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Have a great Thanksgiving, enjoy your family, food, and football.
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When most people start out on their fitness journey they want to lose weight, get toned, work on their arms and of course have those razor sharp abs. They want to look good; maybe they’re after a Hollywood starlet look or an athlete. While just the act of working out should get you a pat on the back, many of these types of goals are subjective and unobtainable. These goals often lead many people down a very deep rabbit hole in a constant calorie deficit, always comparing themselves to others, and a tough place to be mentally day in and day out.
Training for function is on the other side of the spectrum. While I have yet to come across someone who doesn’t want to look good, training for function will put you in an entirely different mindset while still getting a killer physique.
It’s your ability to do things like:
It’s strength! Now you never have to wonder, "Can I move that table, couch or dresser without getting hurt?" Because you can!
Easy! First your workouts will consist of:
The goal is get physically stronger, tougher, more resilient, and increase your ability to deal with being uncomfortable.
Here is the other great thing about training for function, instead of limiting your calorie intake you can eat! Food and sleep drive the entire process. Now this isn’t a hall pass to hit the local donut shop every day, but you certainly don’t have to count every single calorie that goes into your month. Food builds muscles.
So instead of using the damn mirror or scale for feedback, you can watch the numbers on your lifts get heavier. Let the barbell or dumbbell tell you that you are making progress. It’s objective, simple, and very satisfying seeing your strength grow.
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With all the noise out there, it can be hard to focus on the things that really matter when it comes to becoming and staying fit. Below are 5 of the most popular training mistakes that I have seen clients fall victim to. Don't be one of them!
Lose the obsession with your mid-section. Total body exercises (like squats or deadlifts) will burn more calories than crunches. Always. Period. End of story.
Now don't get me wrong, cardio is great, but balance is important. Cardio does not make you stronger nor does it increase bone and tendon density, that's what the weight room is for.
Do you do the same 4-mile loop at the same pace or lift the same amount of weight in the same succession every gym sesh? In order to progress you need to add variety to your workout routine. That means lifting harder and training in intervals.
Doing every exercise you know every time you enter the gym isn't efficient. Instead, adopt a simple training plan. Do your research and narrow down your routine to 4 or 5 exercises for each muscle group. Train a different muscle group every day.
Food is life. You aren't going to make gains if you aren't feeding your body the nutrients it needs. Food helps build muscle and aids your body in recovery.
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Sign up below and every week we'll send you one short but effective idea that can help you improve your performance.
