There is a general notion that all training can or should be the same. It is a fairly common belief that exercise is exercise and everyone can or should do the same things. This is a very misguided belief that seems to be spread around the community.
All training shouldn’t be the same. If you are training for a specific purpose, your training shouldn’t mirror someone who is training for a different purpose. As a fitness professional, it is my responsibility to take each person I work with and develop an individualized plan based on numerous factors. If I simply create cookie-cutter programs, or use the same template for everyone I work with, I am doing a great disservice to all. Here is a little insight into a few different types of training goals:
General Health:
This would be a broad or generalized workout plan, with the emphasis being placed on the body as a whole. Examples of this would be getting your body to run more smoothly, more efficiently, or to make specific improvements such as lowering blood-pressure, getting off meds, lowering resting heart-rate, etc.
Your training can consist of a variety of exercises/styles. I would recommend incorporating total-body strength training using large muscle group movements with cardiac training of multiple formats. Cardio machines, walking, complex-type exercises, are all good options to include.
Strength:
If your focus is getting stronger overall or for a specific part of your body, focus on challenging yourself with your workouts. The most important aspects of strength improvement are load, intensity, rest periods, progression, and recovery. If you continue to repeat the same weights/sets/reps plans over and over, your strength will plateau.
Your training here should focus on challenging yourself and progressing with heavier weight, shorter rest periods, etc.
Fat-Loss:
This is what everyone wants, but few train correctly to achieve it. Fat-loss training can consist of all or any of the following: metabolic training, interval training, steady-state ‘cardio’ training, and inefficient (see previous blog post for definition of ‘inefficient’) exercise training, along with sound diet plans.
One of the biggest misconceptions I see and hear is that steady ‘cardio’ for hours and hours is the only, or best way to burn fat. Steady-state aerobic work can definitely be beneficial for burning calories and pounds of fat, if it is done correctly and used in addition to a training program. Science has proven in several studies that steady-state cardio for long, slow distances is NOT the most effective way to burn fat.
Sports Training:
The biggest problem I typically see with athletes training for their respective sport is their training doesn’t mimic their sport and/or they train like bodybuilders. If you are a sprinter, train using fast movements, short sets, and multiple muscle groups. If you are an offensive lineman in football, train using heavy weights for short sets that mimic the time and energy used in a single play. There is a lot more that goes into a training program for these respective sports, but the idea is to still train for a purpose.
I want to encourage you all to really think about WHY you are training. What are your goals? How are you different from other people you know or see in the gym with your respective goals?
Working out or exercising just to do it probably isn’t very fun!!
-Bryan-
