This conversation came up this week on two separate occasions and I thought it might make you think about the training you do, because it’s an important concept.
There is a big difference between going through the motions or really thinking about the exercises you are doing and the muscles you should be working and actually really putting all your effort into that exercise. It can make a huge difference.
There are several ways even the most basic of exercises can be made more effective.
1. You could look to generate more power (think of a kettlebell swing here – instead of just swinging the weight upwards, you could think about driving your hips forward as hard as you can to really power the kettlebell upwards).
2. You could contract a muscle group to activate more muscle fibres (think of a leg extension here when rehabilitating after a knee replacement – instead of just extending the leg, you could extend the leg and focus on really squeezing the quadricep muscles)
3. You could add more weight to challenge your body (instead of lifting the same weight each time or doing the same number of reps, change something and force your body to adapt – the exercise all of a sudden becomes something progressive and you will get more benefit) Of course, if you’re not sure about this, then talk to us about it. Talk to us about how you can make your current workout more effective, but at the same time, safe. Don’t just go and double the weights you are lifting, rather think about small incremental changes that will start to make a difference.
Of course, if you’re not sure about this, then talk to us about it. Talk to us about how you can make your current workout more effective, but at the same time, safe. Don’t just go and double the weights you are lifting, rather think about small incremental changes that will start to make a difference.