Why You’re Still Not Strong - And What to Do About It Today
Josh Hezza- May 10
- 6 min read
Why You’re Still Not Strong - And What to Do About It Today
You’re showing up. You’re training hard. You’re doing the work. But your numbers haven’t moved in months - maybe years. And the truth is, you're not alone.
Every gym has at least one lifter who looks like they’re doing everything right - consistent sessions, tidy form, big effort. But behind that, there’s a quiet frustration. Stalled lifts. No carryover. Burnout dressed up as discipline.
If that’s starting to feel familiar, good. This isn’t going to be another post telling you to trust the process and be patient. You’ve been patient long enough.
It’s not that you’re lazy. It’s not that you’re weak. It’s that your system is broken - and no one ever taught you how to build a better one.
So let’s fix it. Here’s why your training is failing you - and what you can start doing today to finally move forward.
Here’s Why You’re Still Weak
(And no, it’s not because you “just need more time”)
❌ You’re still using outdated templates and training methods like they’re gospel.
Linear periodisation. Block periodisation. Twelve weeks of gradually heavier sets until you magically hit a PB. That worked when you were a beginner - when progress came from simply showing up. But you’re not a beginner anymore.
Real strength isn’t built by hoping your body recovers in perfect three-week blocks. It’s built through variation, intent, and strategic overload. And if your program still looks like it was written in 2003, you’ve already hit the ceiling.
❌ Your assistance work is either nonexistent or pure guesswork.
Most lifters fall into two camps:
They don’t do any real accessories at all
Or they do whatever’s popular on Instagram, hoping it “feels right”
Best case, it’s a chest fly–lat pulldown circuit from a Men’s Health issue. Worst case, it’s twenty sets of shit that don’t fix anything.
Accessory work should be targeted. It should attack your weak points, reinforce your primary lift patterns, and carry over to your competition lifts. If it’s not doing that, it’s wasting your time.
❌ Your training doesn’t carry over to comp day.
You hit gym PRs. You feel strong in training. But when it matters - when there’s pressure, fatigue, or time limits - you fall apart.
That’s not a strength issue. It’s a systems issue.
You’re not building force under fatigue. You’re not training with speed, coordination, or intent. You’re just adding weight and hoping it holds up under competition conditions.
Spoiler: it won’t.
Strongman. Powerlifting. Combat sports. None of them reward your “perfect” gym lift. They reward application - and you’re not training for that.
❌ You don’t actually know what your weakness is.
You know you’re stuck. But you have no idea why.
Is it your upper back? Your lockout? Your recovery? Your setup? Most lifters don’t know, because no one ever taught them how to assess their lifts or their training objectively.
So they keep changing programs, switching bars, trying random accessories, or blaming motivation - when the real issue is hiding in plain sight.
If you don’t know what’s holding you back, you can’t fix it. And if you can’t fix it, you’re not going to get strong - no matter how hard you train.
Still feeling seen? Good. That means we’re getting somewhere. Let’s move into what actually works - and what you can do today to break this cycle for good.
What to Do Instead
No gimmicks. No fuckery. Just the stuff that works.
✅ Learn how to identify a real weak point
For the lifter who's been stuck at the same numbers for months
A weak point isn’t just “I miss at lockout” or “my squat feels heavy at the bottom.” It’s a pattern. It’s what breaks down under pressure, not just under load.
Ask yourself:
What part of the lift slows down first?
What fails when fatigue sets in?
What feels unstable, hesitant, or inconsistent?
If you don’t know, film it. Watch it. Break it down frame by frame. Nine times out of ten, the problem isn’t where you miss - it’s why you miss there. That’s the difference between training harder and training smarter.
✅ Build a program structure that actually adapts
For the lifter stuck in linear hell with no variation
If you train the same way all year, you’ll hit the same wall every few months. Your body adapts fast - and when it does, your gains stall. That’s where the Conjugate Method comes in.
You rotate movements weekly to avoid accommodation. You train max effort and speed effort to build both strength and rate of force development. You target weak points through intelligent accessory work, not random vibes.
This is how you build long-term strength that doesn’t collapse under pressure. You don’t just get stronger - you get more explosive, more resilient, and more competition-ready.
✅ Know what to rotate, what to track, and what to stop wasting time on
For the lifter drowning in volume with no payoff
Lifters often are on either end of the spectrum. SBD only 5 times a week or 30 sets of accessories every session. You don’t need 15 accessories per session. You don’t need six compound lifts before your event work. You need to know what matters - and what doesn’t.
Track your Max Effort lifts. Track your bar speed on Dynamic days. Track your key assistance lifts over 3 to 6 weeks. Everything else is optional - or replaceable.
Rotate main lifts weekly, accessories every 2 to 3 weeks, and condition with purpose. That’s it. That’s the system.
If you’re doing more than that, you’re not working harder - you’re just bleeding recovery.
You don’t need more confusion. You need a plan that makes sense. Now let’s talk about the tools that can give it to you.
Want the Full Solution? Start Here.
If you’re serious about solving these problems — not just reading about them — here are the three most complete tools I’ve built for lifters who want long-term progress and real results:
Tired of peaking, deloading, burning out, then starting over?This is the most complete year-long Conjugate powerlifting system available
online. You’ll get 12 months of fully structured Max Effort and Dynamic Effort training, built-in peaking cycles, accessory rotation plans, and recovery strategies that actually make sense. Perfect if you want to stop program-hopping and commit to a system that builds strength every single week.
Strongman is not powerlifting - and your programming should reflect that. This 12-week system combines Max Effort, Dynamic Effort, event integration, and strongman-specific accessories into one practical blueprint. It’s built for competitors who want to peak for comps, carry over gym work to event performance, and avoid the classic strongman trap of over-fatigue and under-recovery .Simple to run. Brutally effective. Designed to win.
If you’ve ever thought “I’m just bad at lockout” or “my squat always stalls at depth” - this book was written for you. It’s a full diagnostic guide to identifying and fixing the real reasons your lifts fail, using a Conjugate-based approach that’s built around weak point training. Includes full movement lists, cueing strategies, and specific programming advice for deadlift, squat, and bench breakdowns. Don’t just train harder. Train smarter - with a plan that actually targets what’s holding you back.
Some New Tools to Fix It
You don’t need to keep guessing. You don’t need another random spreadsheet or 12-week copy-paste from someone who doesn’t know your name.
You need systems that work - and tools that teach you how to use them.
Here’s exactly where to start:
📘 Outsider Strength For lifters who feel like the mainstream advice doesn’t fit. This isn’t just another ebook - it’s your mindset reset, training compass, and proof that you’re not crazy for doing it your own way. If you want to rebuild your why and rewire how you think about progress, this is step one.
📗 12-Week Barebones Conjugate Program No bands. No chains. Just plates, a barbell, and a plan. This program will get you stronger across all three lifts using a stripped-down Conjugate structure that actually builds momentum week to week. Perfect for garage gym lifters, minimalists, or anyone who wants real results without excess.
📕 How to Coach Yourself For lifters who are tired of following recycled programs that never seem to fit. This micro-ebook teaches you how to identify your weak points, adjust your training intelligently, and take full ownership of your progress. Short, clear, and built for action.
And if you want direct help identifying your specific weak points, structuring your week, or preparing for a meet or comp - I offer 1-on-1 online coaching with full program customisation, weekly feedback, and accountability.
You don’t have to piece this together alone.
Stop Guessing. Start Progressing.
📍 Grab your ebooks or sign up for coaching now at https://www.teamjoshhezza.com/ebooks-ebook-programmes
If you're still guessing, stop. These are built to give you the clarity and structure you've been missing.
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