Beyond the Workout: Fitness, Mindset, and Motivation

Start with the Compounds

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Host: Josh Poon

Episode Description:

Welcome to the first-ever episode of Beyond the Workout! I’m your host, Josh Poon, a certified personal trainer, professional actor, and budding entrepreneur. In this show, we’ll talk about bite-sized fitness tips and explore topics on mindset and philosophy, helping you strengthen both your body AND your mind. Today’s fitness tip is all about starting with compound exercises. Tune in to learn why compound movements are essential for building a strong foundation in your fitness journey.


  • Fitness Tip of the Day: Start with Compounds

    • Explanation of compound movements: Multi-joint exercises that train large muscle groups
    • Examples: Squats, bench press, deadlift

    • Why Prioritize Compound Exercises

      • Muscle engagement: Work multiple muscle groups simultaneously for efficient workouts
      • Strength building: Foundation for overall body strength
      • Functional fitness: Mimic natural movement patterns, improving daily functional movements

      • Importance of Compound Exercises for Beginners

        • Build a foundation that sets you up for everything else
        • Efficient for those on a time crunch
        • Easy to track progress and improvements

        • Tips for Proper Form

          • Seek guidance: Hire a coach or find tutorials
          • Start light: Master the movement before increasing weight, focus on quality over quantity
          • Consistency: Practice the movement regularly, move well and often

          • Personal Anecdote

            • Josh's early gym experience with isolation exercises (bicep curls, chest flies, leg extensions)
            • Spent hours in the gym with mediocre results
            • Switching to compound exercises led to better strength, gains, and improved movement in dance classes and daily life

            • Brain Food: Mindset and Philosophy Segment

              • Quote from Hamlet by Shakespeare: “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so”
              • Reflect on how our perception shapes our struggles
              • Consider shifting from “this happened TO me” to “this happened FOR me”

                • Resources and Links:

                • Follow me on Instagram and TikTok
                • Sign up my email newsletter for more content and exclusive deals on training programs.


                  • If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue to provide valuable content. Stay tuned for the next episode, where we’ll dive into warming up.

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                  Beyond the Workout: Fitness, Mindset, and MotivationBy Josh Poon