The Most Effective Strength Training Secrets, According To A Celebrity Trainer

When you hear the term "strength training," several images are bound to come to mind. Perhaps you envision someone lifting weights in a gym. Maybe you imagine yourself doing pushups. Regardless of the exercise, one thing is for sure: Strength training goes beyond building physical muscle. So today, we're going to discuss the super-effective strength training secrets that should be on your radar.

"Strength training—it basically mirrors what we're trying to do in life," celebrity fitness trainer Ron "Boss" Everline tells Eat This, Not That! in an exclusive interview. "… I think strength training helps you understand that every day, you're trying to get better. You're trying to get stronger."

Everline, whose client roster includes celebrities like Kevin Hart and P. Diddy, founded his fitness company, Just Train Productions, in 2009. With 1.1 million Instagram followers, Everline strives to highlight the importance of building mental strength, as reinforced by his Instagram bio, which currently reads, "Just Train The Mind •The Body Will Follow."

Read on to discover Everline's take on the importance of strength training and how you can get the most out of your workout. And for more, check out The 6 Best Exercises for Strong and Toned Arms in 2022, Trainer Says.

Make strength training simple and accessible

romanian deadlifts with dumbbells — Shutterstock

While power cleans and deadlifts are among some of Everline's go-to strength training exercises, he stresses the importance of two elements: keeping movement simple and taking advantage of what's available to you. For instance, while deadlifts are typically performed with a barbell, if you don't have access to one, the exercise can still be done with dumbbells, resistance bands, a kettlebell, or any other additional weight load.

"Move wherever you are is the most important thing that we're trying to get the world to do," Everline says. "… Don't complicate it. If you're doing lunges, if you're doing air squats, if you're able to just do step-ups with a chair with no weights, what we want to do is build the strength of the mind, not only of the body."

Core is crucial

Among the key components of strength training is building your core—something Everline says is more than just achieving a visible six-pack.

"For me, core is the foundation of all movement. Core is the foundation of your life," he says. "For me, I bring fitness and wellness and movement to every element of my life."

To strengthen the core, Everline recommends exercises that work both the abdominal and back muscles. These include in and outs, Supermans, and the classic plank. "I love to work on a plank. It's very simple. You can do it anywhere," he says. "You can do it in the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen, on the airplane."

For Everline, working on the core helps bridge the gap between exercise and life because of its reliance on maintaining a healthy mindset. Specifically, working these muscles requires you to stay true to your "core" principles and motivations, he says.

Another core lifestyle element Everline calls out is eating a healthy diet. As part of his commitment to helping people change the narrative of how they would normally eat, the celebrity trainer has even partnered with plant-based snack company Outstanding Foods.

How to achieve results

ron boss everline — Tom Cooper / Stringer

Whether you're doing a strength training workout or cardio exercises, in order to be successful, Everline highlights two mindset components: consistency and discipline.

Aside from practicing standard healthy habits, he suggests having "accountability partners" who can make sure you're on track to accomplishing your goals. This should be a person who practices a "life of consistency" or someone you admire, he says.

Another way to hold yourself accountable is by writing down attainable, realistic goals and putting that piece of paper in places you're likely to look at frequently. This could be on your mirror, in your car, or as your phone's wallpaper.

Above all, Everline emphasizes the importance of not comparing yourself to others on your workout journey. "Don't let someone else stress you out about where they are. It's about where you are," he says.