42 Strong at LamLab!

Over the last 42 days, we ran a challenge called 42 strong. A 6 week or 42 day consistency challenge where our training app awarded every client 5 points whenever they completed a strength workout, cardio workout, checked off a daily lifestyle habit and hit a calorie target within 10%. In addition, if they achieved a reasonable goal within that time frame - they would receive 100 points.

Sign up rules were simple, members of our gym signed their name on the community whiteboard with one word that would symbolize their personal key to success. For example, my word was focus. I have a bad habit of showing up to the gym with the intention of working out but instead start doing chores. The garbage hasn’t been changed. The washroom is out of toilet paper. The front lobby is dirty. The list of business owner duties go on and suddenly it’s been an hour and my wife is wondering where I’ve skipped off to. The trickiest part is that the chores are real and urgent! And the weights I need to lift, I’m secretly dreading to pick up. Focus is my word because I need focus to lock in on working out and block the distractions.

Each person’s reason for their word was unique. Most of my client’s 100 point goals was to lose weight. Interestingly, the words that were selected were less about a number on a scale and more about a mindset. 

I’m convinced that the majority of people already know what they need to do to lose weight. We all know the gap is taking action on it every single day. Taking action is not so bad. It’s the every single day part thats hard. Each day, that feeling of letsnotdoshit creeps it way back. It’s also the self-doubt which can add to your inner resistance. Reminding yourself of your one word should be powerful enough to shut that noise down.

The challenge officially ended Feb 16th, 2026. The results were awesome. Celebrating with clients about what they achieved and overcame squeezed out a little tear from my eye. Here are the insights our clients gained in their check-in email with the following prompts: 

What are you proud of during this challenge? 

What did you struggle with? 

If you could go back and change the last 6 weeks?

What would you have done differently?

Since I became a personal trainer, I’ve been fascinated by the process of change. The key to changing in fitness is adhering to a plan or strategy that will yield results. 10 years ago, I hired my own coach. Not because I didn’t understand a calorie deficit or how to lift weights progressively. Because I wanted to feel what the athlete goes through and most importantly, how do I get my clients to adhere to the plan?

I jump on the call. “Coach, you know I’m a trainer - I have to ask if you don’t mind sharing - how do you get someone stick to their plans?”. I’m pumped to learn the secret of my very old and wise coach. 

He shrugs with a confident but confused look. “everyone just does it”. I’m livid at this point. Meanwhile my 90% of my roster isn’t listening. To this day, I’m still trying to figure it out. I create sustainable plans and set more time appropriate challenges. I’m better but it could be better. One thing I have to accept is my clients are not going to have the mindset of a competitive bodybuilder who is registered to step on a stage in front of people on a deadline. Yet achieving goals in a timely manner requires the same amount of rigidity. Recently, I had a disagreement with another coach. They believed that clients only change when they are ready and there is nothing we can do about it. I believe that we could do something about it. I’m talking about helping clients with the hard stuff. Overcoming resistance to do the work us coaches can’t see but make the biggest difference in your results. As coaches, we try to be non-judgemental and facilitate change by creating a safe place to leave your comfort zone, set new appropriate challenges and have constructive conversations. From 42 strong, we saw a boost in consistency. In the LamLab app, average workout compliance went from 82% to 92% and average nutrition compliance went from 30% to 79%. Those on the in top 3 hit their calories, completed their workouts, hit their step count and achieved their goal. The points represented effort. What’s cool is no matter where you were on the leaderboard, you gained some kind of benefit. But if your goal was to lose weight or change your physique which is the most demanding goal to take on - you could easily see by looking at the board whether you were putting in enough work. Cause the top leaders on that board were changing visually every week. I’m proud of the clients that scored so high. To score that high, you had to overcome the doubt of whether you would get the results. You probably also had to choose yourself over others which is scary if you’re not used to that. Most people say they are afraid of failing. In actuality, people are most afraid of succeeding. Success brings rejection. They break the status quo. People will say you’ve changed. And they’re right. The price of growth and success means you do things differently and you might not fit in where you used to. But rest assured, you’ll eventually find other communities, people and opportunities that are better suited to you. The ones you always wished for. The original reason you felt - “hey, I want to fit this outfit because X” starts to happen. Don’t be afraid of success.

So what’s next for you after 42 strong?

I hope my clients leverage this opportunity to propel them forward. Keep the streak going until they achieve their goal before pivoting to the next. Continue the routine they’ve built and refine it to make it better. I hope the word they picked stays top of mind as a reminder to do whats important before doing what’s urgent. 

42 strong is a friendly competitive challenge that gave our clients the opportunity to be as consistent with their fitness & nutrition as a competitive elite athlete. Everyone thinks elite athletes only job is to train. That’s true for only the major sports. The reality of most elite athletes in non-major sports/leagues is that they have side full-time jobs to fund their dream and be providers. They are dads, moms, workers, students, executives and business owners who are responding to their calling. I challenge you to think of yourself as an elite athlete on the rise. Winning is achieving your goal and your competition and teammates are the ones at the gym with you everyday.