This week, I have an article for my coaches and fitness professionals who read my blog. If you’re an exerciser, be sure to check out the podcast episode that goes with this article. You may find it more helpful.
Last week, I referenced how the fitness industry is failing. Despite this, the industry is growing. There is a low barrier to entry and nearly zero regulations on who can coach or train clients, especially online.
In such a saturated field, there’s countless people doing anything they can to stand out. Claims of finding the best exercise to “build a booty” or programs that will get you “fit in just six weeks!” These people are claiming to have revolutionized concepts that have been around for years.
But we’ve gotten too far away from the basics. The new things don’t always work. Tried and true concepts are becoming the forgotten keys to fat loss, muscle gain, and everything in between.
Movement is one of these basics.
We need to focus on and perfect movement patterns before adding weight. We need to find the way in which our bodies move most efficiently, effectively, and pain free. Then we must maintain this form while adding external forms of resistance.
So often, we focus on the hardest workout possible to obtain the highest caloric burn. But that’s not what’s important. We need to focus on longevity. In life and in sport. I don’t want to just workout for this year. I want to work out for this decade. and for decades to come. When we think about it in those terms, it seems simple to make decisions regarding training. The decision itself isn’t easy, but the correct choice is clear.
But it’s not just about nailing movement patterns and proper form. It’s about staying true to these principles throughout our training sessions. The new, flashy exercises can be done while following guidelines to proper form of fundamental exercises. But they often add an eye catching “flair” that reduces the effectiveness of the exercise itself.
A perfect example of this is some combination exercises such as a walking lunge with a bicep curl. The benefit of the lunge won’t be as great because we’ll have a lighter resistance so we are able to curl the weight. The isolation of the bicep won’t be as great because we’ll be focused on the lunge movement at the same time. Splitting up the exercises isn’t new. It’s not flashy and different. But it’s the basics. It’s effective and it works.
We need to get back to these basics. We need to set down the flashy, new exercises and get back to the tried and true basics. Focus on movement. Perfect the movement patterns. Add resistance. Instead of making up new exercises, keep the same ones and manipulate the mode of resistance or tempo in which the movement is performed.
Do you want five practical ways to get back to the basics in your workout? Check out my latest podcast episode for five ways that you can get back to the basics today. Now available on Soundcloud and iTunes.
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