The Answer Is Always in the Gym
What Louie Simmons Meant and How You Can Apply It to Your Own Training
Louie Simmons was one of the most influential figures in strength training history, and his teachings at Westside Barbell continue to shape how lifters and strongman competitors train today. While I’ve spent much of my career studying, applying, and evolving the Conjugate Method, I’ve also expanded beyond it—because to truly make something work, you first have to understand it.
One of Louie’s most iconic phrases was “The answer you seek is always in the gym.” It’s a deceptively simple idea, yet one that many lifters and coaches struggle to internalise. In this article, I’ll break down what Louie meant, how this philosophy shaped his training principles, and how you can apply it to your own training today.
Over more than a decade coaching athletes across powerlifting and strongman, I’ve internalised this philosophy deeply—though often with my own nuanced interpretation. Louie’s phrase is one I regularly reflect on, as it underpins the essential principle that consistent and intentional effort, rather than external theories or quick fixes, forms the backbone of genuine progress in strength training.
What Does “The Answer Is Always in the Gym” Mean?
At its core, this phrase is about self-reliance, experimentation, and learning through doing. Instead of endlessly searching for external solutions—new programs, expensive coaches, or gimmicky training aids—Louie believed that most answers could be found by simply paying attention to what happens when you train.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of overanalysing and looking for shortcuts. But Louie’s philosophy reminds us that true progress comes from:
Consistently putting in the work – No amount of theory will replace time under the bar.
Observing your own performance – Strengths, weaknesses, sticking points—your training will reveal them.
Experimenting and making adjustments – If something isn’t working, modify it and track the results.
Training with a strong group – A good training crew pushes you to improve and helps you troubleshoot problems.
Far too often, lifters find themselves endlessly scouring books, forums, or social media for secret methods or revolutionary insights, neglecting the very place where progress truly happens: the weight room. Louie taught us to prioritise practice over theory, real-world experience over abstract hypotheses.
The gym offers immediate feedback that no textbook or seminar can fully replicate. It’s a laboratory for the athlete, enabling them to experiment, adapt, and evolve their methodologies. Every training session provides tangible insights into what’s effective and what’s not, driving continuous improvement.
The Westside Approach: Practical Problem-Solving in the Gym
Westside Barbell was built on the idea that training should be adaptive—that no two lifters are the same, and that the best way to improve is to analyse what’s actually happening in your gym. This is why Westside lifters didn’t just follow a rigid program; they constantly adjusted their approach based on real-world feedback.
Some key lessons from this philosophy:
Weaknesses are exposed under load, not on paper.
If you keep missing a deadlift at the knees, the answer isn’t to keep deadlifting the same way—it’s to identify the limiting factor (weak hamstrings? poor positioning?) and address it directly.
Your body tells you what it needs—if you listen.
Joint pain, lack of speed, or constant strain are signals. Instead of forcing through, use your training to find solutions.
Trial and error is necessary.
Louie often said, “If something doesn’t work, throw it out. If it works, use it until it doesn’t.”
Training partners are your best asset.
An extra set of eyes, experienced lifters, and competitive drive will push you further than any pre-written template ever could.
Where I Agree (And Where I’ve Evolved Beyond some of Louie’s Ideas)
While I consider myself a devoted Conjugate practitioner, I don’t treat Louie’s words as gospel. Over the years, I’ve disagreed with some of his ideas and expanded on others.
For example:
Louie’s views on raw lifting vs. equipped lifting – Westside was heavily geared-focused, and while many of the principles still apply to raw lifters, certain aspects (like extreme box squat depths and band/chain overloads) need to be adapted.
The Book of Methods is a starting point, not a one-size-fits-all solution. – It lays out the fundamental principles, but over time, I’ve adjusted exercise selection, volume, and frequency to better suit strongman competitors and powerlifters who don’t have the same needs as Westside’s multiply lifters.
A more compassionate approach to ‘weak things break.’ – Louie’s philosophy of addressing weaknesses was often blunt—if something fails under load, train it until it doesn’t. While I still believe in strengthening weak links, I’ve learned that there’s nuance in how you apply this. Sometimes it’s not just about hammering the weakness but also understanding why it exists in the first place and addressing it in a way that builds long-term resilience.
But despite my departures from “classic” Westside, one thing has never changed—the fundamental lesson that training itself is the best teacher. No matter how much theory you study, what happens under the bar is what truly mattersAs someone who’s spent extensive time immersed in Conjugate training philosophies, I’ve adapted Louie’s foundational principles to suit the unique demands of strongman competitors and powerlifters. A rigid application of Westside methods isn’t always ideal for athletes outside traditional powerlifting settings.
Strongman athletes, for instance, require adjustments to training such as additional overhead work, more dynamic conditioning, and a diverse array of equipment that traditional Conjugate templates might not immediately accommodate.
However, the underlying philosophy—that solutions emerge from practical experimentation and ongoing training—is universally applicable. By embracing the principle of self-awareness within training, athletes learn to identify and target their unique weaknesses effectively. Developing a keen sense of body awareness, informed by the constant feedback of each training session, allows athletes to better manage fatigue, injury, and overall performance.
For example, if you struggle with overhead pressing events, rather than endlessly cycling through generic routines, the gym becomes your testing ground. You might discover, through deliberate experimentation, that specific variations of pressing exercises or supplemental accessory movements yield better results than standard prescriptions. This practical approach can lead to meaningful, personalised progress far quicker than a purely theoretical strategy.
Applying This Mentality to Your Own Training
So, how can you take Louie’s philosophy and apply it to your own lifting?
Stop searching for the “perfect” program – The best program is the one you stick to, track, and adjust based on progress.
Pay attention to what’s actually happening – Keep a training log, analyse your lifts, and be honest about what’s working and what’s not.
Be proactive in problem-solving – If your overhead press stalls, test different variations (log, axle, strict press) to see what translates best. If your yoke walk is unstable, figure out if it’s a core, footspeed, or bracing issue.
Surround yourself with people who push you – If you train alone, film your lifts for feedback. If you have training partners, use them to troubleshoot and hold you accountable.
Keep evolving – Strength training is an ongoing process. What worked last year may not work now. Be willing to learn, adapt, and refine your approach.
Effective training isn’t about blindly adhering to a method, no matter how successful; it’s about understanding its rationale and thoughtfully adapting it to fit individual contexts. Louie himself encouraged experimentation and adaptation, recognising that continual learning and self-reflection were the hallmarks of a great athlete and coach.
The Lessons Never Stop
Louie’s greatest gift to the strength world wasn’t just a system of training—it was the mindset that the learning never stops. No matter how advanced you get, the answers to your training problems won’t be found in a book, a podcast, or a guru’s Instagram post—they’re in your own gym, under your own barbell.
Perhaps Louie’s greatest contribution to strength sports is not merely his technical innovations, but his advocacy for a learning-driven training culture. The true power of Louie's philosophy is the cultivation of a training environment where athletes feel empowered to explore, question, and adapt their approaches. Rather than viewing training as a rigid, static system, athletes and coaches can approach it dynamically—constantly refining their methods through trial, error, and reflection.
The principle “The answer is always in the gym” is thus more than practical advice; it’s a call to action that champions a continuous, lifelong process of learning. It encourages athletes to embrace the uncertainty inherent in training, to appreciate setbacks as learning opportunities, and to trust in their ability to find solutions through persistent effort and thoughtful experimentation.
This philosophy has shaped how I coach and how I train. And if you’re looking for a coaching approach that’s built on real-world results—not just theory—let’s talk.
👉 Apply for coaching today and take control of your training.
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