself those very questions this morning. I didn’t want to go to the gym. I didn't sleep well and told myself I was too tired. Then I tried convincing myself I wasn’t feeling well. It would’ve been easy to believe it and stay home—but I didn’t. I made myself get up and go. As I started warming up, the voice in my head whispered, “You didn’t eat enough to train today.” Once the workout began, it told me, “You should scale back. Just do fewer reps.” I almost listened. I almost gave in. But instead, I told myself, “Just get through this round. If it’s still rough, we can scale the next one.” Then the next round came. I told myself again, “Push through this one. You can ease up on the next.” By round three, something had changed. I felt better. Stronger. Focused. That voice in my head? It had been lying to me all morning. I finished the workout—every rep, every round—and felt better than I had all day. My heart, lungs, and muscles were on fire. Sweat was pouring down my face. And I felt amazing. After the gym, I went home, knocked out my daily run, push-ups and practiced shooting my bow. I was drenched in sweat, exhausted—but proud. I had done what I set out to do. This is how you win. You silence the voice in your head that tells you you're too tired, too weak, or not enough. That voice is a liar. It will lead you down a path of comfort and mediocrity. You are capable of so much more than you think. Sometimes, greatness starts with one simple decision: Don’t listen to the voice. Just go. Ignore the doubt in your head—and sometimes, the doubt from others. Put in the work. Do the hard things. And go do something great.

At Axis, our coaches design workouts with intention—each session is crafted to challenge and support your growth. But what happens if the day’s workout doesn’t quite match your current needs or abilities? Whether you’re working around an injury or feeling intimidated by the movements, it’s completely normal to need a few adjustments. The good news? Our coaches are excellent at helping you modify workouts to fit your goals and limitations. Still, some days the workout might simply feel too  difficult or advanced. When that happens, here are three strategies to help you confidently navigate a tough session: 1. Relax and Remove the Pressure First and foremost—don’t stress. You’re not expected to show up and perform at any specific level every single day. Some days, the win is simply showing up and moving for 30–60 minutes. That’s how you build consistency, discipline, and long-term habits. You’re making progress just by walking through the door. 2. Focus on One or Two Key Elements It’s easy to get overwhelmed when looking at an entire workout. Instead, pick one or two things to focus on. For example, if the workout includes strength movements and a run, decide that your goal is to maintain good form during the lifts and keep an upright posture while running. Narrowing your focus gives you a sense of control and keeps you from pushing too hard just to “get through it.” Over time, this approach will improve both your technique and confidence. 3. You Don’t Have to Go All-Out Every Time Not every workout needs to leave you flat on the floor. While pushing your limits can be satisfying on occasion, it’s not the only path to progress. In fact, many goals—like building strength, improving mobility, or staying consistent—benefit more from smart, intentional training than from max effort. Prioritize quality movement and sound technique over intensity, especially when you’re learning or adapting. Next time you face a workout that feels intimidating, remember: Relax. Focus. Train smart.   Just keep showing up, and train with intention.

If we want to grow—physically, mentally, and emotionally—we can't chase comfort. Growth lives on the other side of discomfort. We must deliberately seek out hard things: waking up early, hitting the gym, going for that long, punishing run. These challenges shape us. They forge resilience. They make us stronger. Too often, we fall into the trap of comfort, believing it’s the goal. But that mindset is backwards. Comfort breeds complacency. Complacency breeds weakness. Challenges, on the other hand, demand effort—and effort transforms us. When we adopt the mindset that life should be difficult, that difficulty is necessary for growth, we begin to look for opportunities to push ourselves. Each challenge becomes a chance to evolve. In today’s world, it’s easy to forget this truth. Modern life is packed with conveniences and comforts. Society tells us to “take it easy,” to avoid stress, to relax. Compared to life 1,000—or even 100—years ago, we live in extraordinary ease. We don’t have to hunt for food, build shelters by hand, or defend ourselves from threats. And while those are undeniably positive developments, they also mean we’ve lost touch with the hard work our bodies and minds were designed to do. Without challenges, we get soft—mentally, physically, spiritually. So now, we must choose difficulty . We must create opportunities to test ourselves. To sweat, to strain, to grow. This is how we stay sharp. This is how we live with purpose. Doing hard things isn’t about punishment—it’s about pursuit. Pursuit of your best self. Start small if you need to. Wake up early. Push yourself in your next workout. Set a goal that scares you. Then go chase it. Because one day, your future self will look back—and thank you for choosing the hard road. Do hard things. Live with strength.

Whether you're an experienced hunter or just starting out, one thing is certain: hunting can be physically demanding. Long hikes through rugged terrain, carrying gear, hauling your harvest, drawing a bow, or stabilizing a rifle—none of it is easy if you’re out of shape. That’s where a well-rounded gym routine comes in. At Axis Strength Training, we know that the off-season is the perfect time to build the strength, endurance, and mobility you’ll need in the field. Let’s break down why starting a strength and conditioning program now will pay off when hunting season rolls around. 1. Build Strength Where It Counts Bow Hunting:  Drawing a bow is a full-body movement. You’re not just using your arms—your shoulders, back, and core all play critical roles. A structured strength program that includes exercises like rows, face pulls, and shoulder presses will improve your draw stability and control, giving you better accuracy and reduced fatigue in the field. Rifle Hunting:  Carrying a rifle for hours, setting up for long-distance shots, and managing recoil all require muscular endurance. Strengthening your upper back, shoulders, and arms ensures you can stay ready and accurate without strain or shakiness. And let’s not forget leg strength . Whether you’re climbing hills or hiking through uneven terrain, strong quads, hamstrings, and calves will make the trek easier and safer. Weighted step-ups, lunges, and squats are essential. 2. Endurance = Better Tracking and Stamina Both bow and rifle hunting often involve long days on foot. If you're winded after a short walk, you'll be at a disadvantage. Incorporating cardiovascular training —whether through steady-state hikes with a weighted pack, or high-intensity interval training (HIIT)—builds the kind of endurance you need for extended stalks and tracking. We recommend mixing steady-state cardio  with interval training  to simulate the start-and-stop nature of stalking prey. 3. Injury Prevention and Longevity Hunting can be unpredictable—slips, falls, and sudden movements can strain joints and muscles. A consistent gym routine strengthens connective tissue, improves joint stability, and enhances overall balance. That’s your insurance policy for staying active and injury-free not just this season, but for many more to come. Additionally, mobility and flexibility work—like dynamic warm-ups and post-training stretching—are key to keeping your shoulders, hips, and knees moving pain-free. 4. Mental Grit and Focus Lifting weights and pushing through tough workouts build more than just muscle—they build mental toughness . That mental edge helps during early mornings, long sits in the cold, or when you're tracking for hours without a sighting. The discipline and resilience you gain in the gym directly transfer to your hunting mindset. 5. Carry Out With Confidence One of the most overlooked parts of hunting preparation? The pack-out . If you’re lucky enough to harvest a deer or bear, getting it out of the woods can be the hardest part. Training your posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings, and back) through exercises like deadlifts, farmer’s carries, and sled pushes prepares you for the heavy loads and uneven terrain you'll face. Your Off-Season Training Plan Starts Here At Axis Strength Training, we offer custom strength and conditioning programs that focus on functional fitness for real-world performance. Whether you’re prepping for archery season or a late fall rifle hunt, we’ll help you build the strength and conditioning you need for a strong, successful, and injury-free season. Start training today—hunt stronger tomorrow. Want help building your hunter’s strength plan? Click the link 👉 Contact | Axis Strength  to schedule a free consultation with one of our coaches. Let's get you field-ready before the first leaf falls. Jason Axis Strength Training