The evolution of the health & fitness industry has led to a myriad of fitness programs at one’s disposal. From decade to decade clothes, music, technology, and medicine change. The science behind exercise & nutrition is no different.
From Arthur Jones of the 70’s Nautilus craze, and his concept - HIT training, to traditional bodybuilding, powerlifting, Olympic lifting, functional training, the Russian Conjugated Method, Western Periodization http, Cross Fit, TRX Training, P90X, steady state cardio, interval training, Tabata, and too many more to mention here; you can see where such rapid changes could become a little confusing.
To cut down on the confusion, you need to identify a few things:
1. What are you training for, and what is your goal
2. What are your current abilities
3. What is the time/frequency that you have available to train
4. Does your facility or space provide what you need to perform the given exercises
Once you have identified the items above, do a little research. Training like a bodybuilder to become a better defensive end in football is probably not your best option. Use Google to find literature on athletic training, talk to a certified strength & conditioning specialist at your local health club, use Youtube to find training videos, spend some time at a book store or library. The resources are there……use them!
Another thing to consider is this, generally all programs have value. Depending on where you’re starting at, and what the desired result is, will determine which programs will provide the most benefit to you.
One thing for sure, there is no reason to be stuck in a rut. With so many options available, you should be changing programs every 2 to 6 weeks. Variety will keep you mentally invigorated, and force a continual adaptive response by your muscles & nervous system.
Train hard, but better yet, train smart.
Sincerely,
Scott Fleurant
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Independent Team Beachbody Coach
