i run to prove to myself and my kids that it is possible to do something that is really, really hard regardless of age.
i run because i love having a goal and accomplishing it.
i run because i want my family to be proud of me.
by Neil Anderson
AHAP - An abbreviation (maybe an acronym) meaning "As Heavy As Possible." We generally use this term when we know that the weight of the programmed exercise(s) can only be determined by the user. Users are to choose weights for the exercise(s) based upon their experience level and their personal understanding of the intention of the workout. These weights will be highly individualistic and will vary widely from person to person. It is a forgone conclusion that the weight chosen by the user would be safe, manageable and effective for the intended purpose. Writing the abbreviation (acronym?) as AHASP (As Heavy As is Safely Possible) is redundant and condescending.
Recently GPP came under fire by a competing training facility for our use of the term AHAP. The professional trainers who saw this written in our Daily Workout stated online that our use of this term would surely injure our clients. Apparently these trainers judge you to be so simple-minded that upon seeing this term (AHAP) you would somehow lose all common sense and mental capacity. From there, I suppose, they must think you would blindly rip into a workout with no mind to safety, effectiveness, or efficiency. As a side note - It is always surprising to me when those who profess to help us think so VERY LITTLE of us to begin with.
by Neil Anderson
GPP respectfully rejects the notion of exercise as sport. We feel that exercise is the means to an end. It is not the end means. It is our contention that exercise is meant to serve its participant. Not the other way around. It is our unfortunate experience that the pursuit of more and more fitness leads, eventually, to the participant serving the exercise. It is a pursuit we will gladly leave to others. We see more benefit in taking the effort we were about to use to exponentially increase our fitness and put it toward things we truly enjoy in life (hobbies, family, helping others).
For us, the notion of doing even ONE more rep than is ABSOLUTELY necessary for optimal health is needless. We are minimalists. We seek only to do enough exercise to fully reap ALL the benefits of life (these are many) and to avoid life's perils (also many).
Our workouts and nutrition plans are rough. Needfully so sometimes. Although we are minimalists we are willing to do ALL it takes create and sustain health. We realize this requires more than normal effort, tolerance and accountability. For its rewards we embrace this and NO more.