Chris wrote this post a couple of years ago, but it seemed particularly appropriate to run it again today, given that it’s Valentine’s Day. Enjoy!

I want to take a minute to remind everyone how important it is to KISS!

That is, to Keep It Simple, Stupid.

This time of year especially, many people end up walking out of the gym with their tails between their legs because they overdid it in January. There’s no need to train every day or overcomplicate your workouts when you’re just starting out. You have to crawl before you walk, right? Well, apply that same philosophy to your fitness regime: Have a simple plan that fits your lifestyle.

Heck, I could easily give some new trainee a four-day lifting, three-day conditioning program and a strict diet, but I’d probably be setting that person up to fail. Why? Because that’s a HUGE lifestyle change for him. He’d have to sacrifice so much that he’d become overwhelmed.

If you’re a beginner, forget about the supplements, the rest periods, the right percentage of your one-rep sorta max… You get the idea. Just focus on getting in a good workout 2-4 times a week CONSISTENTLY, and keeping a clean diet that YOU can sustain.

In a word, KISS!

It’s the best advice I can give.