If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing your workouts “right,” you’re not alone. Most people start strength training without a plan — just effort, motivation, and hope. But when you’re learning how to lift, effort isn’t enough. You need feedback.

That’s why at Starting Strength Columbus, we teach new lifters to ask three simple questions after every workout:
1. Did I do it right?
2. Did it work?
3. How do I make it better next time?

These questions are the foundation of progress. They help you train with purpose, learn faster, and stay confident that every session is moving you closer to your goals.

1. Did I Do It Right?

Proper technique is the key to strength and safety. When you’re new, you won’t always know if a rep looked good or not — and that’s okay.
That’s what your coach is for.

At Starting Strength Columbus, we break down every movement so you understand how to do it correctly from day one. You’ll know how to set up, how the bar should move, and what “good form” feels like.

This first question matters because form is your foundation. When you lift correctly, you get stronger faster and dramatically reduce your risk of injury.

Every session with us is about building good habits that will last a lifetime.
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2. Did It Work?

Once you’ve trained for a few weeks, it’s time to measure results.

“Did it work?” doesn’t mean “Did I get sore?” or “Did I sweat a lot?” It means:
Did I get stronger?

The best part of strength training is that progress is easy to see. When the numbers in your training log go up, when the bar feels smoother, or when daily tasks feel easier — that’s proof it’s working.

Our members often say they feel stronger in everyday life long before they realize how much weight they’ve added in the gym. That’s the kind of progress that keeps you coming back.
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3. How Do I Make It Better Next Time?

Once you know your form is solid and you’re seeing results, the next question is about refinement.

At this stage, your coach steps in to help you improve one step at a time — maybe adjusting your stance, your breathing, or your timing. Small changes add up quickly.

This process of learning, evaluating, and improving turns lifting into a skill you can keep building for years.
It’s also what makes Starting Strength different: you’re never left guessing what to do next.

As Mark Rippetoe explains in the original article “The First Three Questions”, every lifter, no matter their level, benefits from revisiting these basics often.
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Why These Questions Matter

Asking questions is how you get better — at work, in life, and in the gym.
When you train with a coach who helps you find the answers, you build confidence that your time and effort are paying off.

You’ll learn how to move correctly, track real progress, and make small improvements that lead to major results.
That’s what we mean when we say we teach people how to train — not just how to work out.
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Start Smart. Build Strength That Lasts.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start training with purpose, we’ll help you take the first step.

👉 Book your free 30-minute coaching session here.

Meet with a Starting Strength coach in Columbus and learn how to lift safely, track progress, and build lasting confidence in your training.

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