The topic of discussion tonight is one of my strongest beliefs. If you have read my post on Opinions and Beliefs, you'll know that I believe that in life, you should have many strong opinions on different aspects, but you should have two to three definite beliefs. One of my beliefs for the very brief time I'm on this earth is this:
Train for Life.
There are two deductions for this motto of mine, and they are both (to me) insurmountable in their importance, and intrinsically necessary for an individuals quality of life. Here they are.
1) Train in exercise for the tasks you need to accomplish in the rest of your life: Very seldom will you find yourself needing to lift something to your shoulder by sitting down on a perfect seat, squaring up your shoulders, and curling the object. So why would you wish to spend so much time training this movement while exercising (the bicep curl)?
I believe the reason is hidden in the evolution of fitness in a health club or gym setting. Prior to the era of desk jobs and technological booms, the individuals inhabiting the fitness facilities were bodybuilder-minded individuals. Enter the 9-5pm cubicle worker. They know they need to work out, but what to focus on? "Well, I want to....be healthy? That person looks healthy. So I need to look healthy to be healthy." What's the quickest way to "look healthy"? Body-building exercises. But this doesn't really make us healthy, it just makes us look more muscular. Is it your aspiration to have chiseled pecs? Or do you want to carry your baby through the mall without your lower back hurting and your shoulder feeling like a dead weight for two weeks?
So don't waste 4-6 hours in your week learning how to lift a bar over your head with half range of motion and flared our elbows (military press) while you're sitting on your kiester, unless you really just care about having "super big" shoulders. Spend time instead learning how to brace your spine while holding a load over your head, with stable, externally rotated shoulders so that when you have to take that bag of cat food off the top shelf, you don't tweak your lower back and injure your shoulder.
2) Move in a way that will allow you to continue exercising and being fit for your entire life span: Don't settle for good enough, and don't suffer through a pain because "I've always had a little twinge in my shoulder". A twinge is a twinge, and what it is is your body telling you something is wrong. A twinge turns into an ache, which turns into an injury, which turns into irreversible tissue and joint damage. And you only have 1-2 of everything (knees, shoulders, hips, spine). Once you wear it down, it's GONE. It isn't going to go away over night, and it isn't going to be a quick fix to move perfectly. But there are countless ways to keep your workouts intense without exacerbating an injury. Rest the injury, work on mobility so it works properly, and keep on being fit.
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| Tell 64 year old Greg here that a lack of mobility and strength is "just a part of being old." You'll have to wait until he puts down his 190 lb. Clean and Jerk (that means he took it from the ground to over his head). |
So there it is folks. Train for Life. Do what you do, do it well, and continue to do it until the day you leave us. What is this going to guarantee you do your entire life? You guessed it.
Stay Fit.
P.S. Remember, you aren't alone. If you don't know how to train specifically for the things going on in your life, message me, Facebook me, email me at LucasWoody@gmail.com. My goal in life is to help people reach their fullest potential, whatever that may be. I'm here for you!
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