2018 is here. You're SO ready.
You've packed your gym bag, you've prepared your
protein shake and you’re ready to start exercising…
Well, here’s where I tell you NOT to.
I'm serious. I want you to stop EXERCISING…
To reach your goals (and maintain them) you must start TRAINING.
I'm not being pedantic, there is a very clear and serious difference between the two.
In my eyes at least,
exercise is simply a matter of rocking up to a gym, class or going for a run, doing something haphazardly without consideration of how this fits into your long term plan.
Of course, doing this is better than doing absolutely nothing, but in terms of actually making progress (which is what you want right?), there is a better way.
Training, instead is something that you're doing now to get you towards a long term goal. The sum of
each workout will produce whatever you need to achieve that goal.
Still confused about the difference?
Exercise is fun today. Well, it may not be fun, but you've convinced yourself to do it today because you perceive that the effect you produce today is of benefit to you today…
This is where group fitness classes, bootcamps, and DVDs that TOWIE "celebs" sell come into play. They
provide you with exercises to do - you’ll “feel the burn,” get your heart pumping as you leap around your living room, and even stimulate some muscle growth. You WILL see some kind of results just because you went from nothing to something, “couch to 5K” as they say.
Basically, the results are often short lived.
In contrast, training is all about generating a result further down the line... the training
sessions are essentially the rungs on the ladder to get you to your goal.
Basically, it means this - training has a plan, a purpose, a reason you do this vs. doing that, and what you do today is related to what you did yesterday and plan to do tomorrow - and it’s all individualised to YOU.
Training is about the the big picture, and a training program incorporates SPECIFIC exercises done in SPECIFIC ways at SPECIFIC times within the
overall plan.
I don't want to downplay the benefits of these random workouts, or come across as elitist... I’d much rather see you show up to the most poorly put together bout of exercise (as long as it’s not hurting you) than do nothing at all.
However, I'm going to assume that you're reading these emails because you want more, and you want better than this.
You want a program with a
purpose, and you want to make a TRANSFORMATION in some way over this year…
If this is the case, may I suggest following a program that's specifically designed towards the goal that you want, not just MARKETED towards it.
Stuck with finding what's appropriate?
Hit reply and ask me.
Just like Aidan did who replied to my email yesterday.
He wanted to
get stronger, but his program wasn't quite cutting the mustard. So I helped him make a few tweaks, and now he's well on his way to making some great progress adding some kgs on the bar in the gym.