Letters by Burk #135: Change

Also, platforms, social media, Medium, weight training, and more

Jul 23, 2024

assorted-color lear hanging decor — Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash

Hi friends,

I am a platform mover.

I’ve always loved trying and experimenting with new platforms. Writing tools, blogging services, newsletters platforms, social media networks, it’s great to try new stuff.

But, of course, the platform is secondary. The content, what you do, what you create, how you create, is much more important than any one platform.

That being said, it is crucial to find the “right” place for your stuff. May that be writing, video content, social media posts, or anything else.

For me, Medium has been the main writing outlet since 2021. Before that, it was WordPress blogging, for the most part. Twitter has been my social media number 1.

That has been changing lately, though.

And change is a good thing sometimes. I’ll dive deeper into that change in a second, first let’s read one fitting quote about change:

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. — Wayne Dyer

Man, that applies to so many things in life!

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#1 Main Story:

Without Planning On It, I Moved to Substack (Mostly)

It’s been quiet on Medium.

Not in general. Medium is still buzzing. New writers everywhere, fresh stories, boosts, and more.

But I’ve been absent from Medium the past few weeks, really. Not intentionally. It was more of an accident.

Over the past weeks, I realized that I’ve been mainly using Substack for all my content. I almost completely ditched Twitter in favor of Substack Notes, which was a genius decision, I might add.

The Substack-own social network is full of people who actually like to read stuff, in contrast to Twitter which is mainly spam, bots, and crappy content nowadays.

Read the rest

#2 Essay:

My Minimal 20-Minute Full-Body Workout With Speediance Gym Monster (With Template Link)

As a work-from-home dad with little time on my hands (and a not-so-frequent gym goer in the past), I was on the lookout for efficient home workout solutions.

I recently stumbled upon the Speediance Gym Monster.

This all-in-one home gym has quickly become my go-to for maintaining a consistent home workout routine without the need for a gym membership.

Today, I’ll share my favorite 20-minute full-body workout using this versatile machine. And you’ll get the link to the full template at the end.

Read all of it

#3 Facts

Here are 10 facts about weight training for beginners of all ages:

Muscle soreness isn't necessary: Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to feel sore after a workout for it to be effective. Proper form and progressive overload are more important.
Rest is crucial: Muscles grow during rest periods, not during the workout itself. Adequate sleep and recovery time between sessions are essential for progress.
Compound exercises are more efficient: Exercises that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously (like squats or deadlifts) generally provide better results than isolation exercises, especially for beginners.
Proper form trumps weight: Using correct technique with lighter weights is far more beneficial than lifting heavier weights with poor form.
Bodyweight exercises can be highly effective: You don't always need equipment to build strength. Push-ups, pull-ups, and squats can be excellent starting points.
Breathing technique matters: Proper breathing (usually exhaling during exertion) can improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.
Warming up doesn't mean stretching: Dynamic movements that mimic your workout are typically more effective than static stretching before weight training.
Nutrition is crucial: Proper protein intake and overall balanced nutrition are as important as the workouts themselves for muscle growth and recovery.
Consistency beats intensity: Regular, moderate workouts often yield better long-term results than infrequent, high-intensity sessions.
Age is not a barrier: Older adults can gain significant strength and muscle mass through weight training, which can also help combat age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia).

Something to think about

Best,

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