Archive: The Reality Of Strength Training Exercise
Posted on Saturday, July 01 @ 16:38:11 MDT
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Written by: Sean_Nalewanyj
When strength training became a popular way of athletic preparation back in the 50's and 60's, everyone was rushing to find the "best" way to train. Back in these early days, very little attention was given to the "scientific" aspect of the sport.
Your average lifter would train using basic
lifts, receive proper nutrition from a variety of foods and
give their bodies time to rest and recuperate. It was that
simple. No complicated supplements, special "lifting
techniques" or masses of ineffective information. Just
basic, sensible lifting.
When the "fitness boom" of the 70's hit, people began
questioning these methods and demanded scientific evidence
to support these training theories. Companies realized the
potential to make a profit and began flooding the strength
training world with ineffective supplements and equipment.
If I had a dime for every "break through fitness program"
I've seen, I'd be rich. Over the years, strength training
theories have actually gone downhill. Hard, persistent and
dedicated work in the weightroom has been overtaken by a
mass of miracle weight-gain pills and bogus bodybuilding
programs. People always seem to be looking for an easier
route to attaining a muscular build.
The reality of it all is that attaining an "in-shape" and
strong physique is not purely a matter of science. The fact
of the matter is that the achievement of this ultimate goal
is not complex. That's not saying it's easy, but it really
isn't as complicated as most of the "experts" make it out
to be. Successful lifters must have tremendous focus and
tolerance for pain. They must persevere in all situations
and continually place their bodies under greater stress in
order to better their physiques. They must eat the right
foods and avoid the wrong foods and ensure that their
bodies are receiving adequate rest. I have great respect
for each and every individual out there who is able to
continually and systematically follow these guidelines on
their quest to mind-blowing muscle mass and strength.
However, far too often we see serious lifters
over-analyzing every situation in the weightroom;
Extremely simple things that will do little to nothing in
bettering their current lifting approach.
The bottom line is to provide your body with a stimulus for
growth using basic compound lifts, feed your body by
consuming the proper nutrients, and give your muscles time
to rest and recuperate. If you have these three elements
down, there really isn't a whole lot more you can do to
increase the effectiveness of your lifting regiment.
So why is it that every time I go to the gym I see the
same misinformed people, week in and week out, slaving
away on endless sets of concentration curls and tricep
kickbacks? It makes me cringe when I see some of the
ridiculous techniques these "lifters" are using. What
you put in is what you get out, and submaximal intensities
will yield submaximal results. The tougher the lift is,
the better your body will respond. The whole idea behind
weightlifting is to yield an adaptive response from the
musculature, meaning the body must believe it is in life
threatening danger. I don't care what anyone says, heavy
squats, deadlifts, bench presses, overhead presses, rows
and chins are the toughest lifts and without a question
the most effective. Don't get me wrong, isolation lifts
can have their spot in a successful routine, but certainly
not in place of these basic compound lifts.
In the end, strength training is definitely more "art"
than "science". I don't know everything about everything,
but I'm certain of what I'm certain of, and I'm certain
that the basic principles of gaining size and strength
that were first put forth in the 1950's still hold true
to this very day. Stop making it more complicated than
it has to be! Get into the squat rack and squat! Load up
the bar and deadlift! Yes, these are the toughest lifts,
and that is exactly why you should be doing them! Building
muscle and gaining strength is simple! Do you want to get
big and strong? Then forget about all of the useless
theories people seem to constantly put forth. Stop
over-analyzing every situation. Stop wasting your time
on useless debates about the latest breakthrough training
principles. Go to the gym and train!
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"There is no secret routine, there is no magical number of
reps and sets. What there is, is confidence, belief, hard
work on a consistent basis, and a desire to succeed."
- Steve Justa
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Sean Nalewanyj is a bodybuilding expert and writer of top-selling Internet Bodybuilding E-Book: The Truth About Building Muscle. You can find more information by visiting his website:
www.MuscleGainTruth.com
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