- Former NBA coach Keke Lyles said training your weaknesses is key to better fitness results.
- Lyles worked with athletes like Steph Curry to improve performance and prevent injury.
A simple training technique used by elite athletes can help you get better results in the gym whether you want to get stronger, lose weight, or just be healthier, according to a coach who's worked with NBA stars like Steph Curry and other members of the Golden State Warriors.
To train like the pros, focus on specific training goals and work on your weaknesses instead of doing random workouts, said Keke Lyles, director of performance at the fitness technology Uplift Labs, which provides AI-powered movement tracking and analysis via smartphone.
Lyles has been credited for helping revamp Curry's workout routine to take his career to the next level.
"For elite athletes, everything is so customized and exactly what they need, but the everyday person, they just think 'Eh, I'll do this workout, or I read this online, I'll try it," he told Insider. "It's not necessarily bad but it's not the most efficient or the most ideal way to train, either."
Training your weaknesses can get help you get stronger or faster, but you'll also get better results even if your only goal at the gym is to stay healthy or prevent injury, Lyles said.
"When most people work out at home, they want to be healthier and lose weight, but if you address your deficiencies, all that other stuff also happens," he said. "Your body is going to respond a lot better because it's not fighting itself."
Start training smarter by assessing your weak points
A good starting point is to think about what your lifestyle currently includes, what you'd like to improve, and what might be missing, according to Lyles.
"If people were to learn what their bodies specifically need to work on, that's going to unlock all the other stuff to help you move better and feel better," he said. "Ask yourself the questions of what are my life demands and what does my body need to do, or what is my body not doing."
Assessing your weaknesses can help you focus on specific aspects of training like building strength, improving mobility, or developing better stamina.
Resources like online movement assessments, personal trainers, or technology like Uplift can help guide the process, identifying some common problem areas as well as unique challenges for each person.
As an everyday example, someone with a desk job might benefit from core exercise to relieve back pain and improve poor posture.
Other factors to consider in your training plan include your current fitness level, as well as any injuries you might have, since it's important to consult with a professional before working out if you're injured or in pain.