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Why Are You Physically Training?
Sometimes I think that there
is an underlying confusion
in the fitness community that
ultimately leads to a great
deal of people failing to
meet their goals.
This confusion stems from
not having a clear understanding
of your fitness goals to start
with... and then not using
the right methods to achieve
your fitness goals as a result.
Let's look at a common scenario...
A person joins a Health Club
or Fitness Center.
Now one would assume that
they are joining a Health
Club or Fitness Center because
they want to physically train
to improve health and fitness.
After all... doesn't the name
of these institutions suggest
that that is what is going
on inside.
But as soon as they get inside
they enter a world that is
specifically targeted to improving
appearance... not health and
fitness.
I don't want to rain on your
parade... but there is a big
difference between appearing
to be healthy and fit and
actually being health and
fit.
Let me illustrate...
Most Health Clubs and Fitness
Centers will put you on a
workout program of what they
call "strength and conditioning"
three times a week.
It is their contention that
this three time a week "routine"
is the key to health and fitness.
But when you analyze the physical
training methods they prescribe
for "strength and conditioning"
what you discover is that
they are really targeted to
muscle growth and fat loss.
Isolated muscle movement exercises
on machines are specifically
targeting muscle growth with
a secondary effect of strength
increase.
Extended aerobic exercise
in your "fat burning zone"
is specifically targeting
fat loss with a secondary
effect of cardiorespiratory
endurance increase.
Why aren't these institutions
called Muscle Growth Clubs
and Fat Loss Centers instead
of Health Clubs and Fitness
Centers?
Now, I have nothing against
muscle growth and fat loss...
I actually believe they are
important secondary effects
of participating in a health
and fitness program.
But notice... I said secondary
effects.
If your true goal in participating
in a health and fitness program
is to improve health and fitness...
than this must be the focus
of your training.
Yes, increasing muscle size
and losing unwanted fat will
contribute to a healthier
and fitter body... but it
will only take you so far.
Fitness is the degree of competence
and skill to perform in ALL
the physical abilities of
cardiorespiratory endurance,
strength, flexibility, power,
speed, coordination, agility,
balance, accuracy and toughness.
If your current physical training
program is not designed to
improve each and every one
of these physical abilities
and teaching your body to
fluidly flow for one ability
to another... you are most
likely participating in an
program designed for appearance
enhancement.
My advice...
First decide on the true goals
of your physical training...
and then make sure that the
methods you employ are specifically
targeted to accomplishing
those goals.
Here is a little hint to help
you...
Training for health and fitness
improvement is the fasted
and most productive way to
increase functional muscle
and lose unwanted fat... Training
for muscle growth and fat
loss is the slowest and most
unproductive way to increase
health and fitness.
Think about it.
About the author:
Coach Lomax is a strength,
conditioning and fitness coach
dedicated to building better
humans for sport, work and
life. Learn more at Optimum Physical Training
or take his FREE Tabata Calisthenics
Workout Mini Course.
Resources - Link Exchange
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