Training: The acquisition of knowledge, skills and competency that relate to specific goals of improving capability, capacity, productivity and performance.
Anyone in today's world can go on YouTube or pick up a fitness magazine and learn exercises. If it was that easy, why would there be any trainers in the world? If you're thinking the trainer is there to motivate you, well that's not exactly true either. While some people need that accountability, it's certainly not the trainers job to drive to your house, drag you out of bed and physically make you move! I think most trainers would agree that the reluctant client is the worst experience for both parties, and often ends up in a loss all around. It's like the saying goes, "If you think you can't do something, you probably can't." Well the opposite is also true!
As stated, training has to relate to specific goals. This is achieved through a SYSTEM of prescribed exercises, not the fancy overhead single arm, single leg press you can do while standing on a BOSU ball. Ask yourself what your plan is, and what's your timeline for achievement? Years ago while I was attending a seminar, the well respected trainer/coach, Mike Boyle, said that training without purpose is nothing more than "exercise shit soup." I initially laughed at that, until reality set in and made me start questioning my own training methods.
Today I'm confident in the system we've created at All In Fitness. Our clients follow monthly programs based on their mobility assessments. Once they master the prescribed challenges, a new set of monthly goals are designed for them to keep progressing. It's all about meeting small goals along the way that add up to that ultimate long term goal. You also have to be realistic regarding your expectations. I've trained highschool athletes that ultimately received athletic scholarships for college, that was their goal. I've trained golfers that improved their game and rid themselves of chronic back pain, that was their goal. And I've trained an 80+ year old woman to stand up out of her wheelchair on her own, that was her goal. My point is that not everyone will or even should perform a 300lb deadlift, but the idea is to train with an attitude and intensity that you can!
It may come as a disappointment to some, but successful training is not always as creative as you may have thought. The most important exercises humans need (ie...squat, bench, deadlift, press) can be achieved with a barbell, some free weights, and a pull bar. It's not rocket science. Alwyn Cosgrove, one of the most respected gym owners and fat loss experts in the country said that progressive training is "more about varying sets and reps, not exercises." While many people are sold on fancy gym machines, most are useless for engaging core and lack proper range of motion. A simple formula of mobility, primary lifts and varied resistances is enough to progress you forward. How and when that formula is manipulated is why you hire a trainer.
It goes without saying that every successful training program needs to be fueled by proper nutrition, but that's another article in itself. In a nutshell, eat clean and drink water. And by "clean," I mean real, unprocessed foods. Common sense will tell you that the "real cheese" claim on the
Cheeze It box is a stretch. Furthermore, adding flax seeds and bee pollen to your diet does not magically make you healthy when you spend half the week on your a**. You get the point.
Once you've set your diet straight, start rethinking your whole fitness approach as well. That "Body Pump" or "Zumba" class you started 6 months ago was a good idea initially, but is now ineffective as you've adapted to that routine. A prescription of more resistance, and anaerobic training is now in order to get you back to losing fat and gaining muscle. Once you find yourself getting comfortable being uncomfortable, your probably on the right track.
Any track at all is a start, for you should never head to the gym without purpose. At the very least, you should be writing your workouts down and balancing out your training to maximize intensity and provide adequate recovery. If you find yourself there for any other reason than to improve your skills or competency than your just exercising. Stop pulling exercises out of a hat, and start focusing on a simple grouping of maximal strength movements that are going to give you your best return for your investment. After all that's what training is, an investment in yourself and you owe it to yourself to invest wisely!
Training: The acquisition of knowledge, skills and competency that relate to specific goals of improving capability, capacity, productivity and performance.
Anyone in today's world can go on YouTube or pick up a fitness magazine and learn exercises. If it was that easy, why would there be any trainers in the world? If you're thinking the trainer is there to motivate you, well that's not exactly true either. While some people need that accountability, it's certainly not the trainers job to drive to your house, drag you out of bed and physically make you move! I think most trainers would agree that the reluctant client is the worst experience for both parties, and often ends up in a loss all around. It's like the saying goes, "If you think you can't do something, you probably can't." Well the opposite is also true!
As stated, training has to relate to specific goals. This is achieved through a SYSTEM of prescribed exercises, not the fancy overhead single arm, single leg press you can do while standing on a BOSU ball. Ask yourself what your plan is, and what's your timeline for achievement? Years ago while I was attending a seminar, the well respected trainer/coach, Mike Boyle, said that training without purpose is nothing more than "exercise shit soup." I initially laughed at that, until reality set in and made me start questioning my own training methods.
Today I'm confident in the system we've created at All In Fitness. Our clients follow monthly programs based on their mobility assessments. Once they master the prescribed challenges, a new set of monthly goals are designed for them to keep progressing. It's all about meeting small goals along the way that add up to that ultimate long term goal. You also have to be realistic regarding your expectations. I've trained highschool athletes that ultimately received athletic scholarships for college, that was their goal. I've trained golfers that improved their game and rid themselves of chronic back pain, that was their goal. And I've trained an 80+ year old woman to stand up out of her wheelchair on her own, that was her goal. My point is that not everyone will or even should perform a 300lb deadlift, but the idea is to train with an attitude and intensity that you can!
It may come as a disappointment to some, but successful training is not always as creative as you may have thought. The most important exercises humans need (ie...squat, bench, deadlift, press) can be achieved with a barbell, some free weights, and a pull bar. It's not rocket science. Alwyn Cosgrove, one of the most respected gym owners and fat loss experts in the country said that progressive training is "more about varying sets and reps, not exercises." While many people are sold on fancy gym machines, most are useless for engaging core and lack proper range of motion. A simple formula of mobility, primary lifts and varied resistances is enough to progress you forward. How and when that formula is manipulated is why you hire a trainer.
It goes without saying that every successful training program needs to be fueled by proper nutrition, but that's another article in itself. In a nutshell, eat clean and drink water. And by "clean," I mean real, unprocessed foods. Common sense will tell you that the "real cheese" claim on the Cheeze It box is a stretch. Furthermore, adding flax seeds and bee pollen to your diet does not magically make you healthy when you spend half the week on your a**. You get the point.
Once you've set your diet straight, start rethinking your whole fitness approach as well. That "Body Pump" or "Zumba" class you started 6 months ago was a good idea initially, but is now ineffective as you've adapted to that routine. A prescription of more resistance, and anaerobic training is now in order to get you back to losing fat and gaining muscle. Once you find yourself getting comfortable being uncomfortable, your probably on the right track.
Any track at all is a start, for you should never head to the gym without purpose. At the very least, you should be writing your workouts down and balancing out your training to maximize intensity and provide adequate recovery. If you find yourself there for any other reason than to improve your skills or competency than your just exercising. Stop pulling exercises out of a hat, and start focusing on a simple grouping of maximal strength movements that are going to give you your best return for your investment. After all that's what training is, an investment in yourself and you owe it to yourself to invest wisely!
