“Without the right program, I’m never going to reach my goals.”
“I don’t want to do too much weight lifting because I don’t want to get to big.”
“I can’t do too much cardio because I don’t want to lose my strength.”
“I don’t want to do anything that I might get hurt doing.”
These quotes are some of the things I hear as I work with different groups of people. As the strength and conditioning field grows, the more opinions people have as to what the best way to lose weight or gain strength is. There are thousands and thousands of programs for a variety of different goals, so how does one know what program is best?
The easiest way to solve that problem is to remember that any reasonably constructed program is going to produce positive results as long as the person can buy in. For 99% of the population, an exercise routine with some combination of strength training and aerobic conditioning is going to cause the person to become stronger and more fit than they were before, if executed correctly.
There is no substitute for simply doing work. Picking weight up, moving it and putting it down. Pushing or pulling something, or maintaining a moderately high heart rate for an extended amount of time. Fitness can be as simple as that. Increasing your body’s work capacity can be extremely beneficial in many ways. So the next time you are confused about what to do in the gym or what your goals are, simplify everything. Just simply go to the gym and work and don’t concern yourself with sets and reps. Push yourself to the best of your ability and the results will come.
Physical Fitness: The ability to carry out daily tasks with alertness and vigor, without undue fatigue, and with enough energy reserve to meet emergencies or to enjoy leisure time pursuits.
K.W.
What is your young athlete doing to train around the holiday season?