I'm Not Special. I Just Stopped Overthinking.

How I learned what actually builds strength (the hard way)

Octavio Sanchez

Octavio Sanchez

Author of "Shut Up and Lift"

Strength Coach | 10+ Years Training Experience

Here's the Truth

I'm not a former college athlete. I don't have a physique Instagram account. I wasn't born with exceptional genetics. I'm just someone who's been training consistently for over 10 years and figured out what actually works.

I have a background in information technology, wrote a book on strength training, and learned through trial and error what builds real strength for real people.

That's why I can help you. Not because I'm genetically gifted or because training is easy for me. But because I've made every mistake you're about to make, and I learned the hard way what actually works.

Every Mistake You Can Make? I Made It.

Program hopping: I switched programs every 6-8 weeks thinking "this one will be the secret." Wasted a year spinning my wheels.

Overthinking everything: Worried about tempo, rest periods, exercise selection, optimal rep ranges. Paralysis by analysis.

Chasing the pump: Did tons of volume and accessory work instead of just getting stronger on the main lifts.

Ignoring progressive overload: Kept doing the same weights for months, wondering why I wasn't getting stronger.

Believing the hype: Wasted money on supplements, special programs, and "optimal" training splits that didn't matter.

Sound familiar? That's because the fitness industry profits from complexity. The more confused you are, the more products they can sell you.

What Changed Everything

About 5 years ago, I stopped trying to be clever. I picked three exercises: squat, overhead press, and deadlift. I trained three days a week. I added weight to the bar every time I could. That's it.

No fancy periodization. No special techniques. No secret exercises. Just consistent, progressive overload on the basics.

And it worked. Better than any complicated program I'd ever followed. Better than any "optimal" training split. Better than all the nonsense the industry had been selling me.

The Simple Truth:

Getting stronger is not complicated. You don't need special genetics. You don't need perfect conditions. You need consistency, progressive overload, and someone to keep you from overthinking it.

Why I Wrote 'Shut Up and Lift'

I got tired of watching beginners make the same mistakes I made. I got tired of seeing people quit because they were overwhelmed by conflicting advice. I got tired of the fitness industry selling complexity when simplicity works better.

So I wrote a book that cuts through all the BS. It's the book I wish I'd had when I started. No fluff. No pseudoscience. Just what actually works for beginners who want to get strong.

Three exercises. Three days a week. Add weight consistently. That's the entire system. If you can follow that, you can get strong.

Why I Coach

I'm not here to sell you dreams. I'm not going to tell you that training is easy or that you'll transform your body in 90 days. I'm going to tell you the truth: getting strong takes time, consistency, and progressive overload.

But I can help you avoid the mistakes I made. I can keep you from program hopping. I can stop you from overthinking. I can give you accountability and expertise so you actually make progress instead of spinning your wheels.

My coaching philosophy is simple: Cut through the BS. Focus on what works. Train consistently. Get stronger. No gimmicks. No secrets. No complicated periodization schemes you don't need yet.

What Makes My Approach Different

What I Don't Do:

  • • Sell you supplements or special equipment
  • • Promise overnight transformations
  • • Overcomplicate programming unnecessarily
  • • Encourage program hopping
  • • Push trendy training methods
  • • Make you feel inferior for being a beginner

What I Do:

  • • Give you honest, straightforward coaching
  • • Teach progressive overload fundamentals
  • • Focus on compound movements that work
  • • Keep programming simple and effective
  • • Provide accountability and feedback
  • • Help you build long-term strength

Background & Experience

10+ Years Consistent Training

Real-world experience with progressive overload and strength development

Published Author

"Shut Up and Lift: A No-Nonsense Guide to Getting Strong" - Available on Amazon

BS in Information Technology Management

Western Governors University, 2025

Evidence-Based Approach

Focused on what research and real-world experience prove works

Beginner-Focused

Specialized in helping people avoid common mistakes and build solid foundations

The Bottom Line

I'm not selling you a dream body or a fitness transformation. I'm offering you honest coaching from someone who's made every mistake in the book and learned what actually builds strength.

If you want simple, effective strength training without the BS, I can help you.